Friday, October 31, 2008

Forest Whitaker To Direct and Star in Satchmo Biopic

Forest Whitaker is to play Louis Armstrong in an officially-sanctioned biopic of the great trumpet player, which the Oscar-winning actor will also direct.
Named after Armstrong's best known song from his later career, What a Wonderful World will chronicle Armstrong's life from his early days in New Orleans to his death in 1971, following a long career over which he transformed jazz and popular music.
More here >>

Arnaldo DeSouteiro - The Bear Rocks

http://www.thebearrocks.com/music/artists/69750/arnaldo-desouteiro

Single of the Day - "O Cavalinho Azul" Soundtrack

Single of the Day
Original Soundtrack from the stage play "O Cavalinho Azul" (Mocambo) 1967

Composed & Performed by Reginaldo Carvalho
Stage Play written by Maria Clara Machado


R.I.P.: Ray Ellis

(Billie Holiday & Ray Ellis)

Composer Ray Ellis dies at 85
Arranged 'Chances Are,' 'Splish Splash'
by Mike Barnes
Hollywood Reporter, Oct 31, 2008

Composer Ray Ellis, who arranged such classics as "Chances Are" by Johnny Mathis, "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin and "Standing on the Corner" by the Four Lads, died Monday in Encino of complications from melanoma. He was 85. During a career that spanned almost 65 years, the Philadelphia native also arranged for acts including Tony Bennett, Doris Day, the Drifters, Connie Francis, Judy Garland and Ray Price.

Ellis, in collaboration with his son Marc, wrote original music for many of the animated series produced by Filmation Studios, along with the original "Spider-Man" cartoon, "The NBC Nightly News" and "The Today Show." Father and son also created music for game shows including "Sale of the Century." In the late 1940s and early '50s, Ellis played tenor sax in the Gene Krupa Band and the Paul Whiteman Band and performed on live TV with jazz combos on WCAU in Philadelphia.

He was discovered in 1955 by Columbia Records producer Mitch Miller, and under the famed bandleader's guidance, Ellis arranged a string of top 10 records for acts including the Four Lads, Mathis, Bennett, Darin and Chris Connor. Ellis also recorded instrumental albums under the Ray Ellis and His Orchestra banner for Columbia and RCA Records.

With Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records, Ellis arranged R&B classics for the Drifters ("Under the Boardwalk"), Brook Benton ("There Goes My Baby"), Ben E. King ("Spanish Harlem") and Etta James ("C.C. Rider"). He did arrangements for Billie Holiday's last album, 1958's "Lady in Satin."
Ellis became A&R director at MGM Records in 1959, creating hits for Connie Francis ("Where the Boys Are"), Frankie Laine and Clyde McPhatter ("Lover's Question"). Later, he worked with such artists as Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Anthony Newley, Michele Lee, Liza Minnelli and Maurice Chevalier.

Most recently, Ellis worked on projects with Adam Sandler, Barry Manilow and Bette Midler. During his retirement years, he was involved in fundraising efforts for the Ojai Music Festival. Among Ellis' survivors is his wife of more than 60 years, Yvette.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Quincy Jones & Barack Obama

Quincy has just released a video urging his fans to vote for Sen. Barack Obama for President. You can view it on: http://www.quincyjones.com:80/

“This is the most important time I’ve ever witnessed. It’s time for change. I’m putting all my support behind Barack Obama,” Quincy states in the clip, as he gives a thumbs up sign. “Tomorrow (Better You, Better Me),” featuring Tevin Campbell, from Quincy’s 1989 Grammy-winning Back on the Block, plays in the background.

Please don't forget to vote this coming Tuesday, November 4th and if you need to find out where your polling place is, go to www.maps.google.com/vote

Joao Gilberto's Japan Tour postponed

In the very last minute, João Gilberto decided today to postpone his Japanese tour that would begin November 1st at the Tokyo International Forum. All tickets were sold-out since 3 months ago. Now the first 2 concerts in Tokyo are scheduled to December 13 & 14 in the same venue. The dates in Yokohama will be announced soon. But the plans for the official DVD release of the 2006 Japan tour seem to have ruined, since the final editing was rejected by Gilberto. Nevertheless, bootleg copies of the NHK broadcast continue to be sold in the Japanese black market for over 2oo dollars. Another company is now interested in filming the forthcoming December concerts.

"Cool Bossa Struttin'" - The Bear Rocks

Paula Faour The Bear Rocks
For several reasons, Paula Faour invites comparisons to the well-known Eliane Elias. Like Elias, Faour is a Brazilian jazz instrumentalist who plays the ...

Paula Faour:
http://www.thebearrocks.com/music/artists/563873/paula-faour

"Cool Bossa Struttin'" (produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro for JSR)
http://www.thebearrocks.com/music/albums/652692/review

The title Cool Bossa Struttin' speaks volumes about Paula Faour's musical outlook. "Cool Struttin'," which opens this CD, is a funky number by late hard bop pianist Sonny Clark -- and by calling her first album as a leader Cool Bossa Struttin', Faour is acknowledging the fact that she owes a creative debt to both the United States and her native Brazil. She is a jazz pianist with a strong Bill Evans influence, but Brazilian rhythms have also had a major impact on her playing (which is swinging yet lyrical). And quite appropriately, Faour turns her attention to both Brazilian and American songs on this 2002 session -- Brazilian as in two Jobim songs ("O Grande Amor" and the lesser known "Tereza, My Love") and Eumir Deodato's "Mr. Tom," American as in Miles Davis' "Blue in Green," Jimmy Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day," and Thelonious Monk's "Well, You Needn't." The latter has been recorded countless times since Monk unveiled it in the '40s, and much to her credit, Faour manages to bring something different to the tune -- rarely has "Well, You Needn't" received such a Brazilian-minded makeover. Faour also interprets a song that didn't come from either the U.S. or Brazil, but rather, England: The Beatles' "Fool on the Hill," which works well as instrumental Brazilian jazz. Most of the time, Faour leads an acoustic piano trio that employs Manuel Gusmão on bass and the great Dom Um Romão on drums, but a guest will occasionally join the trio. One is Brazilian singer Ithamara Koorax, who is characteristically expressive on the standard "Recado Bossa Nova." Faour was 25 when Arnaldo Desouteiro produced this album, which is a promising and enjoyable debut for the Brazilian pianist.

Message from Joe Biden: In case you missed it

Arnaldo,
Our records show that you live in California's 23rd district. Get involved and help bring change now.

Last night, Barack took to the airwaves to make the case for real change. He used the time to tell the stories of ordinary people who need real solutions to their problems. The presentation reached its finale with Barack addressing the nation live from Florida -- I've included the video of that moment below. But right now, I need to ask you for help.
We just learned that the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee had a $20 million cash advantage on October 15th. That means we can expect to see a fierce blitz of negativity in the final days -- so-called "robocalls," mail pieces, and TV ads filled with smears and false attacks. We can't let our opponents' low-road tactics prevail. To stand up to this last-minute spending spree, we need to step up our efforts.


The resources we have to get our message out in the next 5 days could make all the difference.

Thanks for your support,
Joe

"Do It Again" available @ Best Selection

http://www.gemm.com/item/225953985

Eumir Deodato's "Do It Again", compiled by Arnaldo DeSouteiro for the Verve Music Group, is now available at the "Best Selection" webstore.
Click here to order:

Your order is processed within 48 hours and ships within 5 business days.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

CTI Memorabilia: Deodato's "Prelude" T-shirt

CTI memorabilia: Deodato's "Prelude" T-shirt (original pic cover by Pete Turner)

CD of the Day - "Nicola Conte: Rituals"

CD of the Day
Nicola Conte: "Rituals" (Schema) 2008

Probably the most beautiful (and expensive) CD artwork of the year, in a deluxe digipack format. The acclaimed Italian producer, also a good composer and the main star of the Schema family, carefully conceived.
My personal favorite tracks are Dusko Goykovich's "Macedonia" (one of the few songs not written by Conte, who plays guitar, backing Fabrizio Bosso's fabulous trumpet), "Song For the Seasons" (featuring the silky voice of Alice Ricciardi) and "Rituals".
There are also strong contributions by (male) tenor sax player Daniele Scannapieco, drummers Lorenzo Tucci & Teppo Makynen, (acoustic) bassists Pietro Ciancaglini & Dario Deidda, pianist Pietro Lussu, trombonist Mario Corvini, and special guests Greg Osby on alto sax & Till Bronner on trumpet, plus vocalists Jose James, Chiara Civello and Kim Sanders.
Tonight, Nicola Conte performs live at the Quasimodo club in Berlin.

SACD of the Day - "Diana Krall: The Girl in The Other Room"

Super Audio CD (SACD) of the Day
Diana Krall: "The Girl in the Other Room" (Verve) 2004

Produced by Tommy LiPuma & Diana Krall, includes six original songs the singer co-wrote with her husband Elvis Costello, plus versions of tunes by Tom Waits ("Temptation"), Elvis Costello (his cult-hit "Almost Blue", covered by Chet Baker), Chris Smitter ("Love Me Like A Man"), Joni Mitchell (a vigorous take on "Black Crow"), Mose Allison ("Stop This World") and Arthur Herzog & Irene Kitchings ("I'm Pulling Through", my personal favorite track).
This is a Hybrid SACD) Hybrid, which will play in standard CD players. Howver, a Super Audio CD player is required to take advantage of the SACD sound technology.

Recorded at Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CalifUSA) and Avatar Studios (New York), with the typically gorgeous sound quality provided by master engineer Al Schmitt, and featuring: Neil Larson (Hammond B-3 organ only on "Temptation"), Anthony Wilson (guitar), Christian McBride & John Clayton (bass), Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton & Terri Lynne Carrington (drums).

It may or may not be significant that Diana Krall's first album of new material since the ascendance of Norah Jones was the former's least jazzy, most pop-savvy album of her career. In any case, it marked Krall's biggest departure of the jazz standards that constituted her previous repertoire, and it contained her first recorded batch of original songs. It's possible that new husband Elvis Costello, who co-wrote all six of those tunes with his wife, was the agent provocateur. It's also feasible that Costello, who has previously recorded Mose Allison material and palled around with Tom Waits, nudged Krall toward such choice selections as Allison's bluesy plaint "Stop This World" and Waits's cocktail rhumba "Temptation." Nevertheless, Krall delivered them--like the rest of the songs here--in a misty, laconic style very consistent with her earlier work. There's no attempt at pop-oriented production here, just the same piano-trio sound that's been Krall's stock in trade all along.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Single of the Day - "Jazzanova: Let Me Show Ya"


Single of the Day (45rpm)
Jazzanova: "Let Me Show Ya" (Pride/Sonar Kollectiv) 2008
Part 1 on Side A, Part 2 on Side B.
Song co-written by Paul Randolph & Stefan Leisering, featuring P. Randolph.
The first single from Jazzanova's new album, "Of All The Things".

CD of the Day - "Jazzanova: Of All The Things"

CD of the Day
Jazzanova: "Of All The Things" (Sonar Kollektiv) 2008

Released in Super Jewel Box package, the new high-budget Jazzanova production features singers like Jose James (not to be missed with LA-based songstress Josie James), Paul Randolph and Leon Ware, who collaborated with Quincy Jones in such albums as "Body Heat".
Jazzanova & Leon Ware reprise "Rockin' You Eternally", one of the songs that Ware co-wrote with Marcos Valle in the late 70s/early 80s, and the title track of Ware's 1981 LP for Elektra. They basically reproduce the original Gene Page orchestration, to the point that the track credits says: "Strings re-arranged by Stefan Leisering; Horns re-arranged by S. Leisering & Sebastian Studnitzky." However, Mr. Page is not credited...
It seems one of these recordings done by "email." Ware did his vocals in Marina del Rey (California), the voice of Dwele (who sings with him) was added in Amsterdam. Everything else was recorded in Berlin.
The Brazilian fusion group Azymuth appears on the album, backing singer/guitarist Pedro Martins on a 2-minute track, "Gafieira".

João canta Sade à Paris


João Pinheiro in Paris!

Rio-based Brazilian singer will be performing 2 concerts in France, to celebrate the release of his "João Canta Sade".

SATELLITE CAFÉ – October 28, 2008 – 9PM – 10€
44, rue de la folie méricourt/ 75011
Paris, France/ Ph: +33 01 47 00 48 87
Métro : St Ambroise ou Oberkampf

FAVELA CHIC – November 4th, 2008 – 10PM
18, Rue Fbg du Temple/ 75011
Paris, France/ Ph: +33 01 40 21 38 14

Pinheiro will be backed by Bruno Ferreira (guitar), Loran (sax & flute), Isabelle, Lucia Campos & Wander Pio (percussion), plus special guest Rolando Faria, from Les Etoiles

Obama's closing argument

In exactly one week, we have a very real chance of electing Barack Obama the next President of the United States. But we're not there yet. Yesterday in Canton, Ohio, Barack made a powerful case for why we need to keep fighting right through Election Day.
Watch Barack's closing argument and make a donation of $5 or more to get every vote we need to win.

For the next week, we need to work like the future of our country depends on it -- because it does. We only have one opportunity to make history and get this country on a new path. And if we let up now, John McCain will win. Watch Barack's speech and make a donation of $5 or more now: https://donate.barackobama.com/keepfighting

"CTI Bossa Nova New Best Box"

"CTI Bossa Nova New Best Box" CTI CD #KICP 2789 (1996)
Compilation Produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro & Yoichi Nakao.
Original Sessions Produced by Creed Taylor & Arnaldo DeSouteiro

CD Release Date: September 21, 1996

Tracklist
Samba de Orfeu - Ithamara Koorax & Ron Carter
Manha de Carnaval - Ithamara Koorax & Luiz Bonfá
Non-Stop To Brazil - Ithamara Koorax & Luiz Bonfá
The Gentle Rain - Ithamara Koorax & Luiz Bonfá
Menina Flor - Ithamara Koorax & Luiz Bonfá
Amor Sem Adeus - Ithamara Koorax & Eumir Deodato
Brazilian Tapestry - Astrud Gilberto & Stanley Turrentine
Zazueira - Astrud Gilberto & Stanley Turrentine
Ponteio - Astrud Gilberto & Toots Thielemans
Traveling Light - Astrud Gilberto & Eumir Deodato
Choro - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Amparo - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Andorinha - Antonio Carlos Jobim
Stone Flower - Antonio Carlos Jobim

Credits
Arnaldo DeSouteiro – Arranger, Percussion, Producer
thamara Koorax – Vocal
Antonio Carlos Jobim – Piano (Acoustic), Piano (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic)
Astrud Gilberto – Vocal
Luiz Bonfá – Guitar (Acoustic), Arranger
Creed Taylor – Producer
Toninho Barbosa – Engineer
Rudy Van Gelder – Engineer
Eumir Deodato – Piano (Electric), Organ, Keyboards, Arranger, Conductor
Ron Carter – Bass (Acoustic)
Nelson Ângelo – Guitar (Acoustic)
Jamil Joanes – Bass (Electric)
João Palma – Drums
Paulo Malaguti – Keyboards, Arranger
Sidinho Moreira – Percussion
Hubert Laws – Flute
Sivuca – Guitar (Acoustic)
Carlos Bala – Drums
Sadao Watanabe – Sax (Alto)
Toots Thielemans – Harmonica
Dom Um Romão – Drums, Percussion
Sidney Moreira – Percussion
Ivan Conti (Mamão) – Drums
Jerome Richardson – Flute
Airto Moreira – Percussion
Bob Mann – Guitar (Electric)
Gene Bertoncini – Guitar (Acoustic)
Urbie Green – Trombone
Sam Brown – Guitar (Electric)
Stanley Turrentine – Sax (Tenor)
Harry Lookofsky – Violin
Katsuei Kawada – Art Coordinator
Pete Turner – Photography
Hiroshi Matsuyama – Liner Notes

Coming soon: Freddie Hubbard & Hubert Laws

Two overlooked gems from Columbia's late 70s jazz catalog will be finally reissued on CD, in Japan, on November 26, 2008 by Sony Music. Both are among the best solo albums that former CTI superstars Freddie Hubbard and Hubert Laws recorded for CBS, after having worked for Creed Taylor's revolutionary jazz label during its heyday.

Despite its kitsch front cover, Freddie Hubbard's "The Love Connection" is an ultra-sophisticated album, superbly orchestrated by Claus Ogerman and featuring a stellar cast: Joe Farrell, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Chuck Domanico, Chester Thompson (the ex-Genesis drummer, not the Santana keyboardist), Brazilian percussion master Rubens Bassini plus Tom Scott, Ernie Watts, Buddy Collette, Oscar Brashear, Snooky Young, Chuck Findley, strings concertmaster Guy Lumia and many others.
Recorded at A&M Studios (LA) & Columbia Studios (NY), it was co-produced by Ogerman & Hubbard.

Claus himself once commented about his sublime arrangement on John Latouche/Jerome Moross' "Lazy Afternoon", one of his favorite scores ever to one of his personal favorite tunes, which he recently re-recorded with Danilo Perez for "Across the Crystal Sea":
"There was a chain of events: when I worked in New York on Stephane Grappelli's album, I told Jimmy Rowles (who played on some of the tracks) that I was going to L.A. to do an album with Hubbard. Curiously, Jimmy asked me to remind Freddie to record "Lazy Afternoon". There must have been some link, maybe the two played the song together at one point. I always avoid to praise my own work. The excellent German composer Hans Pfitzner dwelled in self-praise of his own compositions. I have found this to be tacky. So, without being asked and at the risk of getting misunderstood, I say that the slow parts of "Lazy Afternoon" arranged for Freddie Hubbard are my best work and all I can do as an arranger. This chart and its recording alone was worth my coming to the United States."
'Nuff said?
Hubert Laws' "Say it With Silence", from 1978, features a delightful version of Joe Sample's "It Happens Everyday", which became a jazz radio hit in the USA, specially in California. Sample plays Fender Rhodes on that track, as well as on "False Faces", a vehicle for Debra Laws' vocals (she's one of Hubert's talented sisters). The three other extended tunes are "The Baron", "Love Gets Better" and the title track "Say It With Silence", recorded by Rudy Van Gelder. All other tracks were engineered by Chris Brunt at Indigo Ranch Studio. The album was co-produced by Hubert and his brother, tenor sax player Ronnie Laws.
Among the other musicians are: Victor Feldman (playing percussion!), Pops Popwell, Gregg Errico, Barnaby E. Finch, Melvin Robinson, Jerry Peters, Garnet Brown, Maurice Spears, Snooky Young, Ray Brown (the trumpet player, not the bassist), Anthony Lewis, Mike Richmond, Danny Gottlieb, Mark Gray, Jimuffington, Barry Finnerty, Hiram Bullock, Sue Evans, Mike Mandel, Tom Malone, Tony Studd, Wayne Andre, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm, plus a string section arranged & conducted by Laws himself.

41st Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards Announced

The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers has announced the winners of the 41st Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards for outstanding print, broadcast and new media coverage of music. The winners will be honored at a special invitation-only ceremony and reception on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at The Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, Broadway at 60th Street, New York City. Over the years, tens of thousands of dollars have been distributed in cash prizes to winning authors, journalists and
broadcast producers and personalities.

The ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award honors WRTI-FM (Philadelphia) for its outstanding Classical and Jazz music programming. Accepting awards for WRTI will be Dave Conant, Executive Director/Classical Host and Maureen Malloy, Jazz Music Director/Jazz Host.

A special ASCAP Deems Taylor Television Broadcast Award posthumously honors Fred Rogers, the creator and star of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," produced by Family Communications, Inc. 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of the classic children's show's debut and what would
have been the 80th birthday of Fred Rogers.

The ASCAP Deems Taylor Media Award honors "The End of Early Music: A Period Performer’s History of Music for the Twenty-First Century" (Oxford University Press) by Bruce Haynes, along with the book’s companion website,
http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195189872/?view=usa, designed by Norm Hirschy of Oxford University Press.

The Nicolas Slonimsky Award for Outstanding Musical Biography in the concert music field honors Kevin Bazzana for his book, "Lost Genius: The Curious and Tragic Story of an Extraordinary Musical Prodigy," published by Da Capo Press. This award was established to honor the memory of Slonimsky (1894 - 1995), the Russian-American composer, conductor, musicologist and critic. Slonimsky was the writer of "Baker’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns, The Lexicon of Musical Invective and Perfect Pitch," an autobiography.

The Béla Bartók Award for Outstanding Ethnomusicological Book honors the late Mirjana Lausevic for "Balkan Fascination: Creating an Alternative Music Culture in America," published by The Oxford University Press. This award honors the memory of Bartók (1881-1945), the great Hungarian-American composer and ethnomusicologist.

The authors and publishers of the nine books to be honored at the ceremony are:
-Ted Anthony for "Chasing the Rising Sun: The Journey of an American Song," published by Simon & Schuster
-Barry Day for "The Letters of Noël Coward," published by Alfred A. Knopf
-John Kruth for "To Live’s to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt," published Da Capo Press
-Howard Pollack for "George Gershwin: His Life and Works," published by University of California Press
-bruce d. mcclung for "Lady in the Dark: Biography of a Musical," published by Oxford University Press
-Aniruddh D. Patel for "Music, Language and the Brain," published by Oxford University Press
-Alex Ross for "The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century," published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux
-Oliver Sacks for "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain," published by Alfred A. Knopf
-Wilfrid Sheed for "The House That George Built: With a Little Help from Irving, Cole and a Crew of About Fifty," published by Random House

The seven writers and editors of journal, magazine and newspaper articles, and liner notes and their respective publishers to be honored are:
-John Nova Lomax for his article, "Doug Supernaw," published by The Houston Press
-Jorge Arévalo Mateus for his liner notes, "The Live Wire: Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949," released by Woody Guthrie Publications
-Paul A. Merkley for his article, "Stanley Hates This But I Like It!: North vs. Kubrick on the Music for 2001: A Space Odyssey," published by The Journal of Film Music
-James Parker for his articles, "From Her to Eternity: The real Nico emerges on The Frozen Borderline," "Heaven and Hell: Sir Paul Toodles off to Starbucks while Ozzy Goes to War," and "Endless Rhapsody: How Queen Trumped the Punks," published by The Boston Phoenix
-Ken Smith for his liner notes in the CD, "The Butterfly Lovers Concert for Violin, Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto," issued by Canary Classics
-Laurie Stras for her article, "White Face, Black Voice: Race, Gender, and Region in the Music of Boswell Sisters," published by Journal of the Society for American Music
-Rebecca Winzenried for her article, "How Brilliant," published by Symphony Magazine

The members of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Awards Judging Panel for 2008 are
Paul Moravec, Frank J. Oteri, Richard Miller, Julie Flanders, David
Massengill, Matthew Shipp, Daniel Felsenfeld, Pat Irwin and Wesley Stace.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 330,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed
performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com

Sign now: http://www.ascap.com/rights

"The Hancock Project" live, tonight, in NY

The Hancock Project Live at the Blue Note Tonight

In anticipation of a forthcoming release on Chesky Records, the celebrated jazz masters Lenny White, Buster Williams, George Colligan and Joe Locke will perform the music of Herbie Hancock at New York's famed Blue Note tonight, October 28. Show times are at 8 pm and 10:30 pm. For reservations, call (212) 475-8592 or visit www.bluenote.net

Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while still maintaining his unique, unmistakable voice. Herbie's success at expanding the possibilities of musical thought has placed him in the annals of this century's visionaries. With an illustrious career spanning five decades, he continues to amaze audiences and never ceases to expand the public's vision of what music, particularly jazz, is all about today.

Herbie Hancock's creative path has moved fluidly between almost every development in acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B since 1960. He has attained an enviable balance of commercial and artistic success, arriving at a point in his career where he ventures into every new project motivated purely by the desire to expand the boundaries of his creativity. There are few artists in the music industry who have gained more respect and cast more influence than Herbie Hancock. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography, "Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven't heard anybody yet who has come after him." Hancock's most recent album, the controversial "River: The Joni Letters," won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2007, although at least 10 of the dozens of albums he had previously released were 100 times better (the recent pop masterpiece "Possibilities" among them).

Paying tribute to Hancock at the Blue Note tonight are:

LENNY WHITE: Lenny White has played with virtually everyone in the music business and has co-created some of the most influential music over the past three decades. He has also expanded and reinvted his career by becoming a great producer. Alternating between drummer and producer and always on the uctting edge of the music scene, Lenny has been continually pushing the musical envelope.
He has collaborated with many of jazz music's greatest artists, including Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter and Joe Henderson, to name a few. Not to mention his work with Chick Corea's Return to Forever, recently reunited for a world tour last Summer.

BUSTER WILLIAMS: Bassist Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock to name a few. His performance on Ron Carter's "Piccolo" album is outstanding.

Awards include a Grammy in 1979; the Min-On Art Award; the SGI Glory Award the SGI Cultural Award; the RVC Corporation RCA Best Seller Award; NEA recipient; New York Fellowship Grant; 5 Stars from Downbeat magazine for the album "Crystal Reflections" listed in Who's Who in Black America; and numerous proclamations.

JOE LOCKE: Joe Locke is regarded by many to be the most gifted vibraphonist of his generation. In addition to his strengths as an instrumentalist, recent recordings and live performances by The Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group, The Joe Locke Quartet, Rev.elation - The Music of Milt Jackson and his group "4 Walls of Freedom", offer evidence of his ever-growing stature as a band leader, composer and conceptualist.

Joe Locke has released more than 25 recordings as a band leader, and appeared on almost 100 albums as a guest artist. As a jazz musician, Locke was precocious, having played with such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Pepper Adams and Mongo Santamaria before he was even out of high school. Since moving to New York City in 1981, Joe has performed with Grover Washington Jr., Kenny Barron, Dianne Reeves, Eddie Daniels, Jerry Gonzales' Fort Apache Band, Rod Stewart, The Beastie Boys, Eddie Henderson, Hiram Bullock, Bob Berg, Ron Carter, Jimmie Scott, Geoffrey Keezer, The Mingus Big Band and Randy Brecker, among many others. His best albums were cut for the Milestone label in the 90s.

GEORGE COLLIGAN: George Colligan is a New York based pianist, organist, drummer, trumpeter, teacher, and bandleader, who is one of the most original and compelling jazz artists of his generation .An award-winning composer (Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation grant recipient) and player (winner, Jazzconnect.com Jazz Competition), Colligan is highly in demand as a sideman, having worked with players like Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Buster Williams, and Lonnie Plaxico, both on the bandstand and in recording sessions (appearing on over 100 CDs). He has released17 recordings full of his intelligent writing and impressive technique.

His latest CD on the Ultimatum label is entitled Blood Pressure . Colligan’s musical style incorporates everything from showtunes to funk, from free improvisation to 20th century classical music. His performances include dazzling technique as well as mature restraint. Colligan recently joined the faculty of the Juilliard School of Music.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Your calls are needed in Pennsylvania

Last weekend, supporters like you made 350,000 calls into battleground states, surpassing our goal of 300,000. Let's keep it up.John McCain is in Pennsylvania today, and we need your help there. Pennsylvania is the McCain campaign's best path to victory, so we have to do everything we can to make sure that on November 4th, voters there cast their votes for change. We've set a goal of making 100,000 calls in Pennsylvania today. Can you help us get there in this crucial battleground?
Start calling PA voters now: http://my.barackobama.com/PAcalls

This Wednesday, October 29th, supporters are gathering in homes across the country to watch Barack's 30-minute primetime presentation and make phone calls to voters in battleground states.Sign up today to host or attend a Last Call for Change house party:http://my.barackobama.com/lastcallparty

Diana Krall & Toquinho

We just got the official info that Brazilian guitarist/singer Toquinho (a longtime partner of the late bossa nova poet Vinicius de Moraes) will be the opening act of Diana Krall's concert in São Paulo, at HSBC Brasil (Rua Bragança Paulista 1281, Chácara Santo Antonio, SP), on October 5, 2008, at 9:30PM. It will be the last of 6 concerts in the Diana Krall Brazilian tour. There are rumors that Toquinho may also do one or two songs together with Krall.
During his performance, Toquinho will be backed by Ivâni Sabino (bass) & Pepa D´Elia (drums).
For ticket purchase, please call (55-11) 4003.1212 or visit http://www.hsbcbrasil.com.br/

Diana's dream for the Rio concert was to have Joao Gilberto as her guest of honor. Soon after she attended João's concert at the Carnegie Hall, last June, the invitation was done. But it proved impossible to materialize, since Gilberto would be starting his 2008 Japanese tour in the same day that Krall's DVD "Live in Rio" will be filmed (November 1st).
Tommy LiPuma's longtime friend Joao Donato was another option, but Donato is a pianist, and it would be too complicated to have two pianos on stage, besides the fact that he is a "singer" of very limited abilities.
A heavy lobby for Marcos Valle began, but didn't succed. Now the production team plans to film a number or two with Carlos Lyra on the acoustic guitar, at least for the "making of" section of the DVD. There's no confirmation yet about Lyra's possible apperance in the November 1st concert.
More details about it, the DVD and the Brazilian tour can be found here: http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com/2008/10/adlib-october-2008.html

R.I.P.: Gerard Damiano

From the "All About Jazz" website:
Every once in a while, an artist gets an inspiration that changes pop culture. Even if he's a slop artist, and the inspiration is a movie about a woman with a clitoris in her throat. Such a one was Gerard Rocco Damiano, aka Jerry Gerard, who died this weekend in Fort Myers, Fla., at 80, from complications after a stroke. With Deep Throat and his second film, Devil in Miss Jones, Damiano launched the 1970s movie craze of porno chic.

To read the complete story:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=24813
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MIAMI (AP) - Gerard Damiano, director of the pioneering pornographic film that lent its name to the Watergate whistleblower known as "Deep Throat," has died. He was 80.
Damiano died Saturday at a Fort Myers hospital, his son, Gerard Damiano Jr., said Monday. He had suffered a stroke in September.
"He was a filmmaker and an artist and we thought of him as such," the younger Damiano said. "Even though we weren't allowed to see his movies, we knew he was a moviemaker, and we were proud of that."

To read the complete obituary published in The Washington Times:
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/27/gerard-damiano-deep-throat-director-dead-at-80/
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Alden Shuman's score to Damiano's second movie, "The Devil in Miss Jones", became a cult sountrack. It was reissued on CD back in 1997 by the Californian label Oglio Records, thanks to reissue producer Carl Caprioglio. I immediately got a copy, basically due to the most memorable theme of the score, "Ladies in Love". Curiously, I had become attracted to that theme when I was 10 years old, since radio programmer & producer Simon Khoury gave a lot of airplay to that sophisticated track (whose Ron Straigis' brilliant arrangement featured Frank Owens' piano, two French Horns played by the late Jim Buffington & Brooks Tillotson, and a string section) on the JB-AM radio station in 1973. Some years later, when I finally was able to watch the film in a movie theater, I found out that the long lesbian scene on which that lush tune was used, also happened to be the most sensual sequence of "The Devil in Miss Jones."
It all began when, in the Spring of 1972, film producer Herbert Nitke, impressed with Alden Shuman's artistry, hired him to write the score for "The Devil in Miss Jones." Thus, a new form of erotic-art film was born.
The movie boasted a daring and innovative plot: Miss Jones (actress Georgina Spelvin), a deeply troubled young woman, takes her own life. Confronted by the Devil, she pleads for a last chance to savor the life of lust she had feared in her previous life. The Devil, taken by her pleas, grants her wish, resulting in a series of erotic adventures that transcended the norm and, combined with Shuman's exquisite score, became true erotic art. The critics were ecstatic and the film achieved true immortality all over the world.
Its soundtrack was recorded by Joe Brescio and mixed by renowned jazz engineer Malcolm Addey at Bell Sound Studios (NY). Alden Shulman wrote all the eleven themes and co-produced the album with Earl Shuman. Peter DeAngelis and Ron Straigis shared the arrangements. Back in 1995, Alden Shuman was interviewed on the prestigious NY radio station WBAI and the entire score of "The Devil in Miss Jones" played as part of their tribute to the US Film Industry's 100th Anniversary.

CD of the Day - "Drum & Brazz Project"

CD of the Day
Darlly Maia & Darwin Barboza: "Drum & Brazz Project" (Chocolat Soul Records) 2008

Produced by the Barcelona-based Brazilian musician Darlly Maia (lead vocals & guitars) & Darwin Barboza (programming), featuring Anna Ly (vocals on "Flor de Lis", "Mania de Você", "Mas Que Nada") and Daniel Matos (electric bass).

Marcos Ozzellin interviewed

Interview with Brazilian singer Marcos Ozzellin published in the daily newspaper "Monitor Campista" (Campos dos Goytacazes)
October 27, 2008
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Front page:
MaisCultura
O paulista Marcos Ozzellin não pode reclamar da sorte. Quando trabalhava em uma loja de tecidos, no Rio, conheceu a cantora Ithamara Koorax, que era cliente da loja. Desde então, ganhou uma forte madrinha. Nesta edição, saiba mais sobre o músico.

Page B1
"Bem-vinda Música"
Apadrinhado pela cantora Ithamara Koorax, o paulista Marcos Ozzellin desponta como talento na nova safra de músicos brasileiros
Patrícia Bueno

Ele trabalhava em uma conceituada loja de tecidos, no Rio, quando conheceu uma cliente muito especial: ninguém menos que a cantora de jazz Ithamara Koorax. Foi uma emoção muito grande conhecê-la pessoalmente. "Quase desmaiei quando isso aconteceu, pois sempre fui seu fã desde que eu ganhei de presente a trilha da minissérie Riacho Doce, da Globo, onde Ithamara cantava 'Iluminada'", diz Ozzellin, nesta entrevista ao Monitor. Na época ele nunca imaginava que um dia seria afilhado artístico de uma das maiores cantoras do mundo. O músico, que esteve em Campos recentemente acompanhando a madrinha no projeto Choro & Cia., falou sobre o CD que está no forno. Se depender do repertório deste paulista, que atualmente respira ares cariocas, o público não perde por esperar: Tem de Noel Rosa e Ary Barroso a Baden e Vinícius. Enquanto o álbum não sai, segue um bate-papo com o cantor...

Bate-Papo
Monitor - Fale-me um pouco sobre o começo da carreira...

Marcos Ozzellin - Bom,meu interesse por música surgiu na adolescência. Eu adorava ouvir rádio, gostava muito de cantar nas festas de casa, nas festas da escola, sempre tive essa "tendência" artística. Participava muito das peças que fazíamos na escola, sempre querendo cantar. Quando decidi que era iso que realmente queria fazer comecei e estudar,fazer aulas de canto, etc. Fui aluno da cantora Rosa Estevez, da Ná Ozzetti, da Suzana Salles...cantoras do cenário musical paulista. Cantei muito em corais também... houve uma época em que cantava em quatro corais...eu fazia parte do naipe de barítonos...f oi uma boa escola. Cantei também um tempo na noite paulista antes de ir pra Portugal.

Como surgiu a oportunidade de ir para Portugal? Como era seu trabalho por lá? Em 99 decidi ir embora do Brasil, tentar algo na Europa. Acabei indo pra Lisboa pois tinha um amigo que vivia lá e que seria uma referência pra mim. Comecei trabalhando como garçon, barman, e depois comecei a cantar na noite, sempre em lugares voltados para a música brasileira que é muito valorizada pelos portugueses. Cantei não só em Lisboa, mas em Cascais e Estoril também. Uma experiencia muito boa, mas a saudade falou mais alto e acabei voltando.

Você nasceu em Sampa, mas hoje mora no Rio. Que cidade oferece mais oportunidades?
Sim. Nasci em São Bernardo do Campo, no ABC paulista, morei na capital por dez anos e há oito moro no Rio. Eu escolhi viver no Rio por gostar muito da cidade, pela beleza, pelo astral mas acho que em termos de oportunidade, São Paulo, por ser maior, oferece até mais oportunidades, mas eu tenho tido muita sorte aqui no Rio, tenho feito muitos shows, graças a Deus!

Samba, Bossa e MPB. Estes são os combustíveis de sua carreira, certo? Ainda há espaço para quem escolhe esses gêneros?
Com certeza sim! Nossa música é riquíssima, belíssima... É claro que tem muita gente fazendo as mesmas coisas, mas quando o trabalho é feito com amor e dedicação ele acaba tendo um diferencial.

E a Ithamara? Não é todo mundo que tem uma madrinha dessas...
Quando cheguei ao Rio em 2000, antes de começar a cantar eu tive outros trabalhos, pois não dava pra viver só da música. Eu trabalhava numa casa de tecidos muito boa por sinal e ela era cliente da loja. Foi uma emoção muito grande conhecê-la pessoalmente, quase desmaiei quando isso aconteceu, pois sempre fui seu fã desde que eu ganhei de presente a "fita cassete" da minissérie Riacho Doce da Globo, onde Ithamara cantava "Iluminada". Eu ouvia aquela voz tão linda, tão doce, eu não imaginava que um dia teria essa honra de ser afilhado artístico de uma das maiores cantoras do mundo! No Rio passei a ir a todos os shows dela, mas nunca tive coragem de ir ao camarim. Só revelei minha admiração no tal dia em que ela foi na loja. Desde o ínicio da nossa amizade ela sempre me deu muito apoio mas na verdade eu acho que o que mais chamou atenção na Ithamara em relação ao meu trabalho eu acho que é o amor que eu deposito em tudo que faço... eu canto com a alma,com o coração... agora é uma responsabilidade muito grande ser afilhado dela...uma responsabilidade e uma honra tremenda... Eu agradeço muito a Deus por ter colocado essa mulher maravilhosa na minha vida...ter uma madrinha dessas não é pra qualquer um não (risos)!

Você sempre participa dos shows da Ithamara, como fez em Campos, no Teatro Municipal Trianon?
É, eu sempre participo dos shows dela, quando são realizados com o grupo brasileiro, e obviamente quando cabe uma participação, quando tem a ver com o roteiro. É sempre uma grande felicidade dividir o palco com ela. Em Campos,participei dos três últimos shows dela: dois no SESC e o mais recente no teatro Trianon. Cantei "Linha do horizonte" (no Trianon) e também "Corcovado" (SESC). Já viajamos juntos várias vezes: fomos para um Festival de jazz maravilhoso em Funchal, na Ilha da Madeira em 2007, fomos este ano para Belém (Pará), Ipatinga (Minas Gerais), muitos lugares. São sempre viagens lindas com shows emocionantes. Nesta próxima semana iremos para uma excursão por várias cidades de São Paulo, incluindo shows em Campinas, Santo André e na capital, no Teatro do SESC Vila Mariana. Vou participar cantando em duo com ela uma música de Baden Powell e Vinicius de Moraes chamada "Bocoxê".

Como estão os trabalhos de seu novo CD?
Bem, eu estou muito feliz com o andamento do trabalho, está ficando lindo. Tem a produção musical do Arnaldo Desouteiro, que mora nos EUA e trabalha para a gravadora mais famosa de jazz que é a Verve. Ele é um "mestre", muito respeitado no exterior. Entende tudo de música, tem um bom gosto incrível, é ele quem produz os CDs da Ithamara, trabalha com outros grandes artistas também, inclusive com o João Gilberto e o João Donato, foi produtor do Luiz Bonfá e do Dom Um Romão! O que tenho para dizer é: estou em "boas mãos".

Como é o repertório?
O título eu gostaria de não revelar ainda, fazer um pouquinho de suspense, mas o que posso adiantar é que o repertório é recheado de belos sambas, pérolas da nossa música. Vale a pena falar também sobre a pesquisa de repertório, feita pelo Arnaldo. No repertório tem Noel Rosa, Ary Barroso, Candeia, João Donato, Toninho Horta, Egberto Gismonti, Herivelto Martins, além de Baden e Vinícius, autores de "Bocoxê" que gravei com a Ithamara. Ter a participação dela no meu primeiro trabalho e a produção musical do Arnaldo é um privilégio! Mas não tem composiçoes próprias...

E o ritmo das gravaçoes?
O CD eu estou gravando aos poucos, fico na dependência do Arnaldo DeSouteiro ter uma folga na agenda e poder vir ao Brasil, porque ele passa a maior parte do tempo no exterior, já que mora em Los Angeles. Estou fazendo o CD de forma independente, como todo mundo hoje em dia faz. Estamos gravando há 9 meses e a previsão de lançamento é para o início do ano que vem, se Deus quiser!

Você vive da música atualmente?

Sim, atualmente vivo só da música e sou muito feliz fazendo o que mais amo na vida que é cantar. É claro que não é fácil, mas quando você canaliza toda a sua energia positiva para realizar algo, as coisas com certeza acontecem.

Diane Hubka live, tomorrow night, in California

One of the top singers in the contemporary jazz scene, LA-based vocalist Diane Hubka has been singing and playing at this stylish, cozy wine bar & grill in Olde Town Pasadena.
GREAT wine list, GREAT food, NICE people - come join us!

Upcoming dates:
Tues, Oct. 28
Mon., Nov 3
Tues. Nov. 18
Mon. Dec 1
Mon. Dec 15
Wed., Dec 24@ 6:00 - 9:00 PM

70 South Raymond Ave., Old Town Pasadena, CA
626-792-4441

Coming soon: The Bahama Soul Club "Remixes"

Bahama Soul Club
"Sugar Cane/Nassau Jam" Remixes (Buyu) 2008

From the man behind the dancefloor bizniz of JuJu Orchestra comes The Bahama Soul Club. Oliver Belz certainly knows a thing or two about bossa and the LP "Rhythm is What Makes Jazz Jazz" is a corker. From the LP comes this great remix 12" with Smoove and Lack of Afro taking two of the best cuts and adding a British dancefloor flavour. LOA turns in yet another deep production with oomph on the drums and requisite organ and bass adding texture. The man has pure funk blood flowing through his veins.

Review of the new BAHAMA 12” EP Remixes now posted as TOP CHOICE RECORD on http://www.jellyjazz.com/frameset.html
There will be also a full LP review as “FEATURED LP” on their next radio show up very soon ...

Alexa @ Yoshi's (SF) and Alexa on Obama: Electile Dysfunction

Next Tuesday, October 28, Edgardo Cambon and Candela will be playing Yoshi's San Francisco at 8 and 10 pm, along with a host of special guests, for his CD release, "Celebrando 20 Años".

And Tuesday, November 25, Alexa Weber Morales be playing Yoshi's Oakland with her band, focusing on originals, French, Cuban and Brazilian tunes and probably the kitchen sink thrown in for good measure. Stay tuned for more information on how to get tickets!

So here come the politics: Alexa has sent me some suggestions made by one of the Bay Area's finest singers, Sandy Cressman, who has invested much time and energy in the Obama/Biden campaign:

First of all--VOTE EARLY--in San Francisco, you can vote at City Hall
7 days a week...
1) Here is the link to Colin Powell's interview endorsing Obama on Face the Nation: send it to anyone who is on the fenceor to anyone who knows anyone who is still on the fence:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265754

2) If you can get away for a weekend to canvass in a swingstate--there are two left before the election.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/driveforchange
There have been thousands of Californians going to Nevada everyweekend....but it will be even more important to go to NewMexico....Ohio....Florida...

3) Get involved calling voters in swing states. You can do this fromthe comfort of your own home:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/login?requested=%2Fpage%2Fvotercontact%2Fswitch_campaign%3Fcampaign_id%3D3Yg
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Alexa has also put a few new (original) tunes on YouTube, including a sillypolitical one that garnered laughs Friday night at an Obama fundraiserin Oakland.
So Erratic (Electile Dysfuntion)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cll86-zoj3w

Sunday, October 26, 2008

JaZzcap Music Showcase, Oct. 27 in NY

The ASCAP Foundation Presents... JaZzcap
A New Music Showcase Featuring Young Jazz Creators


Three recipients of the 2008 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards will perform: alto saxophonist/composer Patrick Cornelius, pianist/composer Roy Assaf, and trombonist/composer/arranger Omar Thomas & The Sound/Silence Small Ensemble Noted bassist and songwriter Jay Leonhart will host the event.

The ASCAP Foundation Presents... JaZzcap -- a showcase series that is designed to highlight the work of young jazz creators whose vision and daring inspire the future.

The Cutting Room, 19 West 24 Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, New York, NY

Monday, October 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Cover charge is $10. Space is limited.
Contact: 212-621-8472. jazz@ascap.com


This program is made possible by a grant to The ASCAP Foundation from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers are in their third year of sponsorship by Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of musical giant Gibson Guitar Corp. The Gibson Foundation supports The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards in
fulfillment of its commitment to educational excellence through music and the arts.

Bios of the featured composer/performers are included below.
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Patrick Cornelius
New York-based alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius is the son of a US Air Force officer and was raised in such diverse locales as Germany, Georgia, Texas, and Great Britain. Patrick began studying the piano at the age of 5, moving to the saxophone as a teen. He started performing around San Antonio during high school, later attending Berklee College of Music as an
undergraduate and Manhattan School of Music for graduate work. Patrick's performing
experience includes established venues such as The London Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Ronie Scott's and The Kennedy Center, as well as popular New York jazz clubs, including The Jazz Gallery, Fat Cat, Cachaca, and Smalls. Patrick has been
recognized by The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, and was also honored with the Billboard Endowed Award. Cornelius has garnered ASCAP Young Jazz Composer awards in 2005, 2006, and 2007. His solo recording debut is titled Lucid Dream. Patrick’s 2008 performance schedule includes a 37-date tour of the UK and Europe with his band The TransAtlantic Collective.
http://www.patrickcornelius.com/

The Roy Assaf Quartet
Recently, pianist Roy Assaf was invited to play with The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band and share the stage with such jazz legends as Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart and many more, on a nine nation European tour. They also performed in Canada, Puerto Rico, and at the famed Blue Note in New York City. In the past two years,
Assaf has also performed with George Garzone, Claudio Roditi, Steve Davis, T.S. Monk, John Lee, Dave Samuels and Giovanni Hidalgo, ampng others. His honors include the Eubie Blake
National Jazz Institute Award, the 30th Downbeat Student Music Award, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Prize, first place in the International Red Sea Jazz Festival's Jazz Groups
Competition, second place in the Charlie Palmieri Memorial piano Competition, and The 2008 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award. Assaf is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has studied with Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, and Joanne Brackeen. In September 2006 Roy entered a Masters program at Manhattan School of Music where he studies individually
with Kenny Barron and Jason Moran. www.royassaf.com

Omar Thomas
Trombonist/composer/arranger Omar Thomas grew up in Newark, Delaware, where he began to study music at eight. While studying at Virginia's James Madison University, Omar wrote his first Big Band composition, which led to his being invited to participate in the first annual Jazz Composers Symposium in 2006. Thomas completed his Bachelors in Music in 2005 and has just received his Masters in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music. Among his teachers in arranging and composition are Maria Schneider, Frank Carlberg, Dr. Charles Dotas and Dr. Ken Schaphorst. Thomas's musical pursuits also include writing and arranging for marching band. www.myspace.com/omarthomasmusic

About The ASCAP Foundation
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States. www.ascapfoundation.org

Tribute to Benny Goodman & Peggy Lee

Directed by Everett Longstreth, this 14-piece band plays the music of the late “King of Swing” as Amanda Carr performs a dynamic vocal tribute to the remarkable Peggy Lee.

10/27 Hagarstown, MD: Maryland Theatre 7:30pm
10/28 Seaford, DE: Seaford H.S. 8pm
10/29 Beaver Falls, PA: Middle School Auditorium 7:30pm
10/30 Dayton, OH: Centerville Performing Arts Ctr 7:30pm

“Authentic! There were times when I forgot I was watching Carr and simply enjoyed Peggy Lee” .... Joanne Nuzzo, Director of Special Events, Staten Island USA

"Do It Again" available @ Disc-Order

Eumir Deodato's "Do It Again", the acclaimed compilation produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro for the Verve Music Group, is now available at Disc-Order.
To purchase, click in the links below:
DEODATO - JAZZ CLUB-DO IT AGAIN (Compact Disc), barcode 0600753007150Compact Disc: DEODATO - JAZZ CLUB-DO IT AGAIN, barcode 0600753007150.

R.I.P.: Peter J. Levinson

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/25/AR2008102502132.html

Peter Levinson
(b: Jul. 1st,1934, Atlantic City/NJ;
d: Oct. 21, 2008, Malibu/CA)

The critic and jazz publicist Peter Levinson died at his home in Malibu, California, on October 21st at the age of 74. As a publicist he had worked with stars such as Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, Jack Lemmon, Art Garfunkel, but also jazz musicians such as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Dave Brubeck, Billy Taylor, Mel Tormé, Ramsey Lewis, George Shearing, Chick Corea, Maynard Ferguson and Wynton Marsalis. He also wrote biographies of Harry James, Nelson Riddle and Tommy Dorsey. His Fred Astaire biography is to be published early next year.
Obituary: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/25/AR2008102502132.html

Dennis Mitcheltree's Quartet at Gillespie Auditorium, Oct. 28

Come and enjoy the swingin’ sounds of Saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree’s Quartet next Tuesday, October 28 at "Jazz Tuesdays" in the Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Baha'i Center at 53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway). There will be two shows at 8:00 and 9:30PM, featuring Dennis Mitcheltree on saxophones, Johannes Wallmann on piano, Jesse Crawford on bass, and Bill McClellan on drums.

Described as a “master storyteller with the tenor sax” (Jared Donze, Iowa City Icon) and as “soulful, swinging, and street smart” (Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide), Milwaukee native Dennis Mitcheltree, tenor saxophone, has spent the last couple of decades shaping the sound of New York City’s Brooklyn jazz scene: "Mitcheltree's quartet is definitely hardcore NYC: tough sounding, aggressive, and complex.” (Dave McElfresh, Jazz Now)

A former student of Joe Lovano, Billy Pierce, George Garzone and Ralph Lalama, Mitcheltree works primarily with his own trio and quartet, with whom he has recorded four CDs of original compositions. He has performed in clubs, concert halls and at jazz festivals throughout North America and Europe, including numerous performances at Carnegie Hall, and has been featured on televised jazz specials and live radio performance and interview programs

worldwide. Some of Mitcheltree’s collaborations have included jazz greats Bob Moses, Jim McNeely, Howard Johnson, Gary Bartz, George Cables, Odean Pope, Kenny Werner, Ingrid Jensen, James Williams, Don Sickler, Charli Persip, Pete Yellin, Uri Caine and Ronnie Mathews. Mitcheltree is the Artistic Director of the American Music Group, widely known for it’s INFLUENCES series presenting original arrangements of compositions by jazz masters including Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Thelonious Monk, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, John Coltrane and Miles Davis. He has been a panelist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Jazz Fellowship program and the Brooklyn Arts Council Regrant Program.
He has twice been a recipient of the Eubie Blake Award, a 2004 & 2008 Meet The Composer award winner (for Tenor Of The Times), a New York State Council on the Arts grant recipient and the alternate finalist for the 1996 Evansville International Jazz Saxophone Competition.

Admission is 15.00, $10.00 for students.
Tickets will be sold at the door, or call 212-222-5159 for reservations and information.
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Jazz Tuesdays
in the John Birks Gillespie Auditorium
The New York Baha'i Center
53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway)
Two shows: 8:00 and 9:30 p.m.

CD of the Day - "Stanley Clarke: Children of Forever"

CD of the Day
Stanley Clarke: "Children of Forever" (Polydor) 1973/2008

Clarke's debut solo album was recorded on December 26 & 27, 1972 and produced by Chick Corea, who played on all five tracks, arranged four of them and wrote the epic "Sea Journey". Chick plays mostly Fender Rhodes and Hohner Clavinet, except on "Butterfly Dreams", on which he turns to the acoustic piano. Curiously, Stanley Clarke, then a 21-year young phenomenon from Philadelphia, performs all songs on the acoustic piano, adding electric bass only on "Bass Folk Song," which he had recorded one month earlier for Joe Farrell's "Moon Germs" LP (CTI) with Herbie Hancock on Rhodes and Jack DeJohnette on drums.
Except for the mellow pop-ish title track, it's a very consistent effort originally issued by Polydor, the same label for which Chick Corea's Return To Forever group had been signed at that time.
Now reissued on Verve's "Originals" series, on digipak format, the album features Art Webb (flute), Pat Martino (electric guitar and 12-string acoustic guitar), Lenny White (drums) plus the magnificent voices of Andy Bey and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Then a 22-year old promising singer, married to trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater and working as a vocalist on the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra on the famous Monday night gigs at NY's Village Vanguard, Dee Dee shines specially on "Unexpected Days."
"Butterfly Dreams" would later become one of Clarke's better known songs, after being selected as the title track of Flora Purim's debut LP for Milestone, recorded in December 1973. Flora herself added the lyrics.
On "Children of Forever," however, all tracks are by Scientology's main poet, Neville Potter, famous for his partnership with Corea on such fusion anthems as "500 Miles High," "Sometime Ago," "Time's Lie" and "Open Your Eyes You Can Fly."

"The Career of Arnaldo DeSouteiro"

The Career of Arnaldo DeSouteiro : A site done in tribute to Arnaldo DeSouteiro of Jazz Station Records.
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Some months ago, I got a very special birthday gift: renowned discographer Barbara "B.J." Major started a website titled "The Career of Arnaldo DeSouteiro: A site done in tribute to Arnaldo DeSouteiro of Jazz Station Records." Of course I felt honored and deeply moved.
B.J. runs fantastic websites about such great artists as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Claus Ogerman, João Donato, Henry Mancini, Sergio Mendes and Claudio Slon, and now I can say I'm part of this "family of discographies".
"The Career of Arnaldo DeSouteiro" still is a work-in-progress, since B.J. needs to divides her time between her many sites, besides her regular job. But her intention is to list, with detailed info, all 300-plus titles on which I'm credited as a producer or supervisor or liner notes writer.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks, B.J.!

http://www.bjbear71.com/DeSouteiro/Arnaldo.html

Keith Jarrett Trio live, tonight

KEITH JARRETT, GARY PEACOCK, JACK DEJOHNETTE APPEAR AT BOSTON SYMPHONY HALL
Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 8:00 pm
http://web.me.com/sueauclair/25th_Anniversary_Concert/Keith_Jarrett,_Gary_Peacock,_Jack_DeJohnette.html

Check out:
Robin Young’s 20 minute piece on WBUR’s Here & Now:

Boston Globe Interview with Keith & Jack by Siddhartha Mitter: http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2008/10/23/threes_the_best_company/


Boston Phoenix Critic’s Tip by Jon Garelick

Enjoy!

How Arnaldo can change America

Dear Arnaldo,

Election Day is just days away, but you still have plenty of opportunities to make a difference for Barack.
Change never comes without a fight -- and it won't come at all unless each of us does our part.
Will you browse the list of activities below and see what you can fit into your schedule?
Our records show that you live in California's 23rd district.
Get involved and help bring change now.

WEDNESDAY October 29th
Last Call for Change House Parties
Supporters are coming together on Wednesday, October 29th, to watch Barack's national TV appearance and call voters in battleground states. Talking one-on-one with potential fellow voters is one of the easiest and most effective ways for you to make an impact in this election.
Find a Last Call for Change house party near you or sign up to host one.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY November 1st & 2nd
Last Call for Change Phonebanks
There are hundreds of phonebanks being organized in towns and cities across the country -- and there's one right near you. You can come together with fellow supporters and reach out to voters in battleground states. Your call could be the one to get a supporter to the polls or help an undecided voter make up their mind.
Find your local Last Call for Change phonebank and sign up now to make a difference.

EVERY DAY through Election Day
Drive for Change -- Nevada
If you can get out of town for a day or two, will you sign up to drive to Nevada? Face-to-face contact is the most powerful way to get out the vote or persuade undecided voters in battleground states. Grab a couple friends and join us for a weekend road trip.Sign up today -- Nevada staff are waiting for your help.

Call from Home
We need to make 300,000 calls to voters in battleground states this weekend. Right from your own home, on your own schedule, you can do your part in just an hour or two by calling voters in Pennsylvania. We'll give you the phone numbers and the talking points. It couldn't be easier.
Get your list of Pennsylvania voters to call right now.

Each passing day is an opportunity we'll never have again to change America. Thanks for all you've done. Now let's make sure we don't wake up on November 5th wondering if we could have done more.

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

Friday, October 24, 2008

"Jazz Rock" released today in Germany!

"Jazz Rock", a new compilation produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro for the Verve Music Group, is coming out today (October 24, 2008) in Germany, after having been released in the rest of Europe on October 17.
German customers can order it through Amazon:
http://www.amazon.de/Jazz-Rock-Club-Various/dp/B001ET7YFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1225147022&sr=8-1
*********
Seit die "Jazz Club"-Serie vor zwei Jahren startete, dürfen sich Jazzfans über eine wahre Flut preiswerter Veröffentlichungen freuen. In der Reihe erscheint ein abwechslungsreiches Programm von historischen Aufnahmen über klassischen Jazz bis hin zu aktuellen Trends. Acht Folgen kommen jetzt neu hinzu.
Von dem bekannten brasilianischen Journalisten Arnaldo DeSouteiro wurde zudem kundig ein "Jazz Rock"-Sampler mit Aufnahmen von George Duke, Chick Corea's Return To Forever, Albert Mangelsdorff (featuring Jaco Pastorius & Alphonse Mouzon!), Joachim Kühn, Tony Williams Lifetime, Don Sebesky, Deodato, Alphonse Mouzon, Didier Lockwood, den Brecker Brothers und Chet Baker zusammengestellt.

"Lick My House" - THE PARTY! Tomorrow at Bypass


Tomorrow night, October 25, if you're in (or near) Switzerland, don't miss the "Lick My House" party at "Bypass", the best club in Genève. The musical selection will include dancefloor hits originally produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro (for albums by Gazzara, Dom Um Romão, Ithamara Koorax, Palmyra & Levita with João Donato etc) and remixed by such acclaimed DJs as Parov Stelar, DJ Preo, Brisa, Tetsu Shibuya, Cargo, King Kooba, Ian O'Brien, G-Force, Catalyst, Hallucinator, RAS, Sci Clone, Nubian Mindz, Jerome Sydenham and many others. The house remixes of "O Passarinho" (co-written by Arnaldo DeSouteiro, remixed by Top German DJ Tom Novy), Milton Nascimento's "Escravos de Jó" (performed by Koorax) and Carlinhos Brown's "Rapunzel" (by Palmyra & Levita with Donato) will be featured in this exciting and super-hot party! You'll not believe in your ears (and eyes...)
********
Bypass Genève
Carrefour de l’Etoile 1,
1227 Les Acacias Genève *** 0022 300 6565

Agents of Karma live in Manhattan, tomorrow

Agents of Karma Live!
October 25, 2008 9:00PM
Otto’s shrunken Head
538 East 14th St.,
Manhattan, NY

Last Call: this weekend

In crucial battleground states like Ohio, Florida, and Virginia, the race is neck-and-neck. This weekend, you can help Barack get ahead. In every corner of the country, friends and neighbors are coming together for Last Call for Change phonebanks to call potential supporters in battleground states. There's one right near you. All you need to do is bring a cell phone -- and some friends -- and we'll take care of the rest.
Find your local Last Call for Change phonebank and make a difference this weekend.
With Election Day just around the corner, swing voters are getting bombarded with the McCain campaign's lies and distortions. It's more important than ever that supporters like you reach out and share the truth about Barack one-on-one. You can also let voters in battleground states know about important early voting opportunities. It's a great opportunity to get together with friends and fellow supporters and, at the same time, make a difference in a crucial state.
Find a phonebank near you and sign up today.
Together, we can reach millions of voters, generate historic turnout, and win this election.
You can make calls from home at any time that's convenient for you. Get a list of swing voters in Ohio and we'll provide the talking points: http://my.barackobama.com/CallOhioNow