Diana Krall live tonight in Utah

Diana Krall will be performing tonight, July 31, at the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City, UT (Utah).
For tickets:
http://www.ticketluck.com/categories/Diana-Krall/Diana-Krall-Salt-Lake-City-UT/index.php

Red Butte Gardens
Nature's Handiwork High on a Hill
300 Wakara Way
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
84108

Neighborhood:
Phone: +1 801 581 4747
Fax: +1 801 585 6491

Email Website Map add to Travel Bag

Operated by the University of Utah, these botanical Red Butte Gardens offer visitors panoramic valley views and an extensive collection of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs from around the world. The gardens and arboretum remain open all year with displays changing to fit the season. The visitors' center offers frequent educational programs, miles of hiking trail beckon outdoor enthusiasts and light shows, chamber concerts and guided treks entertain guests throughout the year.

Kristin Korb Trio @ Hip Kitty, tomorrow night

You know the drill...cool dark room, comfy booths, tasty beverages, swinging music.

This is the place to hang out on Friday night!

Kristin Korb (bass & vocals), Joe Bagg (piano) & Steve Barnes (drums).

Hip Kitty

Friday, July 31, 7:30-11:30pm

502 W. First St.

Claremont, CA 91711

Jennifer Leitham live @ Cafe 322 tonight!

The Jennifer Leitham Trio, led by bassist/vocalist Jennifer Leitham with Josh Nelson (piano) and Randy Drake (drums), will be performing tonight, July 29, from 8 to 11pm, at the "Cafe 322" in Sierra Madre, California. Leitham was praised by the late jazz historian Leonard Feather as "the left-hand virtuoso of the upright bass."

Cafe 322 is an amazing combination of excellent, affordable gourmet Italian cuisine and world class music. Nestled in the foothills of Sierra Madre, (near Pasadena), it's truly a cultural gem, a rarity in the artistic wasteland of L.A.

Cafe 322
322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre, CA
626-836-5414
http://www.cafe322.com

****************
In addition to her successful performance career, Jennifer has appeared on over 100 sessions with some of the giants of jazz music. In addition, she has recorded 7 highly acclaimed CDs of her own.

Jennifer is best known for her decade long stints with both Mel Tormé and Doc Severinsen. She has appeared with many distinguished artists including Woody Herman, George Shearing, Gerry Mulligan, Peggy Lee, Joe Pass, Cleo Laine, Louie Bellson, Pete Rugolo, Bill Watrous, and numerous others. She has also been a member of the Tonight Show All-Stars, The Woody Herman Thundering Herd, Benny Carter Quintet, Bob Cooper Quartet, DIVA, and more.

Jennifer has been invited to perform as a featured artist or group member at almost every major jazz festival in North America and many overseas. A highly regarded educator, she is enthusiastically received as a presenter of workshops and clinics at schools and colleges around the country, and has joined the faculty at California State University Long Beach as a Studio Artist.

Jennifer's own highly regarded CD's include "Leitham Up," "The Southpaw," "Lefty Leaps In," "Live!" and "Two for the Road" (a duo performance with guitarist Jimmy Bruno). Her sixth CD, "The Real Me" features her original compositions and for the first time, her singing voice. Jennifer's latest CD "Left Coast Story" is a collection of requests from her loyal fans. From her unique arrangements of "West Side Story" to heartfelt vocal ballads to interpretations of compositions ranging from Henry Mancini to Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls to to a Flamenco tinged solo bass version of Vince Guaralidi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" it's a collection that continues the tradition of Jennifer's ear pleasing art!

Her incredible story has been profiled in many respected publications, including JazzTimes, The Hollywood Reporter, Cadence, and the Los Angeles Times.

Alexa Weber Morales' shows tonight, tomorrow and Friday in the SF Bay!

Many exciting news from Alexa Weber Morales, my favorite latin-jazz singer in the Bay Area!

"Helloooooo Arnaldo ~

It's feast or famine, as usual, and this month has been a feast beyond compare! Looking at my calendar, I see we began with a bulky pickup from the garbage company -- oops, meant to stay focused on the music gigs. Yes, well, to begin with my family and I spent a marvelous week at Oakland's 85-year-old Feather River Camp in Plumas County (five hours north of here). I taught music and salsa aerobics, and we put together a slammin show with the campers, young and not-so-young, by week's end. Shouts out to my fellow teachers, Howard Pomerantz and Larry Ferrara.

Next, I was honored to be called in by Rudy Ramirez to appear on a pledge break with him and DJ Chris Cortez (not pictured) in support of KCSM TV (sister to KCSM jazz radio at FM 91.1). We had great chemistry. This will be airing Saturday, August 8 at 8 pm with the Latin Legends show focusing on mostly West Coast rock from bands such as Azteca, El Chicano and Santana. In researching for this I gained new insight about these bands and their ties to latin jazz! (Pictured below, left-to-right: Rudy Ramirez, Alexa and producer Kaveh Nikpour)

We've also been in intensive rehearsals the past two weeks as singer/dancer Seaon Stylist helms an ambitious salsa tribute to Michael Jackson. See below for details! This is a smashing show with pro dancers, singers, hip hoppers and a live band with all new salsa arrangements of the greatest MJ songs ever. And I have been learning choreography too -- yikes!

We'll preview Friday's show tonight at the Down Low in Berkeley. Also, tomorrow check out our free latin jazz show at Cafe Claude in the San Francisco financial district. Please come and say hi! Heck, bring your axe and jam with us!

There's a lot simmering. I hope to see you savoring the music soon!
Siempre cantando,
Alexa"
***********
Gigs Details:

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Preview of Michael Jackson Tribute - 11:30pm
The Downlow
2284 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA
510.548.1159
Price: $10

Seaon Stylist, Jesus Ortiz and I will be performing selections from Seaon's upcoming song-and-salsa-dance tribute to Michael Jackson tonight with Montuno Swing, the hip salsa band led by intrepid arranger Cristian Tumalan. Look for us in the second set!

Thursday, July 30th, 2009
France in the Financial District - 7:30pm
Cafe Claude
7 Claude Lane (near Kearny & Sutter)
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.392.3505
Price: $0
If you want delicious French eats, beautiful people and live jazz, come and say hi. Watch out -- we may ask you to sit in with us!

Friday, July 31st, 2009
Michael Jackson Latin Tribute featuring Seaon Stylist & Montuno Swing! - 9:00pm
Cafe Cocomo
650 Indiana St
San Francisco, CA 94107
650-676-8900
Price: $15 advance, $20 door

I will be singing backup and dancing for this Michael Jackson Latin Tribute featuring Seaon Stylist & Montuno Swing! Come dance to the music of MJ as Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Bolero & Cha Cha Cha!

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Capitol Sunday Jazz Series, 5-8 PM - 5:00pm

JB's Lounge (formerly Savanna's) at the Red Lion Hotel
1401 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA 95815
916-723-5517 press 3 for reserva
Price: $8

With Jeff Minnieweather, drumset, Rob Lemas, bass, and Scott Collard, piano. It's been over a year since we played this gorgeous lounge and its enthusiastic audience, MC'd by the vivacious Vivian Lee. Don't miss our return appearance!"

Eliane Elias on & off tour

(pic by Fernando Louza)

After two concerts in Canada (at the Montreal and Toronto Jazz Festivals) and a sold-out eight-concert European tour (that took her to Spain, Portugal, Italy and France) this month, the NY-based Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias starts to work on her next recording project.

She will be back on the road only in August 12, as one of the stars of the "Bill Evans 80th Birthday Tribute" series at the Iridium jazz club in NY.

Then, the next concert dates on her busy schedule include:
September 5 2009 - Debrecen Jazz Festival, Debrecen, Hungary
September 7 2009 - Ronnie Scott’s London, UK
September 8 2009 - Ronnie Scott’s London, UK
September 9 2009 - Ronnie Scott’s London, UK
September 11 2009 - Palma de Mallorca, Spain
September 12 2009 - Alcudia, Spain
September 18 2009 - Jazz en Touraine, Montlouis sur Loire, France
September 25 2009 - Palais Montcalm, Quebec City, Canada
October 2 2009 - Cayenne, French Guyana
October 7 2009 - Billboard Live, Osaka, Japan
October 8 2009 - Billboard Live, Osaka, Japan
October 9 2009 - Billboard Live, Tokyo, Japan
October 10 2009 - Billboard Live, Tokyo, Japan
October 17 2009 - La Maison des Arts, Thonon-les-Bains, France
October 19 2009 - La Cigale, Paris, France
October 20 2009 - L’Avant Seine, Colombes, France
October 21 2009 - Nimes Metropoles Festival , Bouillarges, France
October 23 2009 - Masters of Jazz Festival, Romania
October 25 2009 - Welt Musik Festival, Murnau, Germany
October 27 2009 - Widder bar, Zurich, Switzerland
November 21 2009 - Miniaci PAC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Upcoming shows @ GAMH in SF

Complete list of shows at GAMH (Great American Music Hall) in San Francisco:

-Mekons (Tues. 7/28)
-Wall of Voodoo's Stan Ridgway & Band (Fri. 7/31)
-The Script (Sat. 8/1)
-Deerhoof (Sun. 8/2)
-KALX Presents: John Doe & The Sadies (Tues. 8/4)
-Rebelution (Wed. 8/5)
-The Infamous Stringdusters (Thurs. 8/6)
-KUSF Presents: The Gris Gris (Fri. 8/7)
-Bowie Ball: A Tribute to All Things Bowie (Fri. 8/14)
-Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers (Sat. 8/15)
-Emiliana Torrini (Tues. 8/18)
-Aphrodesia (Fri. 8/21)
-Maisha Productions Presents: Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca (Sat. 8/22)
-Hammers of Misfortune (Fri. 8/28)
-The Minus 5 (Sun. 8/30)
-KALX Presents: Tinted Windows (Fri. 9/4) *note date / venue change*
-The Tubes featuring Fee Waybill (Sat. 9/5)
-Cass McCombs (Wed. 9/9)
-Hot Buttered Rum (Fri. & Sat. 9/11 & 9/12)
-World / Inferno Friendship Society (Thurs. 9/17)
-Dirty Three (Sat. 9/19)
-KPIG Presents: Jerry Jeff Walker (Thurs. 9/24)
-The Radiators (Fri. 9/25)
-Sondre Lerche (solo electric) (Sun. 9/27)
-Mason Jennings (Tues. & Wed. 9/29 & 9/30)
-Toubab Krewe (Thurs. 10/8)
-Ingrid Michaelson (Fri. 10/9)
-The Tommy Castro Band & the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue (Sat. 10/10)
-Dolores O'Riordan (the voice of The Cranberries) (Sun. 10/11)
-Mono (Mon. 10/12)
-The David Bromberg Big Band (Thurs. & Fri. 10/15 & 10/16)
-Why? (Sat. 10/17)
-Joshua Radin (Thurs. 10/29)
Keller Williams (Sat. 11/21)

Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
Info: (415) 885-0750
Web: www.gamh.com

CD of the Day - "Bill Evans & George Russell: Living Time"

CD of the Day
Bill Evans & George Russell Orchestra: "Living Time" (Columbia/Sony) 1972/1993

This may not be regarded as an "essential" item in George Russell's discography. But certainly it's an essential album in my George Russell collection. Actually, I consider the unexpected pairing of Russell and Bill Evans on "Living Time" (recorded at Columbia's 30th Street in NY, in May 1972) as one of the most stunning, provocative, intriguing, challenging and adventurous collaborations in jazz history. Period.
For those who are not familiar with this album, I must say "purists beware!" But even the most traditional Evans' fans shall listen to it, at least to be shocked. It's really a transcendental experience.
Evan's trio (with Bill on both acoustic & electric Fender Rhodes pianos, Eddie Gomez on acoustic bass and Marty Morell on drums) is augmented by a larger "rhythm section" featuring drummer Tony Williams, percussionist Marc Belair, keyboardists Webster Lewis (organ & Rhodes) & Ted Saunders (clavinet & Rhodes), guitarist Sam Brown, and nothing less than three bassists, all playing the Fender electric bass: Ron Carter (yesssss!), Stanley Clarke & Herb Bushler, each one playing in a different movement.
Among the members of the orchestra are Joe Henderson, Jimmy Giufree, Sam Rivers, Howard Johnson, Snooky Young, Garnett Brown and Ernie Royal.
To give you a small idea of this jazz adventure - composed, arranged & conducted by George Russell at Bill's request -, all I can say is that "Living Time" (a suite?) is divided into eight "events" (movements), "but it is clearly a single unified work," like Orrin Keepnews wrote in the original LP liner notes.
(My personal favorite "track" is "Event V", on which the two jazz geniuses achieve the complete fusion of their styles and the work reaches its climax.)
Orrin also explains Russell's "cycles" concept: "A cycle leader (or even the entire cycle) solos for a period determined not by a set number of bars but by 'clock time' - either a predetermined number of seconds or what the composer/conductor feels is 'right'..."
"It's as if I were creating an improvised sculpture," Russell added. In other words: it's beyond words.
I was lucky to get my CD copy during one of my several trips to Japan in the 90s, since it's a big shame that Sony never reissued it domestically in the USA.
You can catch the video interview from 1972 in which Bill talks a bit about the project here

R.I.P.: George Russell

Composer, theoretician, pianist George Russell passed away this evening, July 27, 2009, a few minutes ago (at approximately 9:10PM) from complications due to Alzheimer’s. He leaves his wife Alice Russell, his son Jock Millgardh and three grandchildren, Maya, Kalle and Max.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memory Disorders Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. http://www.massgeneral.org/neurology/support/

There will be no funeral, but a memorial service will be planned in the future.

Bio info from his official website:

George Russell was a hugely influential, innovative figure in the evolution of modern jazz, the music's only major theorist, one of its most profound composers, and a trail blazer whose ideas have transformed and inspired some of the greatest musicians of our time.

Russell was born in Cincinnati in 1923, the adopted son of a registered nurse and a chef on the B&O Railroad. He began playing drums with the Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps and eventually received a scholarship to Wilberforce University where he joined the Collegians, whose list of alumni include Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, Ben Webster, Cootie Williams, Ernie Wilkins and Frank Foster.

But his most valuable musical education came in 1941, when, in attempting to enlist in the Marines, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, spending 6 months in the hospital where he was taught the fundamentals of harmony from a fellow patient. From the hospital he sold his first work, "New World," to Benny Carter. He joined Benny Carter's Band, but was replaced by Max Roach; after Russell heard Roach, he decided to give up drumming.

He moved to New York where he was part of a group of musicians who gathered in the basement apartment of Gil Evans. The circle included Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Max Roach, Johnny Carisi and on occasion, Charlie Parker. He was commissioned to write a piece for Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra; the result was the seminal "Cubano Be/Cubano Bop" the first fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz, premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1947 and featuring Chano Pozo. Two years later his "Bird in Igor's Yard" was recorded by Buddy DeFranco, a piece notable for its fusion of elements from Charlie Parker and Stravinsky.

It was a remark made by Miles Davis when George asked him his musical aim which set Russell on the course which has been his life. Miles said he "wanted to learn all the changes." Since Miles obviously knew all the changes, Russell surmised that what he meant was he wanted to learn a new way to relate to chords. This began a quest for Russell, and again hospitalized for 16 months, he began to develop his "Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization." First published in 1953, the Lydian Concept is credited with opening the way into modal music, as demonstrated by Miles in his seminal "Kind of Blue" recording.

Using the Lydian Scale as the PRIMARY SCALE of Western music, the Lydian Chromatic Concept introduced the idea of chord/scale unity. It was the first theory to explore the vertical relationship between chords and scales, and was the only original theory to come from jazz. Throughout the 1950's and 60's, Russell continued to work on developing the Concept and leading bands under his direction.

In the mid-fifties, a superb sextet, including Bill Evans and Art Farmer recorded under his direction, producing "The Jazz Workshop," an album of astonishing originality; the often dense textures and rhythms anticipated the jazz-rock movement of the 1970's. During this time, he was also working odd jobs as a counterman in a lunch spot and selling toys at Macy's at Christmas; the release of “The Jazz Workshop” put an end to Russell’s jobs outside of music.

He was one of a group to be commissioned to write for the first annual Brandeis Jazz Festival in 1957--"All About Rosie" was based on an Alabama children's song. "New York, New York," with poetry by Jon Hendricks and featuring Bill Evans, Max Roach, John Coltrane, Milt Hinton, Bob Brookmeyer, Art Farmer and a Who's Who of the New York jazz scene is striking in it evocation of the New York of the late fifties. From 1960, Russell began leading his own sextets around the New York area and at festivals; he also toured throughout the Midwest and Europe with his sextet. One of the important albums of this time was "Ezz-Thetic," which featured Eric Dolphy, Don Ellis and Steve Swallow.

Disillusioned by his lack of recognition and the meager work opportunities in America, he arrived in a wheel chair in Scandinavia in 1964, but returned five years later in spiritual health. In Sweden and Norway he found support for both himself and his music. All his works were recorded by radio and TV, and he was championed by Bosse Broberg, the adventurous Director of Swedish Radio, an organization with which Russell maintains a close association and admiration. While there, he heard and recorded a young Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, and Jon Christensen.

In 1969, he returned to the States at the request of his old friend, Gunther Schuller to teach at the newly created Jazz Department at the New England Conservatory where Schuller was President. He continued to develop the Lydian Concept and toured with his own groups. He played Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, the Bottom Line, Newport, Wolftrap, The Smithsonian, Sweet Basil, the West Coast, the Southwest, and Europe with his 14 member orchestra. He continued to compose extended works which defined jazz composition. His 1985 recording, "The African Game," one of the first in the revived Blue Note label, received 2 Grammy nominations. Russell has taught throughout the world, and has been guest conductor for Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, German and Italian radio.

In 1986, he was invited by the Contemporary Music Network of the British Council to tour with an orchestra of American and British musicians, which resulted in The International Living Time Orchestra, which has been touring and performing since that time. Among the soloists of stature are Stanton Davis, Dave Bargeron, Brad Hatfield, Steve Lodder, Tiger Okoshi, and Andy Sheppard. The musicians have developed a rare understanding of the music, astonishing audiences with fiery music both complex and challenging, but added to the dynamism and electric power of funk and rock. Russell himself was a tremendously visual leader, dancing and forming architectural structures with his hands.

The Living Time Orchestra has toured all over the world. Most recent projects included a performance at the Barbican Centre in London and the Cite de la Musique in Paris, augmented with string players from the U.K. and France, the Theatre Champs-Elysées for the Festival D'automne in Paris, the Glasgow International Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Tokyo Music Joy, the Library of Congress, Festivals of Umbria, Verona, Lisbon, Milano, Pori, Bath, Huddersfield, Ravenna, Catania, North Sea, and many more.

Russell has received the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts American Jazz Master, been elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy, two Guggenheim Fellowships, the Oscar du Disque de Jazz, the Guardian Award, six NEA Music Fellowships, the American Music Award, and numerous others.

(with thanks to Sue Auclair)

Watch a video of George Russell, Ornette Coleman and the late Robert Palmer of the New York Times from the movie, "Ornette: Made in America," directed by Shirley Clarke

Streisand & Krall perform Luiz Bonfá!

Luiz Bonfá's "The Gentle Rain," the first song by a Brazilian composer ever recorded by Diana Krall (on her 1997 album "Love Scenes" for GRP), is being revived by DK and Barbra Streisand on their collaboration project "Love Is The Answer." Although, for strange marketing purposes, she was oriented to not mention this song nor Bonfa's name in the interviews for the promo campaigns of both "Quiet Nights" and "Live in Rio," the fact is that the main theme written by Bonfá for the soundtrack of the Burt Balaban movie "The Gentle Rain" (a film released by Paramount in 1966) was the first Brazilian song that Diana fall in love with.

In the liner notes that Barbra herself prepared for the CD, she wrote: "I used to warm up to Gentle Rain every night before my last concert tour. I was especially drawn to the melody of this bittersweet bossa nova. Composer Luiz Bonfá also wrote the gorgeous Manhã de Carnaval, theme from the movie Black Orpheus which introduced the whole world to the rhythms of Brazil. Diana's solo captures the essence of a gentle rain."

Btw, Diana plays piano only on four tracks: "In the Wee Small Hours," "Gentle Rain," "Here's That Rainy Day" and "Love Dance". Actually, she overdubbed her beautiful solo on "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," since Tamir Hendelman plays on all other segments of the song, backing Barbra's vocal part.

(Wilson, Hamilton, DK, Barbra, Clayton & Hendelman)

The other musicians on the session were pianists Alan Broadbent (the official conductor of DK's "Quiet Nights World Tour" in every concert on which an orchestra is involved, like happened throughout the Canadian leg) and Bill Charlap, bassists John Clayton and Robert Hurst, drummer Jeff Hamilton, guitarist Anthony Wilson (who also scored "Love Dance"). Paulinho da Costa, the Brazilian percussionist, who performed on Diana's "Live in Paris" and "Live in Rio" DVDs, as well as on her studio dates "The Look of Love" and "Quiet Nights," appears on the two bossa-tinged tracks: "Gentle Rain" and "Love Dance".

(The original soundtrack for "The Gentle Rain," recorded in 1965, produced by Bobby Scott for Mercury Records with orchestral arrangements by Eumir Deodato, was reissued on CD only in Japan, back in 2006, in a mini-LP sleeve; the movie, produced & directed by Burt Balaban, starring Christopher George & Linda Day, was filmed in Rio, and became a complete fiasco. However, its soundtrack turned to be a legendary movie score, yielding the hits "The Gentle Rain" (made famous by Tony Bennett on his "The Movie Song Album" for Columbia, with Bonfá himself on the guitar) and "Non-Stop To Brazil" (Astrud Gilberto did the first vocal version on her "The Shadow of Your Smile" album for Verve, titled after Mandel's song. A lot of "coincidences", hum?)

But there's more: both "The Gentle Rain" and "Non-Stop To Brazil" were selected by producer Arnaldo DeSouteiro (Bonfá's longtime producer) for the album "Almost In Love / Ithamara Koorax Sings The Luiz Bonfá Songbook," recorded by Koorax with Bonfá on the guitar, and a Top 10 CD in Japan in 1996. Koorax also recorded, under DeSouteiro's production, Ivan Lins' "Love Dance," the #7 track on Barbra Streisand's "Love Is The Answer"...

Btw, Bonfá and I attended Diana's so-and-so concert at the Free Jazz Festival in Rio, in 1997, when she was backed only by Ben Wolfe on bass and Russell Malone on guitar. That night, DK's performance was affected by the terrible acoustics of the "cement hall" on which she was forced to perform. Curiously, that same old & phantasmagoric hall (on Rio's "MAM" - Museum of Modern Art) now became the "Vivo Rio" hall (still with horrible acoustics) on which the "Live in Rio" DVD was filmed last November.

About the collaboration with Barbra, Diana Krall wrote in the liner notes: "So, how do you start to work on a record such as this? A shot in the dark, a chance remark, a list of songs in the mail. Short notes and conversations, a few cocktails and some laughter. These are the steps you take."
Obviously, everything becomes easier when you have a super-team taking care of the, let's say, "technical aspects": co-producer Tommy LiPuma, engineers Al Schmitt & Steve Genewick. Not to mention the genius Johnny Mandel orchestrating most of the songs during sessions that took place last at Capitol Studios, in Hollywood, last November, soon after the filming of DK's "Live in Rio" DVD.
The final song selections for "Love Is The Answer," the eagerly awaited new studio collection of intimate jazz standards performed by Barbra Streisand, were revealed today, June 27, by Sony Music-NY in anticipation of the album's release on Tuesday, September 29. It's the first full-length collection of new studio recordings from eight-time Grammy award winner Barbra Streisand since 2005's "Guilty Pleasures."

According to the Columbia press-release, "'Love Is The Answer' showcases the artist as a singer of emotional clarity, depth and maturity, offering the listener a selection of heartfelt late-night meditations on love's powers, heartbreaks and solaces. 'Love Is The Answer' provides an opportunity for Streisand to work for the first time with the Grammy-winning Canadian jazz artist Diana Krall and her quartet who bring a refined and sensual poignancy to the album's sophisticated and subtle accompaniments."

Rounding out the album's smoky after-hours ambience with his sublime orchestrations is the legendary songwriter ("The Shadow of Your Smile") and Grammy-winning arranger Johnny Mandel, who worked with Streisand on her 1993 "Back to Broadway" album as well as arranged/conducted/co-produced Krall's 1998 Grammy-winning "When I Look In Your Eyes," a groundbreaking album on her career; DK's first CD issued on the Verve label and the one that catapulted her to a new standard of pop-jazz star, after years being marketed as "a promise" on the mainstream jazz field.

"Love Is The Answer" will be simultaneously released in two issues: a standard one and a "deluxe" version.

The deluxe package is a two-CD set that features the Mandel arranged orchestra versions on disc one (with 13 tracks) and quartet counterparts on disc two featuring Barbra accompanied only by quartet (piano, bass, guitar & drums) on 12 tracks, without the orchestral scores added after the basic tracks had been recorded.

Besides "The Gentle Rain" (with English lyrics by Matt Dubey; in Brazil, it was recorded as "Canção do Encontro" by the Quarteto 004 in 1968, with Portuguese lyrics by Maria Helena Toledo, Bonfá's wife at that time), included among the highlights of "Love Is The Answer" are:

"Make Someone Happy," a song from the 1960s musical "Do Re Mi," with lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green and music by Jule Styne, who wrote the music for Streisand's breakout performance in "Funny Girl";

“In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning” – the jazz standard closely associated with Frank Sinatra, and a song that had been originally selected for Krall's "Quiet Nights," but didn't make the final album tracklist;

“If You Go Away (Ne Me Quitte Pas)” – A quintessential version of the Jacques Brel standard performed in English and French;

"Spring Can Really Hang You Up," a song Streisand first sang in a St. Louis club at the age of 18. This is her first studio produced version of this jazz standard from 1955, with lyrics by Fran Landesman and music by Tommy Wolf;

According to Sony's press-release, “Gentle Rain” is "a gentle bossa nova from “Black Orpheus,” the motion picture which introduced the world to the rhythms of Brazilian music." Jesus! They don't know it comes from another movie? Are they thinking that "Manhã de Carnaval" and "The Gentle Rain" are the same song?!? Unbelievable!!!

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," the quintessential dreamy standard, originally written as a show tune by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 operetta "Roberta," covered by Nat "King" Cole and the Platters, among others;

"Some Other Time," a rarely-covered gem composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Comden and Green from the 1944 musical "On The Town."

Curiously, there are two tracks - "Here's To Life" and "Where Do You Start?" - that had been originally composed, by Artie Butler and Johnny Mandel respectively, for Shirley Horn's masterpiece "Here's To Life", arranged/produced by Mandel himself in 1992. Not to mention that a third tune, Mandel's "A Time For Love", was also recorded by Shirley on that very same album! Oh, and "Here's To Life" is the opening track on both Horn's and Streisand's albums...

Here's the complete tracklist for "Love Is The Answer":
1. "Here's To Life" (Artie Butler/Phyllis Molinary)
2. "In The Wee Small Hours" (Bob Hilliard/David Mann)
3. "Gentle Rain" (Luiz Bonfa/Matt Dubey)
4. "If You Go Away" (Jacques Brel/Rod McKuen)
5. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" (Tommy Wolf/Fran Landesman)
6. "Make Someone Happy" (Jule Styne/Betty Comden/Adolph Green)
7. "Where Do You Start?"(Johnny Mandel/Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman)
8. "A Time For Love" (Johnny Mandel/Paul Francis Webster)
9. "Here's That Rainy Day" (Johnny Burke/Jimmy Van Heusen)
10. "Love Dance" (Ivan Lins/Gilson Peranzzetta with English lyrics by Paul Williams)
11. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" (Jerome Kern/Otto Harbach)
12. "Some Other Time" (Leonard Bernstein/Betty Comden/Adolph Green)
13. Bonus Track - "You Must Believe In Spring" (Michel Legrand/Alan & Marilyn Bergman)
The deluxe package includes the following bonus disc:
(Vocal With Quartet)
1. "Here's To Life"
2. "In The Wee Small Hours"
3. "Gentle Rain"
4. "If You Go Away"
5. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most"
6. "Make Someone Happy"
7. "Where Do You Start?"
8. "A Time For Love"
9. "Here's That Rainy Day"
10. "Love Dance"
11. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"
12. "Some Other Time"
* * * * *
According to the RIAA, Barbra Streisand is the #1 best selling female recording artist in history and the only woman to make the Top 10 all time best-selling artists list, which includes Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Over the course of her career, Streisand has recorded 50 gold, 30 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums. An artist of unparalleled accomplishments in multiple entertainment fields, Streisand has made her mark as an award winning actress of stage and screen, recording artist, concert performer, movie producer, film director, screenwriter and songwriter. Having earned two Oscars (Best Actress and Best Song), five Emmys, 11 Golden Globes, 10 Grammys including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement and Grammy Legend Awards, a special Tony Award (in 1970 as "Star of the Decade"), two Cable Ace and three Peabody awards, she is the only performer to hold honors from all of those institutions. In addition, Streisand is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, America's National Medal of Arts and France's Legion of Honor. In December 2008 she became the first female director to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor.

To pre-order your copy of any of the "Love Is The Answer" issues:
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Answer-Barbra-Streisand/dp/B002IPDZBG/ref=amb_link_84658591_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_r=11EQH4J9A07188X857JN&pf_rd_t=4401&pf_rd_p=484610431&pf_rd_i=B000AQ2ZRU

DVD of the Day - "Chick Corea & John McLaughlin"

DVD of the Day
Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band: "It's About That Time!!" (Rainbow Seeker Records) 2009

Filmed in Japan & Korea, in January & February 2009, featuring Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride, Vinnie Colaiuta & Brian Blade.
176 minutes!
Includes "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Raju," "The Disguise," "New Blues, Old Bruise," "Hymn To Andromeda," "Dr. Jackle," "Señor C.S.," "Blue Monk," "In A Silent Way," "It's About That Time" etc.

Mike Longo Big Band live @ Gillespie Auditorium, tomorrow

Celebrate the sounds of summer with some heavy swing! You'll groove on some exciting new compositions and arrangements with straight ahead, burnin', foot stompin' jazz when Mike Longo's swingin' 17-piece Big Band, the NY State of the Art Jazz Ensemble with vocalist Miss Hilary Gardner, returns to "Jazz Tuesdays" next Tuesday, July 28 in the Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Baha'i Center at 53 East 11th Street (between University Place & Broadway). There will be 2 shows at 8:00 and 9:30. Call 212-222-5159 for reservations and information.

This is the big band that thrilled a sold-out house this past October at Dizzy Gillespie's birthday celebration and was voted "Band of the Year" in the 2004 Jazz Station Poll. You will be delighted by the NYSAJE's repertoire from their latest CD "Oasis", that topped the charts at # 7 in December 2004 and remained in the top 20 for an unprecedented 16 weeks. And you won't want to miss Hilary Gardner’s renditions of some jazz classics as well as some new compositions and arrangements.

Admission is 15.00, 10.00 for students.

Tickets will be sold at the door, or call 212-222-5159 for reservations and information.
***********
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.

Diana Krall sings "Bye Bye Blackbird"

Link to listen to Diana Krall singing "Bye Bye Blackbird" on the "Public Enemies" soundtrack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN6n-7EBFwg

CD of the Day - "Freddie Hubbard: The Baddest Hubbard"

CD of the Day
Freddie Hubbard: "The Baddest Hubbard" (CTI/Wounded Bird) 2009

The first CD reissue ever of a compilation released in 1974 by CTI Records, soon after Freddie Hubbard left Creed Taylor's stable to sign a millionaire contract with CBS. Ironically, Sony now controls all the CTI catalog from the '70s, and licensed this compilation to Wounded Bird.
The CD booklet reproduces the original front & back cover arts, but not the liner infos. It means that Ira Gitler's text was deleted, as well as Fred Valentine's b&w liner photo. Most surprisingly, Don Sebesky, who arranged half of the material ("First Light," "In A Mist"), is not mentioned anywhere on the CD. Rudy Van Gelder (who engineered ALL tracks), Fred Valentine (who also did the front & back cover pics) and Bob Ciano (responsible for the album design) either...
But the names of several musicians who didn't play a single note on any of the tracks (Bob Bushnell, Ed Shaughnessy, Richie "Pablo" Landrum) are!
I don't know from where Wounded Bird collected such crazy infos, but certainly it wasn't from Douglas Payne's fabulous CTI website, the most reliable and most compreensive source about CTI Records on the web.
Despite all these mistakes, the musical content is top class, including the title tracks from the albums "Red Clay" (Hubbard's debut at CTI) and the Grammy-winning "First Light", magnificently arranged by Don Sebesky, who also scored Bix Beiderbecke's intriguing "In A Mist" (from the "Sky Dive" sessions).
"Here's That Rainy Day" completes the program. It's a track from the "Straight Life" LP, on which Hubbard is backed only by Ron Carter and George Benson; however, other four players (Jack DeJohnette, Herbie Hancock, Richard "Pablo" Landrum, Joe Henderson) are wrongly listed among the sidemen on that tune. Couldn't the Wounded Bird guys give a call to Creed Taylor or Doug Payne to check the infos? Or simply take a look in the original LP issue? Jesus!

"Falso Amor Sincero" aka Happy Birthday, Nelson Sargento!

Nelson Sargento, an iconic figure of the Brazilian samba, a true living legend, celebrates today his 85th birthday!
Just the song "Falso Amor Sincero" would have been enough to make me idolize him.
That's the one with these incredible lyrics:
"O nosso amor é tão bonito
Ela finge que me ama
E eu finjo que acredito"

Kristin Korb live @ Cafe Metropole, LA, tonight!

The outstanding bassist/singer Kristin Korb will be performing tonight, July 24, at the Cafe Metropole here in LA. "I just got back from an amazing week in Wisconsin hanging with my brother and his family," Korb says. "I can't wait to see you and your friends and catch up. KKJZ has been promoting the event. I don't want you to miss a seat, so be sure to get your reservations."

Friday, July 24, 8:00-10:00PM, $10
Cafe Metropole
923 E. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 613-1537

DVD of the Day - "Herbie Hancock & Headhunters"

DVD of the Day
Herbie Hancock's Headhunters: "Watermelon Man" (Jazz Door) 2009

Flimed live in Tokyo, Japan, on August 20, 2005, this DVD mixes images from two sold-out concerts. A short opening version of "Watermelon Man" (Roy Hargrove plays the melody on trumpet after Munyungo Jackson reproduces the famous intro recorded by Bill Summers using a beer bottle on the 1973 "Head Hunters" debut LP) is followed by extended great performances of "Spider," "Safiatou" (featuring Lionel Loueke on guitar & vocals), "Actual Proof" (a showcase for the incomparable guitarist Wah Wah Watson), "Hang Up Your Hang Ups" and the encore "Butterfly".
Marcus Miller (electric bass), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) and Munyungo Jackson (percussion) complete the dream-team. Essential.

CD of the Day - "Freddie Hubbard: Skagly"

CD of the Day
Freddie Hubbard: "Skagly" (Wounded Bird) 2009
CD Reissue Date in the U.S.: June 9, 2009

This is the first domestic (ie, USA) CD release of Hubbard's final album for Columbia (recorded in Hollywood, CA, in December 1979, released on LP in 1980), thanks to the Wounded Bird label, which licensed it from Sony Music.
The booklet of this CD reissue reproduces the original non-gatefold LP cover, but with no additional info nor liner notes. Excelent remastering sound.
Original album produced by Hubbard himself, with Michael Davenport credited as associate producer.
Highlights; the opening funkyfied-fusion tune "Happiness Is Now" (by FH) and bassist Larry Klein's "Cascais."
Featuring: Billy Childs, George Duke, Larry Klein, Carl Burnett, Paulinho da Costa, Hadley Caliman, Jeff Baxter & Philip Ranelin.
Doug Payne's comments, borrowed from his Sound Insights blog, follow:
http://dougpayne.blogspot.com/search?q=skagly

Skagly (1980): The title of Hubbard's final Columbia album has always been confounding. "Skag" or "scag," in my day (or my way of understanding), was a derogatory term used for ugly girls. But there's a pretty lady pictured on the cover. So that can't be right. Unbeknownst to me, at least at the time anyway, "skag" was also the jargon used to describe heroin. So what exactly is Skagly supposed to mean? Who knows? Perhaps the heroin angle is what led many to believe that Hubbard's fall from the music (or grace) in the early 1990s was drug related, despite repeated insistences that it was due to a busted lip. The rumors still persist. However it's meant, I'm not sure what Hubbard is meant to be celebrating here other than a trip back to his roots.

After his many "arranged" albums, Hubbard returns here to a focus on his own band - like he did, to some extent, on his 1974 Columbia debut, High Energy. This band features yet another Joe Henderson clone, Hadley Caliman, on tenor sax, Billy (William) Childs on keyboards, Larry Klein on bass and Carl Burnett on drums. It's a sort of a "back-to-basics" album with two Hubbard originals (the rather lame "Happiness Is Now" and the significant title track, which features a solo break copped from Herb Alpert's "Rise," of all things, and doesn't sound like something someone on smack would be able to do), a typically anachronistic ballad ("Summer of 42"), Larry Klein's "Cascais," arranged to sound like one of Woody Shaw's tracks of the period, and Childs's "Rustic Celebration," which features this pianist - a cross between Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner - at his very best.

Sadly, the album came and went without much notice at all. Like so many of Hubbard's Columbia recordings, it's absolutely worth the effort, if for nothing else other than the good playing heard, particularly on the title track, by all concerned, even "extras" George Duke on clavinet and Doobie Brother Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on guitar (both on the title track only). Trombonist Phil Ranelin is also prominent in the background of two tracks ("Cascais" and "Rustic Celebration"), both of which seem to be striving for a Woody Shaw sort of thing - something the label, no doubt, forced on Hubbard and certainly hastened his departure to other recording climes. One wonders what Hubbard must have thought of the recordings he made with Shaw several years later.

Bob Barry: permanent exhibition @ the Crowne Plaza LA

Bob Barry, the renowned jazz photographer says: "It is my hope, and intention that the viewer will learn something revealing, and personal about each of these artists through my work."

Bob's "Performance Portraits" are currently displayed in museums, galleries and is on permanent exhibit at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Airport Hotel Brasserie Jazz Lounge,
http://homepage.mac.com/jazzbarry/CROPLAZEX
and the Radisson LA Westside Hotel Culver Club for Jazz, Culver City,
http://homepage.mac.com/jazzbarry/RADCULEX

Don't miss!

Diana Krall - NPR interview

Diana Krall: A Method Actress, Trapped in a Jazz Singer

NPR's "Morning Edition," July 23, 2009

Seven-minute interview:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106899902

Vinyl of the Day - "Stellinha Egg: Chants Folkloriques Brésiliens"

Vinyl of the Day
Stellinha Egg: "Chants Folkloriques Brésiliens" (BAM) 1955

The greatest Brazilian folk singer ever performs eight tracks recorded in Paris, during an European tour with his husband, the legendary Lindolpho Gomes Gaya, aka Maestro Gaya. In some songs, Stellinha accompanies herself on acoustic guitar, while Jadir de Castro joins on percussion.
Liner notes by Marcel Beaufils, cover design by M. Tapiero.

Obama: an update - and a big new goal

"Dear Arnaldo:

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

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint tried to rally our opposition by declaring that stopping reform would "break" President Obama. Instead, hundreds of thousands of you rushed forward to stand up for enacting health insurance reform this year.

Then last night, the President delivered a powerful prime-time address about why further delay is simply not an option, and even more support came pouring in. (Watch the highlights here).

Now, we're on the brink of a major milestone in building this campaign: One million Americans publicly declaring their support for the President's three core principles for health insurance reform this year.

Our goal is to reach the one million mark before Congress casts the first crucial votes as early as next week. This is just a first step of many we'll take together. But it will send a clear message that the American people will not stand for playing partisan politics with our lives and livelihoods -- and that we won't settle for anything less than the real health insurance reform America so desperately needs this year.

Add your name to stand up for the President's three principles for real health insurance reform in 2009.

Adding your name right now will have real impact. Not only will you help us hit this key milestone, but we'll run the signatures we collect in local and national newspaper ads and present them in powerful displays at high-profile local events across the country in the crucial days and weeks to come.

We're so close to a million because volunteers all over the country are reaching out online, door-to-door, on the phone and at public events in their community. And every time a new supporter stands up with the President, they in turn reach out to others and the movement grows.

Less than three months ago, OFA launched our campaign for health insurance reform. In that short time, hundreds of thousands of Americans have joined in by:
- sharing a personal health care story
- calling their representatives
- going door-to-door talking with their neighbors
- calling neighbors in all 50 states
- publishing letters to the editor in local newspapers
- donating
- hosting or attending a local event, and much more.

For Republican leaders and special interests, the health insurance debate may be a political game. But for millions of American businesses and families, the cost of inaction is economic ruin and deteriorating care for the ones we love. Out-of-control health care costs are breaking the budgets of families, businesses and government -- and every day that Congress refuses to act, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage entirely.

We're working so hard in every part of this country because we understand -- this is no game. Add your name to help us reach one million public supporters this week, and join in this effort to reform health insurance in 2009:

http://my.barackobama.com/reform

Thank you,

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America"

CD of the Day - "Cafuzo"

CD of the Day
Cafuzo: "O Negro Mulato Cafuzo Confuso" (World Village Music) 2009

Distributed in Europe through Harmonia Mundi Ibérica, this collective project was conceived & produced by the Barcelona-based Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Danilo Pinheiro (arrangements, electric bass, electric & acoustic guitars, percussion, music director) and his faithful partner Edi Barceló (lead vocalist and composer of most of the songs, besides having written the liner notes in the 20-page booklet).
They're joined by the voluptuous "mineira" bassist Anna Ly (this time only on vocals), Ed Moreira (drums), Miguel Angel (keyboards), William Azevedo (percussion & congas), Mustapha Bouchou (electric bass), Renato Barcelos (berimbau), Livia Lucas (vocals), Willy Noia (trombone), Hamilton Faria (saxophones), Estaban Matuke (vocals), Anderson Almeida (cavaquinho), Jaime Torne (trumpet), plus Victor Pavia Guardia (programming, arranger) and João Balão (vocals, arranger) on the opening track, "Homenagem A Zumbi de Palmares."
The rich and creative musical content is packaged by the beautiful artwork developed by Pamela Martínez (photography, art director) and Mathilde Benedetto (album design).
Besides the nice bunch of original songs, which includes the hilarious "O Bode", the album also features an excellent remake of "Maior É Deus" (Eduardo Gudin & Paulo Cesar Pinheiro) and, as a surprising closing theme, "Vou Recomeçar," from the early rock 'n' roll days of Roberto Carlos & Erasmo Carlos, a song originally cut by Gal Costa on her debut solo album, recorded in 1968 but only released in 1969.
An excerpt from the CD liner notes:
"This work is dedicated to the memory of Maria Beatriz Nascimento (historian, poet and black activist intellectual) who enabled me to discover the richness of my black, mestizo and Brazilian culture. The cafuzo, of mixed African and Amerindian ancestry, represents the union of two marginalized cultures of colonial society that influenced the religious and artistic manifestations that developed over time into the umbanda, the candomblé, the samba and the capoeira, amongst others. The miscegenation of indigenous, African and European peoples was decisive in forming the multicultural richness that shapes Brazil's identity today. This project is motivated by a desire to affirm the richness of the mestizo peoples and their peaceful conquest of popular culture."

Upcoming shows at SLIM's in SF

Complete list of shows at SLIM'S:

-Solid State Logic (Thurs. 7/23)
-Bedouin Soundclash (Fri. 7/24)
-Blowoff (Hosted & DJ'd by Bob Mould & Rich Morel) (Sat. 7/25)
-Lacuna Coil (Mon. 7/27)
-Wailing Souls (Wed. 7/29)
-The Lou Dog Trio: Tribute to Sublime (Fri. 7/31)
-stellastarr* (Sat. 8/1)
-KPIG Presents: Jesse Winchester (Wed. 8/5)
-The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Thurs. 8/6)
-In Reverent Fear (Fri. 8/7)
-Led Zepagain (Sat. 8/8)
-Barcelona / Meese (Wed. 8/12)
-Slowfinger (Thurs. 8/13)
-KFJC Presents: Quantic & his Combo Barbaro (Fri. 8/14)
-Beto Cuevas (Fri. 8/14) CANCELED!
-Wild Child (a live recreation of a Doors concert!) (Sat. 8/15)
-Dickey Betts & Great Southern (Mon. 8/17)
-Kristen Butcher Presents: The Toy Soldiers / Battlehooch (Thurs. 8/20)
-Set Your Goals / Four Year Strong (Fri. 8/21)
-107.7 The Bone Presents: Forbidden (Sat. 8/22)
-The Understudies & JB Nimble Present: "High Times in Low Places" (Fri. 8/28)
-Monsters of Accordion featuring Jason Webley (Sat. 8/29)
-Brave Combo (Thurs. 9/3)
-The Hundreds Presents: Alexander Spit with Overview (Fri. 9/4)
-Wire Train / Translator (Sat. 9/5)
-Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam (Sun. 9/6) *note date change!
-Obituary (Thurs. 9/10)
-Neverland: A Tribute to The King of Pop (Fri. 9/11)
-Pirate Cat Radio Presents: Southern Culture on the Skids / Los Straitjackets (Sat. 9/12)
-Bad Brains (Tues. & Wed. 9/15 & 9/16)
-Mestizo (Fri. 9/18)
-Meat Puppets (Sat. 9/19)
-Dance Gavin Dance (Wed. 9/23)
-Billy Talent (Fri. 9/25)
-Edguy (Sun. 9/27)
-SOJA (Wed. 9/30)
-Datarock (Thurs. 10/1)
-Asobi Seksu / Loney, dear (Fri. 10/2)
-School of Seven Bells (Tues. 10/6)
-Teenage Jesus & the Jerks (Thurs. 10/8)
-Nomeansno (Mon. 10/12)
-Owl City (Mon. 10/19)
-Tyrone Wells / Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers (Sat. 11/7)
-Nile (Sat. 1/30)

For more details, please visit: www.slims-sf.com

To LM

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."
- Leonardo da Vinci

To HM

(click on the image to enlarge and read the text)

J.D. Allen Trio on the Leonard Lopate radio show, Aug 12

Just confirmed: JDA3 (JD Allen Trio) performance & interview on WNYC's Leonard Lopate Show on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, at 12:40PM.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/

Please tune in! And join the JDA3 at the Village Vanguard, from August 11 to 16

www.villagevanguard.com

Plus…This week featured on NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106352472&sc=emaf

Single of the Day - "Mario Telles"

Single of the Day
Mario Telles: "Cavalo Marinho" (CBS) 1964

Featuring four tracks co-written by Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes: "Cavalo Marinho," "Tem Dó," "Berimbau" and "Pra Que Chorar", arranged by the trombone player Astor Silva.
All tracks come from Mario's self-titled debut LP, which also includes contributions by Moacir Santos - Mario wrote the original Portuguese lyrics to "Nanã".
Cover pic by Clovis Mello.

Win tickets to Jarvis Cocker

Next July 30th, the one and only Jarvis Cocker will be performing at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and we've got two pairs of tickets to give away. But wait...that's not all. The winners will also go to the meet and greet with Jarvis after the show. To enter, just stop by Other Music and put your name in the entry box near the cash register. They'll notify the two winners on Monday morning.

THURSDAY, JULY 30
MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG:
66 North Sixth Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Roberta Donnay live @ Crowne Plaza, LA, July 23

THURSDAY, JULY 23
ROBERTA DONNAY QUARTET
THURSDAYS*PLEASE NOTE: NEW TIMES!!!*7:00 PM - *11:00 PM
THE CROWNE PLAZA LAX HOTEL
Brasserie Jazz Lounge
5985 W. Century Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045 310-642-7500
www.CrownePlaza.com

No Cover; $15.00 Food & Beverage Minimum; Validated Parking; Los Angeles Jazz Society Card Members Receive 15% off Food & Non Alcoholic Beverages

Roberta Donnay (vocals), David Ervin (piano), Larry Steen (bass) & Paul Kreibich (drums)

Pacific Coast recording artist, Roberta Donnay was voted “Top 10 Solo Indie Artist” by FEMMUSIC and is an ASCAP Composer Award recipient.
"Her engagement with the lyrics, her supple sense of time and her soulful timbre remind you of Billie Holiday - MIKE ZWERIN,HERALD TRIBUNE INT'L.
"...Donnay communicates with her audience, dazzling and captivating them." ARTHUR JEFFERSON, S.F.ART MAGAZINE

She is currently being produced by famed record producer, Orrin Keepnews (Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderly, Abbey Lincoln, founder of Riverside Records, A&R of Milestone etc)

CD of the Day - "Chariots of the Gods?"

CD of the Day
Peter-Thomas-Sound-Orchestra: "Chariots of the Gods?" (Polydor/JazzClub) 2009

Reissue Produced by Matthias Künnecke & Douglas Payne for Universal's best-selling JazzClub CD series.
To see the complete data and read Doug's liner notes, please check:
http://www.dougpayne.com/chariot1.htm

New DVDs from the Jazz Loft

New on DVD this week:
Wes Montgomery - Live in Hamburg 1965
Bill Evans - Trio Umbria 1978/Quartet Hamburg 1972
Bill Evans - Live in Helsinki 1970

To read data or order, please click on the above links.

"It will break him."

Dear Arnaldo:

Our records show that you live in California's 22nd district.

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint made it pretty clear why the opponents of health care reform are fighting so hard. As he told a special interest attack group, "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him." Here's how the President responded:

"Think about that. This isn't about me. This isn't about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America's families, breaking America's businesses and breaking America's economy. And we can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake."

With Congress only days away from finalizing their plans for reform, it's time to stand up with the President and fight back against this disastrous brand of old-style politics. So we need as many people as possible to publicly support the President's principles for health care reform and call on Congress to act.

Before the first full votes in Congress, we'll publish the signatures in newspaper ads across the nation, to make sure your voice is heard.

Watch President Obama's full response, then add your name in support of reform. Or if you've already signed, please forward this message to every one of your friends and neighbors so they can join you.

The President is more dedicated than ever to passing health care reform that satisfies the three requirements he's been talking about for months: Health care reform must reduce costs, guarantee choice -- including the choice of a strong public insurance option -- and ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

If we do not reform our broken health care system this year, we will only shackle future generations with spiraling costs and deteriorating care. The cost of inaction is simply more than this country can afford.

But the special interests who profit from the status quo won't go down without a fight. The ads, the smears, and the attacks -- targeting both President Obama and members of Congress who support reform -- will only get worse. So it's crucial that we show huge backing before Congress finalizes their plans this month.

Stand with President Obama on health care reform:
http://my.barackobama.com/hcdeclare

Thanks for standing up for change.

Thanks,
Mitch Stewart
Director - Organizing for America

Quincy Jones Presents Alfredo Rodriguez's NY Debut

One week from today, Alfredo Rodriguez will make his debut New York performance since defecting from Cuba in January of this year.

Don Heckman, of the Los Angeles Times wrote on his blog "[Alfredo is] an astonishing talent...who calls up images of a youthful Art Tatum, leavened with an off-center, Thelonious Monk point of view, spiced with the surging rhythmic passions of his homeland;" Quincy Jones, in a 6/9/09 interview with La Opinion claimed, "[Alfredo] is very special and I do not say that easily because been I have been surrounded by the best musicians in the world my entire life ... he is one of the best.”

Please come join us -- details of the evening are below:

Alfredo Rodriguez Trio: Featuring Dafnis Prieto and Charles Flores. Admission: $20. Box office: 212-576-2232. Address: 116 E. 27th Street, New York, NY 10016. TWO SHOWS! One at 7:30pm and one at 9:30pm. Click on the time you want to pre-order tickets, or just buy tickets at the door! All seating is on a first come, first seated basis. Ticket purchase guarantees you admission to the show. Serving award winning Blue Smoke Barbecue.

For more info, visit alfredomusic.com or jazzstandard.com

Prince: the ultimate funk experience @ Montreux Jazz Festival

As the final surprise of the Montreux Jazz Festival 2009, Prince did two 3-hour long concerts (one at 5PM, the other from 11:30 till 3AM!) in the last night of the event, on July 18, at the Auditorium Stravinsky. He got $4 million for the performances that sold out (8,000 tickets!) in less than eight minutes despite the global economic crisis and a ticket price of 480 CHF, ie, Swiss francs (315 euros, 450 dollars) per seat.

The 51-year-old soul/funk revolutionary closed the two-week event treating an ecstatic audience with a massive mix of old hits including "Little Red Corvette," "Peach" and "Purple Rain" and new tunes such as the title track from his new jazzed influenced "Elixir" album that features singer Bria Valente. Wearing a bright red suit, geometric gold necklace and red & white platform shoes, Prince entered the stage with his red guitar, bathed in his trademark purple light. "Montreux, thank you," he said in the end of the first concert, as he blew a kiss to the crowd before kicking off an encore with "Insatiable." Prince also performed "Penetration" (one the songs that he recorded with Miles Davis in a never released project) and a jazzy version of "In a Large Room With No Light" for both shows in Montreux, which organizers praised as a "groovy mix of soul, jazz and funk." Changing into a metallic grey outfit, he closed the second concert with "Purple Rain," a chart-topper marking its 25th year. John Blackwell (drums), Rhonda Smith (bass), Morris Hayes and the Brazilian Renato Neto (both on keyboards) were the lucky sidemen.

I had never experienced anything like this. The best and craziest hedonistic funk ball of my entire life, taking the audience to an ecstatic frenzy. Really beyond words... Thanx Claude, LM, TA & SF.

After Jeff Beck & Prince, after the funk is gone, Sunday morning in Montreux, before heading back to LA:
(The Montreux Palace)

(LM and a Swiss friend)

and...to complete the non-stop party...the Montreux Jazz Boats in the Lake Geneva bay...

The unbelievable Jeff Beck @ Miles Davis Hall

John McLaughlin is the undisputed fusion guitar genius. Al DiMeola is the fastest gun in the jazz-rock. Jim Hall, the incomparable master of lyricism and subtlety. But Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck (born June 24, 1944) ... man, what the f*** is Jeff Beck? This guitar god is out of this world!

On our way to the Miles Davis Hall, we already could feel the mystical mood of the night, the reverence of the audience.

When we entered the Hall, and Beck appeared on the stage, we could feel his mystical aura.

The unbelievable Vinnie Colaiuta, the unbelievable Jeff Beck and the unbelievable "Lovely Princess of the Electric Bass" Tal Wilkenfeld delivered glorious (furious and delicate at the same time) & magical sounds in a mesmerizing & UNBELIEVABLE set.

Thanks to Claude Nobs, Lisa Marie, Daniel Ballard & the lovely Severine Ferrer for all your invaluable help, kindness & hospitality @ the Montreux Jazz Festival