"Brazilian Film Festival NY," June 1-6

Jazz Station Gallery, Part 3: Arnaldo DeSouteiro

                                     (Arnaldo DeSouteiro)

Sarah Wise live in NY, June 5

Don't miss singer/songwriter Sarah Wise performing @ Caffe Vivaldi (32 Jones St., NY) on June 5, featuring keyboard master Cliff Carter, one of my idols since his CTI sessions with David Matthews (on the legendary "Dune" album), Idris Muhammad (on the dancefloor hit "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This"), John Blair ("We Belong Together") and so many others. Top class pop music!

Airto & Eyedentity live @ LACMA, June 7

Airto Moreira with Eyedentity
Saturday, June 7, 2014 | 5 pm
One of the world's greatest percussionists teams up with the Eyedentity act led by Diana Moreira (yes, the daughter of Airto & Flora Purim) and Krishna Booker (son of bassist Walter Booker).

A FREE concert @ LACMA, Hancock Park
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Ph: (323)857-6000
E-mail: publicinfo@lacma.org
http://www.lacma.org/

Presented as part of "Latin Sounds" taking place every Saturday from May 24 to August 30. Check out the full schedule of upcoming concerts.
Centrally located between the beach and downtown Los Angeles, LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) features artwork covering the expanse of art history—from ancient to contemporary—and the globe.

Since its inception in 1965, LACMA has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography and represent Los Angeles's uniquely diverse population. Today, the museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American, European, and American art, as well as a contemporary museum on its campus. With this expanded space for contemporary art, innovative collaborations with artists, and an ongoing Transformation project, LACMA is creating a truly modern lens through which to view its rich encyclopedic collection.

Parking is available in the Pritzker Parking Garage, located on Sixth Street just east of Fairfax Avenue and in the lot at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Spaulding Avenue. The charge is $10 and may be prepaid at all Ticket Offices.

The museum is accessible through Los Angeles Metro Transit. To find the best route for you, please visit
http://www.metro.net/default.asp

Media support for the Latin Sounds series is provided by KKJZ FM 88.1.

Mindi Abair opens the Newport Beach Jazz Fest this Friday, celebrating the release of "Wild Heart"

Join us for the CD release party of Mindi Abair's “Wild Heart” at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Jazz Festival this Friday, May 30th!
Special guests Booker T Jones and Elliot Yamin
1107 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach 92660
Ph: 949-360-7800
http://www.festivals.hyattconcerts.com/artists/mindi-abair-with-booker-t-elliot-yamin/

Southern California's most famous Smooth Jazz Festival returns to the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach on May 30 + 31 & June 1, 2014

Lineup:
Fri. May 30 (Back Bay Ampitheater Kick-Off)
Mindi Abair with Special Guests Booker T & Elliot Yamin

Sat. May 31
Brian McKnight, Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns ft. Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright & Richard Elliot, Spyro Gyra, Vincent Ingala & Jonathan Fritzen, Generation NeXt ft. Nicholas Cole, Lin Rountree & Lebron

Sun. June 1
Chaka Khan, Jazz Attack ft. Rick Braun, Euge Groove & Peter White, Bobby Caldwell, The Sax Pack, Down to the Bone

Box Set CD of the Month - "Freddie Hubbard: Keep Your Soul Together/Polar AC/Skagly"

Box Set CD of the Month
Freddie Hubbard: "Keep Your Soul Together/Polar AC/Skagly" (CTI/Columbia/BGO) 2014

This Beat Goes On release (catalog #1144, released April 2014 in the UK and May 2014 in the USA) features 3 entire LPs by my personal favorite trumpeter.
Remastered by Andrew Thompson @ Sound Performance (London, UK)
Liner notes by Mojo columnist Charles Waring.

Disc 1 (78:56 minutes)
Tracks 1 to 4 are the album "Keep Your Soul Together" – released 1973 on CTI Records as CTI 6036
Tracks 5 to 9 are the album "Polar AC" – released November 1975 on CTI Records as CTI 6056

Disc 2 (41:24 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 5 are the album "Skagly" – released 1980 on Columbia Records as FC 36418
**********
A trio of 70's Freddie Hubbard – all packaged together in a 2-CD set by the UK label BGO (Beat Goes Public). First up is "Keep Your Soul Together" – Freddie at the peak of his 70's powers – and his fifth & last "official" CTI album, recorded in October 1973 after the ground-breaking "Red Clay," the wild "Straight Life," the Grammy-winning "First Light" and the elegant "Sky Dive." The record follows strongly in the mood that Freddie set under Creed Taylor's guidance, but with some differences: no strings, no brass section, and, last but not least, Hubbard was finally allowed to use his touring band, which consisted of George Cables (Fender Rhodes), Kent Brinkley (bass), the late Ralph Penland (drums), Juno Lewis (percussion), Aurell Ray (electric guitar) and Junior Cook (tenor sax) on four long, drawn out tracks done with lots of electricity in the rhythms, and a very cosmic approach to the solos, with Ron Carter overdubbing on a couple of tunes. The groove is funky, yet easy, featuring playing that's very open and very soulful. Titles include "Keep Your Soul Together", the hard-bop gem "Spirits Of Trane", "Destiny's Children", and the haunting ballad "Brigitte," dedicated to Freddie's wife and later re-recorded on "The Love Connection" with a lush Claus Ogerman score.

"Polar AC" is warm and wonderful work from Freddie Hubbard – a killer of a previously unreleased out-takes selection that Creed Taylor decided to release in 1975, after the trumpeter had already left CTI. The selection got a bit more of a human heart than some of the more cosmic sessions Freddie cut at the time – a bit more contemplative and introspective, but no less open-minded and electrically charged. The assortment of players is all top-shelf – with Billy Cobham, Airto, Lenny White, Jack DeJohnette, George Cables, Hubert Laws, and George Benson all backing Freddie up on the set – and titles include great takes on two Bob James-arranged Philly hymns by Thom Bell & Linda Creed: "People Make the World Go Round" (that Freddie had recorded as a sideman for Milt Jackson's "Sunflower," but this time features Airto's percussion combined with Lenny White's muscular broken-beats) and "Betcha By Golly Wow" (made a hit by The Stylistics, with Airto on drums) plus Nat Adderley's "Naturally" (from the "Sky Dive" sessions, but with Keith Jarrett's piano deleted from the mix due to contractual reasons; when the complete "Sky Dive" was reissued on CD for the first time in the USA, Jarrett's piano was restored to the track) and "Son of Sky Dive", with Junior Cook shining on the tenor sax. Cedar Walton's "Polar AC" (aka "Fantasy In D"), originally arranged by Don Sebesky for the "First Light" sessions, received a lot of airplay at that time.

"Skagly" (recorded for Columbia in December 1979, originally released in 1980 and reissued for the first time on CD by Wounded Bird in 2009) has a title that reads like a typo, but this low-budget album's a great set of smooth fusion from Freddie Hubbard; self-produced, and almost a summation of all the styles he'd mastered in the 70's. The session's never too over the top or too ambitious – just features Freddie working with a hip group in a laidback setting – blowing lean and mellow lines that almost take him back to his best CTI funk. The group features Billy Childs on keyboards, Larry Klein on bass, Art Pepper's long time associate Carl Burnett on drums, Hadley Caliman on tenor sax & flute, plus special guest work by George Duke (overdubbing Hohner clavinet on the title track to add a special spice), Philip Ranelin (trombone), Jeff Baxter (electric guitar) and Brazilian percussion hero Paulinho Da Costa. Titles include two Hubbard's originals ("Skagly" and "Happiness Is Now"), Child's "Rustic Celebration" and my personal favorite track, Klein's "Cascais". A tender rendition of Michel Legrand's famous ballad "The Summer Knows," from the "Summer of '42" movie soundtrack, completes the repertoire.

Tonight, "Goddess Wednesdays" @ Kitchen 305 in Miami w/ DJ Hana and the Zhantra Dancers

Join us tonight at Kitchen 305 for a non stop evening! Doors open at 530pm for All You Can Eat Lobster for $38, includes soup or salad and two sides! Then the Debbie Taylor Band at 8pm, followed by Goddess Night hosted by Candy Girl Alexandra and DJ HANA spinning all night!

They also have the Neon Flow Party Zhantra Dancers performing live... plus, the Miami Heat Playoffs Watch Party at 830pm!
Kitchen 305
Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort
16701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida
RSVP 305-749-2110.

Jazz Station Gallery 2: Arnaldo DeSouteiro

                                           (Arnaldo DeSouteiro)

Jazz Station Gallery 1: Arnaldo DeSouteiro

                                             (Arnaldo DeSouteiro)

Blu-ray of the Month: "7th Etapa Festival"

Blu-ray of the Month
Various Artists: "7º Festival Etapa de Música de Arte" (Etapa)

Filmed in August 2013, released in May 2014
Featuring: João Carlos Martins, Romero Lubambo, Gangorra, Cristóvão Bastos, Osmar Milito, Ithamara Koorax & Hermeto Pascoal

LA Killing Kittens Is Getting In Bed with Sanctum, this Saturday, May 31

Saturday 31 May, Killing Kittens is getting in bed with Sanctum. Prepare for something beautiful. Carpe Noctem!
www.lakittens.com
www.sanctumclub.com

Summer is upon us and Helios has awakened. Sanctum Club has a very special evening planned Saturday, May 31st in a private residence in the Hollywood Hills replete with fire, water and unbridled eroticism. This is an intimate affair for the beautiful amongst us. We look forward to sharing this experience with those ready to celebrate with passion.  www.sanctumclub.com

SACD of the Month - "Diana Krall: The Look of Love"

SCAD of the Month
Diana Krall: "The Look of Love" (Verve)

Arranged & Conducted by Claus Ogerman
Produced by Tommy LiPuma
Recorded & Mixed by Al Schmitt
Art Direction: Hollis King
Design: Isabelle Wong
Cover Photo: Bruce Weber
Photos In Car: Jane Shirek
Photo Production: Donna Ranieri

Featuring: Diana Krall (vocals & acoustic piano), John Pisano, Dori Caymmi & Romero Lubambo (acoustic guitar), Christian McBride (acoustic bass), Jeff Hamilton & Peter Erskine (drums), Russel Malone (electric guitar), Luis Conte & Paulinho da Costa (percussion), London Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Session Orchestra

Fusion CD Reissue of the Month - "Cannonball Adderley: The Black Messiah"

Fusion CD Reissue of the Month
Cannonball Adderley: "The Black Messiah" (Capitol/Real Gone Music) 1972/2014

CD Release Date: May 10, 2014 (RGM-0247)
Original LP Issue: 1972 (Capitol SWBO-846)
Recorded live at the Troubador (West Hollywood, California) in August 3-9, 1971
Contains 12-page booklet with pictures and new liner notes by Bill Kopp (former Chief Editor Scope Magazine)

Produced by David Axelrod & Cannonball Adderley for Heavy Axe / Junat Prods.
Recording Engineer: Al Coury
Photos: Gary Zlozower & James Lewis
Design: Roy Kohara
Art Direction: John Ho
Reissue Produced by Gordon Anderson
CD Liner Notes & Design: Bill Kopp
Remastered by Maria Triana @ Battery Studios (NYC, NY, USA)

Featuring: Cannonball Adderley (alto sax), Nat Adderley (cornet & vocals), George Duke (Wurlitzer electric piano), Walter Booker (acoustic bass), Roy McCurdy (drums), Airto Moreira (percussion & vocal effects).
Special Guests: Mike Deasy (electric guitar & vocals), Alvin Batiste (clarinet), Ernie Watts (flute & tenor sax), Buck Clarke (congas)
MC: Rick Holmes

A "new" block in NY: The "Miles Davis Way"

Definitely not in a "Silent Way" anymore. On Miles' 88th birthday, 77th Street btw. Riverside and West End was renamed Miles Davis Way in his honor! Many fans and musicians attended: Vince Wilburn Jr., Wallace Roney, Mike Clark, Jason Miles, Buster Williams, Jimmy Cobb and George Cables, among many others.
Details: http://7online.com/78687/

Single of the Month - "Ron Carter: Anything Goes"

7" Single of the Month (pic sleeve)
Ron Carter: "Anything Goes / Big Fro" (CTI/Kudu)

Produced by Creed Taylor
Recorded, Mixed & Edited by Rudy Van Gelder @ Van Gelder Studio (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA)
Arranged & Conducted by David Matthews
Photo: Alen MacWeeney
Design: Bob Ciano

Featuring: Ron Carter (acoustic bass & piccolo bass), Jimmy Madison [Big Fro] & Steve Gadd [Anything Goes] (drums), Don Grolnick (Fender Rhodes), Richard Tee (organ), Eric Gale (electric guitar), Hubert Laws (flutes), Arthur Jenkins, George Devens & Ralph MacDonald (percussion), David Sanborn & Phil Woods (alto sax), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Barry Rogers (trombone), Alan Rubin & Randy Brecker (trumpets), Maeretha Stewart, Marilyn Jackson & Patti Austin (backing vocals)

Book of the Month - "Hermeto Pascoal"

Book of the Month
Paulo Petrini: "Hermeto Pascoal, musicalmente falando...volume 1" (Ed. Sinergia)

CD Reissue of the Month - "Montreux Summit 2"

CD Reissue of the Month
CBS Jazz All Stars: "Montreux Summit Volume 2" (Columbia/Wounded Bird)

Produced by Jay Chattaway
Associate Producer: Joe Jorgensen
Executive Producer: Bob James

Recording Engineers: David Richards, Joe Jorgensen & Doug Epstein
Mixed by Joe Jorgensen
Mastered by Vladimir Meller
Cover Illustration:Seymour Chwast
Design: Paula Scher
Photos: Giuseppe Pino & Charisse Taylor
Liner Notes: Mort Goode

Featuring: Bob James, George Duke, Hubert Laws, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Alphonso Johnson, Gordon Johnson, Billy Cobham, Billy Brooks, Woody Shaw, Maynard Ferguson, Slide Hampton, Bobbi Humphrey, Eric Gale, Steve Khan, Bob Militello, Tys van Leer, Peter Erskine, Ralph MacDonald et al

Vinyl Reissue of the Month - "Freddie Hubbard: First Light"

Vinyl Reissue of the Month (Numbered limited edition of 2000 copies)
Freddie Hubbard: "First Light" (CTI) 1971/2014

Rating: ***** (musical performance & remastering)

Produced by Creed Taylor
Recorded & Mixed by Rudy Van Gelder
Vinyl Remastering by Bernie Grundman
Cover Photo: Pete Turner
Liner Photo: Dean Brown
Album Design: Bob Ciano

Arranged & Conducted by Don Sebesky
Featuring: Freddie Hubbard (flugelhorn & trumpet), Richard Wyands (electric piano), Ron Carter (acoustic bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Airto Moreira (percussion), Phil Kraus (vibes, bells & percussion), George Benson (electric guitar), Hubert Laws (flute), David Nadien (concertmaster).

Freddie Hubbard's "First Light" -- recorded on September 14 & 16, 1971, released in January 1972 and that received a Grammy Award in 1973 as "Best Jazz Album of The Year" -- remains my personal favorite among the many great albums recorded by my personal favorite trumpet player.

It was Hubbrad's third album for CTI, following the no less amazing "Red Clay" and "Straight Life," but the first one to put him in a large orchestral setting, conceived by Creed Taylor and genius arranger Don Sebesky. "The result is a masterpiece of textured sound, gorgeously far-flung charts, sweet, tight grooves, a subtle mystic feel, and some of Hubbard's most exciting playing ever," jazz historian Thom Jurek wrote on All Music Guide.

This awesome 180g audiophile-grade vinyl 33rpm LP reissue, remastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Pallas for ORG Music, sounds as good as Van Gelder's original LP release. It also preserves the original gatefold cover format, designed by CTI's art director at that time, my dear friend Bob Ciano. "Red Clay" had been previously reissued by ORG as a 2-LP set at 45pm speed (more details here: http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com.br/2014/04/vinyl-reissue-of-month-freddie-hubbard.html)

But there's a big mistake in the front cover stamp (click on the image to enlarge), though: Herbie Hancock didn't take part of the "First Light" sessions, he doesn't plays a single note in the entire album. The only keyboardist is the extremely underrated Richard Wyands (that plays Fender Rhodes throughout the LP and has a single solo spot on the last track, Bernstein's sublime "Lonely Town"), a pianist who had previously recorded as a sideman for CTI on Kenny Burrell's "God Bless The Child."

On this fabulous pressing, mastered from the original tapes with utmost care, the sonic intricacies of the knotty architecture comes to fore. The results are ravishing, each note memorable.

Blu-Spec CD of the Month - "Lonnie Smith: Mama Wailer"

Blu-Spec CD of the Month
Lonnie Smith: "Mama Wailer" (Kudu) 1971/2013

Rating:
**** (musical performance)
*** (remastering)

Produced by Creed Taylor
Recorded & Mixed by Rudy Van Gelder @ Van Gelder Studio (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA) on July 14 and 15, 1971
Arranged by Lonnie Smith & Grover Washington, Jr
Photos: Duane Michals
Album Design: Bob Ciano
.
Featuring: Lonnie Smith (Hammond organ, Hohner clavinet, vocal effects), Ron Carter (electric bass & acoustic bass), Chuck Rainey (electric bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Airto Moreira (percussion, caxixi), Richard Pratt (congas), William King (bongos), Robert Lowe, George Davis & Jimmy Ponder (electric guitar), Danny Moore (trumpet, flugelhorn), Marvin Cabell (tenor sax), Dave Hubbard (tenor sax),  Robert Lowe, Grover Washington, Jr. (flute & tenor sax)
********
A text by CTI/Kudu's connoisseur Doug Payne follows:

If Lonnie Smith considers himself “the doctor of groove,” then Mama Wailer is certainly his doctoral thesis. This 1971 record was only the second of Creed Taylor’s Kudu productions and, surprisingly, the only Kudu or CTI session Lonnie Smith ever participated in. But the record has become a jazz-funk classic; one of the rarest of rare grooves and still highly sought after by young dancers and DJs alike.

All in all, it’s a superb collection of long, exploratory ideas on the nature of groove and the real “turning  point” in Lonnie Smith’s musical thinking.

Only six short years before, Lonnie Smith got his start in music when George Benson handpicked him to man the Hammond B-3 in the guitarist’s first group. Benson and company also backed Smith on the organist’s solo debut, Finger-Lickin’ Good (Columbia-1967).

By 1967, Lonnie had joined Lou Donaldson’s band, creating one of the bop saxophonist’s most popular groups and yielding such acid-jazz classics as “Alligator Boogaloo” and “Peepin.” Lou Donaldson secured a recording contract for Lonnie Smith at Blue Note records, where the organist waxed four fine slices of Hammond B-3 soul (and one live session from the period that was released many years later). When  Francis Wolf left Blue Note, Lonnie left too. Famed producer Creed Taylor tapped the soulful funk organist right away for Mama Wailer.

By this time, Smith was gradually emerging from the chock-a-block funk and R&B settings of his Blue Note days and beginning to explore a keyboard’s potential to enhance or color the grooves. Larry Young had also begun doing this a few years earlier. By the time of Mama Wailer, Young was already charting the subversive territories of Lifetime. Smith, on the other hand, seemed more of a rhythmic colorist, one intent upon communicating through the groove. Mama Wailer is one of his first experiments in this direction.

Indeed, the title track begins the record without any organ to be heard at all. Smith takes a giant leap of faith, comping and soloing with the limited capabilities of the clavinet, an electronic keyboard that sounds dulled and drained of any resonance whatsoever. Still, Smith stretches the instrument’s limitations and delivers a strong, thoroughly affecting urban funk. The ostinato riff is carried by the horns and highlighted by Marvin Cabell’s urbane tenor solo and Robert Lowe’s metallic guitar.

Smith’s own feature, “Hola Muneca” follows. If there is such a thing as funky drone, this is it. First performed by Smith in 1967 on his Columbia debut, this new version is funk in the raga sense. Smith slices and dices the groove rather imaginatively here on his more familiar organ, offering more of a signature sound than he has ever displayed before. He hints at something avant garde while clearly never distracting from what might move your feet.

Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth Move” follows.  This song and others from the writer’s landmark album Tapestry (Ode – 1971) really did shake the earth back in 1971. There were certainly few places in America you could go that summer without being totally aware of this album and all the hits it generated. Here, Grover Washington, Jr., treats the organist to a highly charged funk arrangement, propelled by the electric bass of Chuck Rainey. Note the poetic tremors Smith employs here and the way he really makes the ground swell.

The album’s centerpiece is surely “Stand,” one of the bold social statements from Sly And The Family Stone’s monumental album of the same name (Epic – 1969). Originally, Lonnie’s version took up a full side of an LP. But he made every minute count, sculpting a panoramic view of urban America. In a great tribute to the song’s author, Sly Stone, Lonnie Smith treats us to a summer day in the ghetto. He gives the main theme a nervous beat, then grinds the funk to a slow burn for the solos – which find the organist weaving in and out of spots featuring Grover Washington’s tenor and Jimmy Ponder’s guitar. Then, just as suddenly, a sort of chase ensues, driven by Ron Carter’s hot-as-asphalt electric bass (astute listeners might recognize how Smith revisited this section in his own “Jimi Meets Miles” from 1994’s Foxy Lady). Grover yields to a scorching solo that wends into a stoned groove from Ponder’s guitar and finally segues into the kaleidoscopic finale of Smith’s solo. A masterpiece of social groove.

Lonnie Smith seemed to disappear after Mama Wailer. His next record, Afrodesia (Groove Merchant), didn’t appear until 1975.  Similar in many ways to Mama Wailer, Afrodesia offered long, exploratory funk vamps and adroit contributions from Smith, George Benson and tenor titan Joe Lovano very early in his career.

While at Groove Merchant (and later, LRC), Smith – like fellow organist and occasional musical partner, Jimmy McGriff – participated in nearly a half dozen of Brad Baker’s disco orchestras, playing an arsenal of synthesizers, electric keyboards and adding his own brand of vocals to some of the more insinuating dancefloor classics of the disco age.

By the early 1980s, Lonnie Smith had become turbaned and called himself “the Doctor.” But Dr. Lonnie Smith disappeared from records again. Disco died and his style of soul seemed to fall out of favor in the ultra-conservative Reagan era. Smith relocated to South Florida, where he still resides, and to this day has contributed mightily to the local scene, playing and recording prolifically (and with increased authority) with such local talent as Terry Myers, Turk Mauro and Jesse Jones, Jr.

As the 1990s dawned, acid jazz broke open and many of Lonnie Smith’s old records, like Mama Wailer, were suddenly highly-prized collector’s items. People were grooving to Lonnie again. He toured extensively in acid jazz groupings and resumed recording in such soul-jazz collectives as the Jazz Funk Masters (P-Vine), Chartbusters (Prestige), Secret Agent Men (Paddle Wheel) and the Essence All Stars (Hip Bop).

Dr. Lonnie Smith also re-ignited his own recording career in the 1990s, waxing some of the finest work he’s ever done. So far there’s been The Turbanator (32 Jazz – 1991) and the exceptional trios for his John Coltrane tribute, Afro Blue (Venus – 1993), and the awesome Jimi Hendrix tributes Purple Haze (Venus – 1994) and Foxy Lady (Venus – 1995). He continues to record and tour the world extensively with Lou Donaldson and has become, even at this point in his career, a first-call session man in New York for a variety of organ dates.

However, Mama Wailer endures as the cornerstone in Dr. Lonnie Smith’s journey to the groove.
- Douglas Payne

Memorial Day Weekend in Miami w/ DJ Hana

Today, Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort Memorial Day Weekend party starts at 2pm with DJ Hana. And it will be hot! Beach & Poool Party with drink & food specials while catching some rays or watching todays sports games.
16701 Collins Ave
Sunny Isles Beach
Ph: (305) 749-2110 ext. 1095

Fusion CD of the Month - "Machine Mass: INTI"

Fusion CD of the Month
Machine Mass: "INTI" (MoonJune) 2014

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

Produced by Machine Mass
Recorded @ Red Rock Recording Studios (Saylorsburg, PA, USA), on October 10, 2012
Recording engineer: Kent Heckman
Mixed and mastered by Jon Wilkinson
Executive Producer: Leonardo Pavkovic
Liner notes: John Kelman
Design, Graphics & Photos: Elisabeth Waltregny

Featuring: Michel Delville (electric guitar, Roland GR09, electronics), Tony Bianco (drums, loops, percussion), Dave Liebman (soprano & tenor saxophones, wooden flute) with Sara Twelde (vocals on Track 7, "The Secret Place")

Highlights: an intriguing and extremely creative rendition of Joe Zawinul's "In A Silent Way" (yes, the now "classic" tune that the late Austrian genius composed for Miles Davis, with Liebman playing wooden flutes blended with Delville's sitar), Bianco's tribute to "(Charles)Lloyd", "The Secret Place," "Elisabeth" and the title track "INTI." 

Much more than just a meeting of modern progressive jazz heavyweights, Machine Mass's "INTI" witnesses the seamless cohesion of extraordinary creativity fusing with technology. Reformed with renowned modern jazz legend, Dave Liebman, Machine Mass (formerly known as Machine Mass Trio) utilizes rhythmically-complex loops "on the fly," while fusing their spontaneous interactions into a group dynamic that challenges music-making convention in the broadest sense.... and the results are spellbinding.

Recorded live in the studio with no overdubs (in just one afternoon, no less!), this monumental session bears witness to three seasoned musicians in top form -- producing music that is fresh, challenging, profound and moving. Rules are acknowledged and rules are discarded, and the resulting sonic bouillabaisse, Inti, signals some truly exciting new directions for progressive music!

*********

Machine Mass' leader, Michel Delville was born in Liege, Belgium. He has been performing and composing alternative music since the mid-1980s. His most recent projects include the internationally acclaimed Nu-Rock-Jazz quintet The Wrong Object (founded in 2003), a band which has collaborated with luminaries of British jazz such as Elton Dean, Harry Beckett and Annie Whitehead, and toured extensively throughout Europe. Their latest studio album, Stories from the Shed, has generated countless raving reviews in such leading publications as Jazzwise, Guitar Player, Musica Jazz and All About Jazz. In 2010, he created the trio douBt with Alex Maguire and Tony Bianco. Other recent bands and projects include Belgian-Swiss punk-jazz combo TZGIV, Belgo-Dutch rock quintet The Moving Tones, Alex Maguire Sextet, and Comicoperando (tribute project to the great Robert Wyatt; feat. Chris Cutler, Dagmar Krause and Karen Mantler).

Anthony 'Tony' Bianco was born in New York City. He has played and recorded with some of the most influential musicians of the international jazz scene, such as Dave Liebman, Evan Parker, Paul Dunmall, Elton Dean, Alex von Schlippenbach, Simon Picard, Reggie Workman, Paul Rutherford, Keith Tippett, Paul Rogers, Elliot Levine, Marcio Mattos, Luther Thomas, Jay Oliver and John Edwards. The sheer diversity of his discography reflects his need to be “loose and tense, free and strict” combine the sounds of straight and free jazz, closed and open form. His most recent releases include douBt's debut album Never Pet a Burning Dog (with Alex Maguire and Michel Delville), "Vesuvius" (Alex von Schlippenbach/Paul Dunmall/Paul Rogers/Tony Bianco), "Line Ish" (Tony Bianco/Dave Liebman/Tony Marino) and "In a Western Sense," as well as the more groovy and post-Milesian experiments of "Free Beat" (with the late Elton Dean, and John Wilkinson) and "Monkey Dance" (feat. Dave Liebman).
 
Dave Liebman is a living jazz legend whose list of album appearances is a "who's who" list of the greatest modern jazz luminaries over the last five-plus decades. In a storied career which started back in 1967 (with his "Open Sky" trio, starting a long-standing musical affiliation with the great jazz drummer, Bob Moses), Dave has appeared as a band member or featured sideman with Miles Davis, John Abercrombie, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Eddie Gomez, Wayne Shorter, Ritchie Beirach, the Quest quartet and many more. Dave has traveled the world, many times, as an ambassador of jazz, both as a performer and an instructor. He has received numerous awards, has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Association of Jazz Educators and was twice nominated for Grammys. His list of accomplishments is staggering (far too extensive to list here!) ... to view a more comprehensive biography of the incredible body of work amassed by Dave Liebman, CLICK HERE.

Today, "Sunday Service LA" w/ DJ Angeline

Today, May 25 @  Lexington Social House (1718 Vine St, Hollywood, CA, US)
Mixology Presents "Sunday Service LA: Music Is Our Religion"
SUMMER IS NEAR AND LA'S MOST INTIMATE & EXCLUSIVE DAY PARTY IS BACK!
Brunch & House Music Patio 11am till 6pm with my dear friend and SuperDJ Angeline Smirnoff.
Also featuring: Mark Lewis, Terence Toy, Jesse Brooks, Caroline Posada, Jeff Bomb & Holly Adams

Incredible vibe, great people, top DJs.
Champagne Brunch, vinyl only patio and a digital ultra lounge

BRUNCH AND BOTTLE SERVICE RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL (323) 461-1700
OR EMAIL: INFO@SUNDAYSERVICELA.COM

Order tickets via Eventbrite:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-service-la-tickets-11690154567?aff=efbevent

$5.00 pre-sale $10.00 @ Door

                                                          (DJ Angeline)

Vocal CD of the Month - "Susan Clynes: Life Is..."

Vocal CD of the Month
Susan Clynes: "Life Is..." (MoonJune) 2014

Produced & Composed by Susan Clynes.
Executive Producer: Leonardo Pavkovic
Liner Notes: Sid Smith
Featuring: Susan Clynes (vocals, piano), Simon Lenski (cello), Pierre Mottet (bass), Nico Chkifi (drums)

The NY-based label MoonJune Records is releasing the international debut of the multi-talented pianist, vocalist and composer, Susan Clynes. On her second album ever (and Susan's sparkling U.S. debut), she showcases her evocative, compelling stylings (on both vocals and piano), in a set that is as diverse and genre-eclipsing as it is emotive and powerful.After teasing listeners with a guest vocal appearance on The Wong Object's "After The Exhibition" (featured on the track, "Glass Cubes," penned by her husband, Antoine Guenet), Susan's talents are featured, front and center, on this inspired performance.There's an almost telepathic synergy to the musicians' performances that emerges, as acute listeners will quickly discern. The music is bold, adventurous and unafraid to tread anywhere.
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Susan Clynes is a Belgian singer, pianist and songwriter who is forging her own path in music. After taking classical & jazz piano lessons and attending jazz workshops while in high school, Susan chose to follow her heart: shunning a more traditional course of university studies and career path in order to study music composition, and earning a Master's Degree at the Ghent Conservatory.

In the early stages of this pursuit, Susan released her first (and only previous) album -- a piano trio effort, 2005's "Sugar For A Dream." It was the momentum of this album and her dreams of becoming a famous songwriter (in the commercial / alternative vein) that propelled her through Ghent. While she is clearly an accomplished performer, with a style all her own, songwriting remains her passion: "I want to make music that bridges the different worlds of songwriting and instrumentals of compositions and improvisation. I want to talk to the heart but not forget there’s also the mind."

She is clearly a risk-taker, but also one who embraces and savors each opportunity that presents itself; life is too short to entertain notions of fear or intimidation. A positive, upbeat person, and an intelligent, articulate artist.

Yvonne Black's new mix is ready for download!

Click here for a free promotional download of DJ Yvonne Black's new mix!
http://www.yvonneblack.com/musicmixes.html

Join us for the World Premiere of Mindi Abair's upcoming release "Wild Heart"

Btw, speaking of great female saxophonists, catch the world premiere of Mindi Abair's upcoming album, "Wild Heart," exclusively on SmoothJazz.com with Sandy Shore.

Saturday, May 24th @ 10am

Enjoy a track by track presentation of this unleashed and plugged-in project where Mindi blends her passion for pop with her rock roots and jazz journey, featuring amazing special guests including Gregg Allman, Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Jim Peterik, Booker T., Trombone Shorty, Keb' Mo' and more!

Tune in and let Mindi tell you personally about how wild her heart is and how rewarding it was to collaborate and record "Wild Heart" for HeadsUp Records, a milestone in her solo career.

SmoothJazz.com has the exclusive World Premier of the album on May 24th. You can purchase the CD in advance now in the Listening Loft, and on iTunes and MindiAbair.com! Available everywhere Tuesday, May 27th, 2014!

Melissa Aldana's eagerly awaited album comes out in the U.S. this Saturday, May 24

Jazz saxophonist Melissa Aldana is set to release her first record for Concord Music Group this Saturday, June 24, 2014. The self-titled album "Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio" is the first recording of the three band mates together – Aldana, bassist Pablo Menares and drummer Francisco Mela. Recorded at Sear Sound Recording Studio in New York, the album consists of originals written by all three band members and includes two covers – the Harry Warren classic “You’re My Everything” and Thelonious Monk’s haunting “Ask Me Now.”

Speaking on this new album Aldana says, “Pablo Menares & Francisco Mela both help bring a unique perspective to playing in the saxophone trio format. Our approach is very much coming from the core of the Jazz Tradition, not least from contemporary musicians such as Kurt Rosenwinkel & Mark Turner, but with Mela being from Cuba and Pablo and I both from Chile, there is no question there is a flavor of that as well.”

In September 2013, Melissa became the first female instrumentalist and first South American ever to win the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Judges for the competition included Jane Ira Bloom, Branford Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter and Bobby Watson. In addition to a scholarship to the Monk Institute, Melissa won a recording contract with Concord Music Group.

Born in 1988, Aldana began to play the saxophone as soon as she was able. She was taught by her father Marcos Aldana, who was also a renowned jazz saxophonist and sought out teacher in their hometown of Santiago, Chile. By age 13, Melissa was frequenting the jazz clubs in Santiago with her father and by 16 was headlining the Club de Jazz de Santiago, which, at the time, was the center of the Chilean jazz community. In 2005, with help from Panamanian jazz pianist Danilo Pérez, she procured auditions at the Berklee School of Music and the New England Conservatory. She was accepted into both and chose to attend Berklee, from which she graduated in 2009.

After graduating, Melissa immediately moved to New York. With the help of mentor, the legendary George Coleman, and former teacher Greg Osby, among many others, Melissa recorded two albums Free Fall (2010) and Second Cycle (2012) for Osby’s Inner Circle Music label, and quickly became a vital part of the New York jazz scene. She has since performed in such prestigious venues as the Blue Note, Lincoln Center and Smalls. After a 2013 performance at the Jazz Gallery, The New York Times touted, “…she moved toward a kind of music (including ‘First Cycle,’ from her new record) that really felt like the current moment in jazz…Ms. Aldana worked over short motifs, using the full range of her instrument, articulating long and fast lines. But she also condensed her phrases into great wipes of sound up and down the horn, and clamped into the rhythm…She wasn’t just exhibiting her own voice but embodying it…”

Pablo Menares is one of the most important bass players in Chile.  His bass playing is considered to be elegant, musical and lyric, while firmly rooted in swing and polyrhythmic concepts. Menares has performed and/or recorded with all the leading jazz musicians in Chile and has also performed at major jazz festivals all over South America. Since moving to New York City in 2009 he has become a sought after bass player for both Jazz and Latin music. He has performed in many of NYC’s most notable jazz clubs including Lincoln Center, Jazz Gallery, Smoke, Smalls Jazz Club, Fat Cat, 55 Bar and world famous venue Carnegie Hall. He has performed with such jazz luminaries as Sam Yahel, Arturo O’Farrill, Randy Brecker, Aaron Goldberg, Greg Hutchinson, Claudia Acuña, among others; and has toured throughout North America, becoming an increasingly important presence in the jazz and Latin music scene.

Francisco Mela is a favorite among jazz’s elite instrumentalist, including Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron and McCoy Tuner, all of whom cite his charisma, sophistication and life-affirming spirit as an extension of his incredible talents as a composer and drummer. Born in 1968 in Bayamo, Cuba, Mela moved to Boston in 2000 to pursue a degree from Berklee College of Music. Since then, he’s made quite a name for himself by becoming an integral part of Joe Lovano’s quartet, joining McCoy Tyner’s trio and developing himself as a band leader. Mela has released three albums, all receiving compelling critical acclaim. His latest project, Cuban Safari, is an amalgamation of his favorite bands that inspired him to become a drummer – Miles Davis’ fusion group featuring Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett, Weather Report, and the Latin- jazz super group Irakere.

Nikki Armstrong live @ The River Club

Nikki Armstrong & Friends! An evening of Blues/rock and R&B featuring Mark Brandenburg, Lee Marvin and Charlie Stewart. And guests sitting in!
Tomorrow night, May 24 @ The River Club (11 Burd St, Nyack, New York).

NYC Block Party Unveiling of "Miles Davis Way" on May 26 - Free & Open To The Public

Miles Davis remains the only so-called jazz artist ever to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Join us and special guests for the unveiling of #MilesDavisWay in NYC on May 26! West 77th Street on MIles' 88th Birthday. 12 Noon To 2:30pm - 312 West 77th Street (Between Riverside & West End).

http://www.milesdavis.com/us/news/you-are-invited-special-nyc-block-party-unveiling-miles-davis-way

“Jazz: No Language Required” Bloggers Tour Showcases 100 Years of Music

The “Jazz: No Language Required” Bloggers Tour is being presented by the Mutual Musicians Foundation International (MMFI) and is designed to utilize the social media avenues (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to build awareness of the upcoming 100th year celebration (2017) of the Mutual Musicians Foundation in American history, Thursday and Friday, June 19th and the 20th, 2014. All events are free and open to the public.

Six national bloggers and bloggers locally are scheduled to participate in the tour. “The tour is the first of a series of events over the next three years leading up to our global centennial celebration that is certain to bring jazz and music lovers from all parts of the globe,” said Anita J. Dixon, Executive Director of the MMFI.

Thursday, June 19th
The Three Square Miles: Tour of the Origins of Swing
10:00 to Noon-Tour begins at the Mutual Musicians Foundation 1823 Highland Ave.

Tour of 18th & Vine and 12th St. Historic Jazz district to include the Mutual Musicians Foundation National Historic Landmark.  Here we will hear from the Freedom Network Foundation who installed free wifi for three blocks, bringing jazz to the urban core’s youth and the importance of “bridging the digital divide” which preserves the art form in the land of its origins.

The Books of Bird
5:30 to 7:30pm
Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center-3700 Blue Parkway, KCMO

Stanley Crouch, noted New York Times Jazz critic and author for over 40 years has written a book entitled “Kansas City Lighting: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker along with local professor Chuck Haddix of the University of Missouri Marr Sound Archive who wrote a book entitled: “Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker.   These two have agreed to occupy the same stage and discuss one of the most prolific innovators of jazz to come out of Kansas City.

Friday, June 20th
11:30am to 2:00pm
Mutual Musicians Foundation 1823 Highland Ave. KCMO
National Panel Discussion
What Happened to the Black Musicians Local Unions?

The public will view the Mutual Musicians Foundation’s documentary, “Still Jammin’” on the rise and demise of Local 627 in American history, talk with musicians who remember the union in their lives and hear from Local 34/627 American Federation of Musicians director Dick Albrecht, American Federation of Musicians National Representative Paul Frank, renown bassist Dr. Larry Ridley on a panel discussing the future of jazz. In addition, we will introduce the youth of the American Heritage Music Apprenticeship Program.  (This event will be filmed for archival of the 100th year celebration)

Please RSVP to: www.mutualmusiciansfoundation.org
or at anita@mutualmusicians.org

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month - "Goldings, Bernstein & Stewart: Ramshackle Serenade"

Instrumental Jazz CD of the Month
Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart: "Ramshackle Serenade" (Pirouet)

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

Produced by Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart
Recorded December 17, 2013 - Mixed February 8 & 9, 2014
Recorded & Mixed by Jason Seizer @ Kyberg Studio, Oberhaching
Mastered by Christoph Stickel @ MSM-Studios, Munich, Germany
Cover Design & Photos: Konstantin Kern
Featuring: Larry Goldings (Hammond organ), Peter Bernstein (electric guitar) & Bill Stewart (drums)

Highlights: the standard "Sweet and Lovely," an extremely subtle jazzy version -- totally unexpected & musically surprising -- of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Luiza," Horace Silver's ballad "Peace" (the best rendition since Chet Baker's version for Enja), and Goldings' tribute to "(Max) Roach."

This trio is an unusual camaraderie of world-class players, three of the world's best players in the current jazz scene. From the moment you first hear the trio you can sense the deep respect the musicians have for one another. Three musicians who never make a big deal about what they are up to, thereby generating an infectious strength through their extraordinarily subtle control of all the musical parts.

Their intensely sensual music grooves and glistens. With the trio's extensive use of the music's dynamic possibilities, the passion and joy of this amazingly versatile instrumental lineup (keyboardist Goldings focused on the Hammond organ) is there for all to hear. Sophisticated music - just let yourself go, and enjoy. Give yourself the pleasure & enchantement of several repeated listenings of "Luiza." So far one of the best releases of the year.
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Larry Goldings, Peter Berstein, and Bill Stewart are an extraordinary team. Here you have everything that the traditional "organ trio" (organ, guitar, and drums) has to offer - exciting grooves, rich, tasty, sumptuous sounds. The trio members are among the strongest musical personalities of their generation.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1968, Larry Goldings has made lush, funky, bluesy, expressive music as well as attempted freer explorations in jazz with the likes of Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Steve Gadd and Jack DeJohnette. Born in Des Moines (Iowa) in 1966, Bill Stewart has worked with Joe Lovano and Dave Holland, and, like Goldings, has worked with Maceo Parker and John Scofield (albeit not at the same time). Stewart has recorded a CD under his own name, "Incandescence", for Pirouet. The album features Larry Goldings and pianist Kevin Hays, and was lauded by the press.

Peter Bernstein, a New York City native, has worked with such diverse musician as Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, Roy Hargrove, and Brad Mehldau. He is one of the most versatile and on-demand guitarists on the world scene. Originally he studied piano and then switched to guitar at the age of 13. His precise and melodically sensitive play was highlighted by no less than the great guitarist Jim Hall. After having performed concerts with him in the 90's, Bernstein extoled Hall as "the most impressive guitarist" he had ever heard.

Anna Mjöll live @ Vibrato, May 24

                                                  (pic by Barbara Porter)

One of our favorite singers, Icelandic Jazz Princess Anna Mjöll will be back tomorrow night @ Herb Alpert's classy Vibrato in Bel Air, California.
Saturday, May 24, 2014, 9pm.

This event is a near-guaranteed sellout, timely reservations are strongly recommended.
Call (310) 474-9400.
Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill Jazz
2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Los Angeles 90077