Jazz- Rock Veterans Get The Blessing Release Vibrant New Track 'If It Can It Will'

JAZZ ROCK VETERANS GET THE BLESSING

RELEASE ENERGETIC NEW TRACK

'IF IT CAN IT WILL'

PORTISHEAD MEMBERS REIGNITE THEIR GENRE PUSHING SIDE PROJECT FOR FIRST RELEASE SINCE 2016's 'ASTRONAUTILUS'

“ THIS IS TRIP HOP-INFORMED CONTEMPORARY JAZZ-ROCK AT ITS VERY BEST ” Time Out

“ SERIOUSLY CREATIVE … WONDERFULLY IRREVERENT ” Mojo Magazine

“ THE MOMENTUM OF CREATIVITY IS UNDIPPED ” BBC Music Magazine

Following the success of 2016’s album Astronautilus, jazz-rock mavericks Get The Blessing return with their energetic new single ‘If It Can It Will’. A frantic drum pattern commences the proceedings, joined by jagged, interweaving brass melodies, sending the listener tumbling down a rabbit-hole of blissful audio bombast. With this powerful return, Get The Blessing set the pace for the current UK Jazz revival, demonstrating that the early pioneers of the scene still have something important to say.

Formed back in 1999 by bassist Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer (rhythm section of seminal act Portishead) alongside Jake McMurchie (on sax and electronics) and Pete Judge (trumpet and electronics) the Bristol-based four-piece boast a truly international fan-base, having forged a unique signature sound that defies easy classification, yet never loses sight of thumping tunes, monstrously infectious beats, or joyous collective spontaneity. After eighteen years, their ability to produce such creative and intelligent music – balanced with wit and passion – is testament to the free spirit that they embody.

www.gettheblessing.com

KUMPANIA ALGAZARRA estreiam novo Single "Free"

A fazer a festa desde 2004, por onde quer que passa e sem deixar ninguém indiferente, a Kumpania Algazarra prepara-se agora para levar a festa para as pistas de dança, através do sopro poderoso de uma das mais consistentes e respeitadas brass bands nacionais. 

Com o sexto álbum de originais no horizonte, o single de antecipação "Free" mistura as sonoridades multiculturais da banda num novo fato de noite, onde a exuberância habitual desta famosa fanfarra ao vivo, encontra a produção electrónica de Beat Laden, produtor e homem do som de nomes como Batida ou DJ Ride. As festas de Verão têm aqui o seu primeiro hino, nesta fusão de canção soul, electro-swing e euforia balcânica.
Veja aqui o videoclipe:


O swing é aliás o mote inspirador para o novo video da banda, que para além da ambiência nocturna de um clube de jazz, conta com o corpo de baile da escola de dança lisboeta Swing Station. 

Se nos idos anos 30 do século XX , o jungle de Duke Ellington ou Cab Calloway animava as noites americanas do Cotton Club e tantos outros santuários da dança e do jazz, "Free" promete fazer a noite grande de novo. Destruindo barreiras com o sopro da liberdade e a bombardear o epicentro da pista de dança, com toneladas de swing dos renovados e imparáveis, Kumpania Algazarra."

Tiago Santos

Tour 2018:

26 Maio| Evento Privado 

2 Junho | Festival Fusos | Aldeia de Alte 

7 Junho | Evento Privado

8 Junho | Respekt und Neugier Festival | Berlim (DE)

14 Junho | Evento Privado

16 Junho | Festas do Lumiar | Telheiras

21 Junho | Grande Arraial de Benfica | Lisboa

7 Julho | Há festa na Aldeia | Porto Carvoeiro

21 Julho | a anunciar 

25 Julho | Boom Festival | Idanha a Nova

18 Agosto | Fanfarrão - Festival de Artes de Rua | Tomar

May 26: Pianist Yoko Miwa performs at the Atlanta Jazz Festival

Pianist Yoko Miwa and her trio celebrate recent CD Pathways with a concert at the Atlanta Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 26

Pathways earning wide critical acclaim CD in Top 10 of JazzWeek's national radio charts for 4 weeks; in top 40 for 10+ weeks

"Impressive technique and a tuneful lyricism that combines an Oscar Peterson-ish hard swing with Bill Evans-like introspection." - Jon Garelick, DownBeat, September 2017 feature article

"Pathways is bright and accessible...Miwa's technical chops are evident, yet she's anything but showy; she prizes space in her sound, and leaves room for the deep interplay her group has honed over the years." - Jeremy Goodwin, Boston Globe

4 stars "This is Yoko Miwa at her extroverted best...her finest recording to date." - Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

Internationally acclaimed pianist Yoko Miwa and her trio continue to celebrate their recent recording Pathways with a concert on Saturday, May 26, 1 p.m. at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Legends Stage, Piedmont Park, Atlanta. Admission is free. Joining Miwa will be bassist Will Slater and drummer Scott Goulding. Saturday's lineup is particularly special, featuring exclusively groups led by women. Other scheduled artists include Dianne Reeves, Jazzmeia Horn, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Linda May Han Oh. For information visit:

Miwa is quickly becoming known as one of the most powerful and compelling performers on the scene today. Her trio - with its remarkable telepathy and infectious energy - has brought audiences to their feet worldwide.

For the past decade the Kobe, Japan native has honed one of the most musical and lyrical trio sounds around. Miwa's band, which has been heralded for their almost telepathic interplay, performs regularly at major jazz clubs worldwide including New York City's Blue Note Jazz Club and Jazz at Lincoln Center where Miwa was chosen to play on "Marian McPartland & Friends" as part of the Coca Cola Generations in Jazz Festival.  She has performed and/or recorded with a wide range of jazz greats including Sheila Jordan, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, George Garzone, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi, Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kevin Mahogany, John Lockwood and Johnathan Blake among others.  A Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll winner, Miwa is on faculty at Berklee College of Music and earned two 2017 nominations in the Boston Music Awards: Best Jazz Artist and Best International Artist.

This concert celebrates the success of Miwa's 2017 recording Pathways - her seventh as a leader -which spent 4 weeks on the Jazz Week top 10 radio charts and is earning wide critical acclaim. Since first appearing on Jazz Week charts in June, Pathways was in the top 10 for four weeks running and has consistently remained in the Top 40, peaking at #6. Miwa was the subject of a feature article in the September 2017 issue of DownBeat that referenced her "impressive technique and a tuneful lyricism that combines an Oscar Peterson-ish hard swing with Bill Evans-like introspection." Gordon Marshall of Flash Boston says, "...what makes her new album remarkable, and remarkably innovative, is the racing, playful interplay of the instruments of the trio: drums, piano, and bass. Each has an equal part, with none dominating, but sharing, democratically, endless, intriguing dialogues." Dick Metcalf of Improvijazzation Nation writes, "Yoko's ability to create moods, or bring them back to mind, is simply astounding...most highly recommended."

The recording, released May 12, 2017 on Ocean Blue Tear Music, features Miwa with bassist Will Slater (with Brad Barrett stepping in for one track) and drummer Scott Goulding. The remarkable telepathy they share has been developed over 15 years and countless hours logged on the bandstand, not to mention the accompanying personal bonds (Miwa and Goulding are married, after all).

"When we play together, it comes out as one sound," Miwa says. "That's the best part of working together all the time. I'm very comfortable with these guys because they know my playing and I know them very well."

It's been nearly five years since the release of Miwa's last album, Act Naturally (JVC Victor), but she's been far from inactive in the interim. On the contrary, she's one of the busiest artists on the thriving Boston jazz scene, playing regularly at renowned local venues the Regattabar and Scullers as well as venues worldwide. Locally, the trio is a constant presence with three area residencies that keep them busy every weekend they're at home. On Fridays they can be found at the Central Square sushi bar and jazz club Thelonious Monkfish, where Goulding serves as music director and Miwa helped select the stunning Yamaha piano. Saturdays they play at the wine bar Les Zygomates, as they have for the last 12 years, while their Sundaybrunch gig at Cambridge BBQ joint Ryles dates back even further.

That impressive calendar means that the trio has had plenty of time not only to try out new material but to explore each piece over time. "We play each song a little bit differently every time," Miwa says. "It really helps develop the music. If we only did concerts once a month in front of big audiences, I don't think we'd feel the same way or that I'd play the same way that I do now."

The repertoire that Miwa traverses on Pathways ranges widely, from the classic songs of The Beatles and Joni Mitchell to a pair of rarely (if ever) reprised pieces by legendary Bill Evans Trio bassist Marc Johnson, originally recorded solo. The album's highlights, though, are Miwa's gorgeous originals, which combine lively melodies, a delicate touch, and lush harmonies - the same qualities that she brings to her improvisations.

Integral to capturing the heartfelt communication forged by the trio was Miwa's insistence that they play together in the studio, not divided into isolation booths. Their spontaneity and spark found an ideal setting at Wellspring Sound Studios in Acton, Massachusetts, where they worked closely with engineer Matt Hayes. "It's almost like a live recording," Miwa says proudly. "I feel really uncomfortable separated into different rooms where you can't really see each other. Of course you can't go back and fix things, but I love the feeling of playing in the same room and our energy together."

Sweetest Choice - Trois Oiseaux (June 7, 2018)

Une errance nocturne, peuplée d’absence et de solitude, d’ombres bienveillantes, de disparus - un rêve éveillé.

Sweetest Choice propose une relecture intimiste et instrumentale de pièces vocales, issues autant des répertoires baroques (Purcell, Bach) que XXeme siècle (Weill, Debussy, Nono), folkloriques (Ramirez, Piazzolla). Ce programme s’est construit à partir de la charge émotionnelle qui se dégage de chacune des chansons. Ces « speechless songs » - chansons sans paroles - sont mises à nu par le souffle de la trompette et l’épure d’une guitare 12 cordes. Une instrumentation sans artifice, souvent réduite par rapport aux originaux, pour faire entendre la force de ces mélodies écrites pour les plus grands poètes.

Sweetest Choice, c’est aussi une parenthèse musicale douce et intimiste. Un instant de détente où chacun peut se laisser aller à une expérience sensible et inédite. Musée, chapelle, jardin, lieux du patrimoine offrent à la musique de Sweetest Choice une acoustique idéale, elle prend alors toute son ampleur pour entrer en résonance avec l’histoire de ces lieux. Les concerts de Sweetest Choice, vecteurs d’accident émotionnel, sont des moments d’exception où musique et environnement se confondent.

Si la noche haze escura (F. Guerrero)

Syrinx (C. Debussy)

Milonga para tres (A. Piazzolla)

Trois beaux oiseaux du paradis (M. Ravel)

Der Leiermann (in Winterreise) (F. Schubert)

Bourrée 2 (in Suite n°1 pour orchestre) (J. S. Bach)

¿Donde estás hermano? (L. Nono)

Alfonsina y el mar (A. Ramirez)

Sébastien Cirotteau trompette

Benjamin Glibert guitare 12 cordes

Interprétation et arrangements : Sweetest Choice

Enregistrement : Audrey Ginestet - Cloître du Centre d’Art Départemental Mémento, Auch

Mixage : Audrey Ginestet et Sweetest Choice

Mastering : Dominique Blanc-Franquart / Studio Labomatic

Graphisme : Sébastien Cirotteau

Ce projet a été developpé avec le concours d’Alexandra Cirotteau et produit par Freddy Morezon avec le soutien du Conseil Départemental de la Haute Garonne, de la DRAC Occitanie et du FCM.

Bedmakers - Tribute to an Imaginary Folk Band (2018)

Après s'être joyeusement confrontés à l’œuvre de Charles Mingus au sein du trio Whahay, Robin Fincker et Fabien Duscombs poursuivent leur désir de plonger dans une tradition musicale et d'en improviser la suite avec la création du groupe Bedmakers et leur "Tribute to an imaginary folk band".

Ce quartet acoustique fait irruption dans les méandres de la folk anglo-saxonne. Il fouille, gratte et creuse cette matière sonore fertile mûrie par les multiples décennies de tradition orale, pour en extraire son essence mélodique et l'observer à travers le regard d'improvisateurs sans étiquettes. Les mélodies sont attrapées au vol, ces airs que l'on aurait pu fredonner sans le savoir, que l'on croit connaitre sans pouvoir pointer du doigt leur provenance se retrouvent, hors de leur contexte d'origine, superposés, déclamés ou seulement suggérés, parfois enfouis sous une pluie de matière bruitiste ou encore égrenés dans un souffle minimaliste.

Bedmakers réunit quatre musiciens aux univers musicaux polymorphes et singuliers. Le saxophoniste/clarinettiste anglophile Robin Fincker (Whahay, Vincent Courtois' Mediums, Surnatural Orchestra) et son acolyte dans le trio Whahay, le batteur Fabien Duscombs s'entourent ainsi de deux-fois-quatre cordes avec le violoniste aux dérives électroacoustiques Mathieu Werchowski et le contrebassiste irlandais Dave Kane (Pascal Niggenkemper sur l'album).

Fort de cette instrumentation riche en couleurs "Tribute to an imaginary folk band" fait cohabiter le blues illuminé de John Fahey avec les envolées lyriques issues de mélodies traditionnelles de folk irlandaise et l'intense sobriété du guitariste écossais Bert Jansch avec la richesse de l'improvisation libre. Dans sa recherche permanente d'étendre sa palette de timbres le quartet invente un croisement imaginaire de ces différentes essences musicales et propose ainsi un répertoire aux itinéraires multiples ; à l'image de ces musiques qui, bien que profondément liées à leur racines, ne connaissent pas de frontières pour autant.

Une production Freddy Morezon, en co-production avec Banlieues Bleues et Jazzdor. Avec le soutien de la DRAC Occitanie, du CNV et de la SPEDIDAM.

1. Dying Bedmaker Suite 08:37

2. The Gardener 05:15

3. Mac Crimmon's Lament 07:32

4. Princess Beatrice 08:03

5. The Road to Lisdoonvarna 03:38

6. Smokey River 07:58

7. Some Summer Day 03:39

Robin Fincker : saxophone tenor, clarinette

Mathieu Werchowski : violon

Pascal Niggenkemper : contrebasse

Fabien Duscombs : batterie

Pistes 1 & 7 : John Fahey

2 & 6 : Bert Jansch

3 & 4 traditionnel Ecosse

5 : Traditionnel Irlande

Arrangements : Bedmakers

Enregistré au Studio Juillaguet (Angoulême) et mixé par Ananda Cherer en mars et juin 2017.

Masterisé par Alex Bonney en septembre 2017.

Visuel : Mathieu Werchowski

Pochette : Badneighbour & Sons Inc.

Label Mr Morezon (FR) et Babel Label (UK)

Distribution France : Orkhestra International

Peter Evans: Peter Evans Group (2018)

Peter Evans: Peter Evans Group (2018)

1. Bluesy Mingusy 05:53

2. Five Tune 07:19

3. Danilo 07:45

4. Cinema Tune 03:16

5. She Will Stand Tall 07:18

6. Running 05:53

7. Copper Canyons 05:54

8. Five To Eight 04:06

9. Cheer Up Charlie 03:03

All songs written by Peter Evans

Dylan Hooper - Saxophone

Harry Mitchell - Piano

Jeremy Thomson - Guitar

Karl Florisson - Bass

Peter Evans - Drums / Compositions

Recorded December 2017 by Elliot Smith at Villanova Studios

Perth, Western Australia

Mixed and Mastered by James Newhouse

Perth, Western Australia

Saint Ballantine - All Saints Day (SNOW DOG RECORDS June 1, 2018)

Before coming together to form Saint Ballantine, Brooklyn-based duo Andrew Thomas Reid and Brian 'Sene' Marc were busy pushing creative boundaries on their own. As one half of Denitia & Sene, Brian notably caught the attention of Rolling Stone with their lilting electro-soul and striking style. Andrew, an artist, creative director, producer, and visionary with a penchant for branding, helped to materialize a communal incubator for young artists in Brooklyn called the Clubhouse (aka ClubCasa). 

The production duo pride themselves on blending aspects of various genres in both their musical elements and lyrical content. Dark and meaningful concepts are often encased in intricate downtempo jams, making each Saint Ballantine track worth exploring. Both musicians specialize in mixing numerous influences and shared priorities, but the music is never harsh or restrictive. “Although Saint Ballantine has sharp sonic opinions, it’s really accessible to a lot of people and I think that’s important,” says Reid. He and Marc successfully touch on complex situations as well as lighter universal topics, allowing virtually anyone the chance to connect with the group. 

Hollis Wear, who appeared on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “White Walls” with memorable results, is the lone feature on a cross-cut album of minimal neo-soul, R&B and indie pop, with millennial takes on folk and psych. “All Saint’s Day” celebrates the moody and ethereal, its layered soundscapes as much a sharp, angular pop record as one that stays poised, watching in the wings as an outsider. The humanized synthetics are sure to catch the ears of fans of The Weeknd, H.E.R., Frank Ocean, Porches and Børns.

1. di_4u

2. the stoned

3. ashes

4. slave

5. we all fall down

6. a.d.d. lover

7. the wolf

8. follow feat. hollis wear

9. cry, baby

10. maybe we were wrong

11. don't rush

Millennium Mambo - Millennium Mambo (2018)

Millennium Mambo es el proyecto personal de Sergio Fernández, bajista y contrabajista, que para grabar su primer trabajo se asocia a cuatro grandes nombres de la escena musical española: Miron Rafajlovic (trompeta), Amable Rodríguez (guitarra), Moisés Sánchez (pìano), y Jorge García (batería). La mezcla de personalidades y estilos de los integrantes hace que la banda presente un sonido único, con referencias que se acercan tanto a la etapa dorada del jazz modal como a sonidos más modernos, blues eléctrico e incluso rock alternativo.

1. Moraira 06:14

2. Tony Leung 06:15

3. Amour fou 05:11

4. Amapola 09:37

5. Puente del milenio 05:50

6. Duendes 04:48

7. Trash Talk 01:29

8. New Orleans funeral (por una amistad) 07:26

Sergio Fernández: Bass and double bass

Miron Rafajlovic: Trumpet & Flugelhorn

Moisés P. Sánchez: Piano & Fender Rhodes

Amable Rodríguez: Guitars

Jorge García: Drums

All songs written by Sergio Fernández except "Trash Talk", freely improvised with Amable Rodríguez

Recorded live on May 19th and 20th in Estudio uno (Madrid)

Mixed by Rubén García in Matilda estudios (Madrid)

Mastering by Dave Darlington in Bass Hit Studios (NY)

Nelson Pari - Defining (2018)

"Defining," the latest EP from guitarist Nelson Pari is a showcase for his growth as a composer. At times, the music can be beboppish, straight-ahead or progressive. At all times, the music’s depth is captured in its emotion-filled melodies that are put forth and explored by a group of musicians who know what to do with such outstanding material. - Walter Kolosky (Author of Power, Passion and Beauty: The Legendary Story of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and host of the Jazz Rocks Podcast.) 

During my time in music college my teacher Giorgio Serci referred to me as a “pragmatic dreamer” and this EP is dedicated to him, as he is my favourite pragmatic dreamer of all.

1. Meet The Guv'nor

2. Over Dalston Junction

3. The Blue Arrow 1

Nelson Pari - Guitar

Simone La Maida - Sax

Fulvio Sigurta' - Trumpet

Claudio Vignali - Piano/Rhodes

Stefano Senni - Double Bass

Marco Frattini - Drums

Maciej Sadowski Kwadrat - ms2 (2018)

Maciej Sadowski's unique style, in the shape of his original compositions collides fervently with emotional improvisations, drawned from many musical genres. The result of the impact is a unique and stunning sound: you can call it NoN-jAzz.

1. Nóż w lodzie 05:18

2. Dziadek mróz part 1 (live at Teatr Boto) 05:08

3. Dziadek mróz part 2 05:59

4. Kotojeleń Złodziej 04:29

Four free jazz/non jazz compositions by Maciej Sadowski, energized by great polish musicians. It's a foreshadow of upcoming full album.

Dawid Lipka - trumpet

Michał Jan Ciesielski - tenor saxophone

Maciej Sadowski - double bass

Antoni Wojnar - drums