Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Al Muirhead - Undertones (CHRONOGRAPH RECORDS September 28, 2018)


2016 JUNO-nominated trumpeter Al Muirhead is excited to present his most intriguing project to date; Undertones. Recorded in mid February 2018, the album features Muirhead on the rare bass trumpet with his new Canadian Quintet. 

The album highlights musicians he has admired over the years, including Canadian jazz heavyweights Kelly Jefferson (sax), Reg Schwager (guitar), Neil Swainson (bass) and Ted Warren (drums).

With a 70-year career in music, Muirhead is a true expert at what he does – and every time he steps on stage or into the studio, something special comes out of his horn. He is one of the few masters in the world on the rare bass trumpet, and Undertones showcases its mellow and deep tones. 

The album is a collection of standards that he and his quintet selected in studio, along with two tribute pieces composed by Muirhead. “A Tune For Cal” is a post-bop celebration for his late and eldest brother, a magnificent musician and one of Canada’s finest copyists. “Take It To The Bank Tom” pays homage to his life-long friend and collaborator, Tommy Banks, who passed away weeks before this recording.


Al Muirhead has long been an iconic figure on the Canadian jazz scene. And the trumpeter, composer, arranger, sideman and recording artist has been making listeners take notice for longer than jazz fans might realize. Born in Regina in 1935, he was playing in the Regina Symphony and dance bands by age 12. Muirhead began to take notice of greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. While Muirhead’s playing is infused with the indelible influence of the jazz giants, his flowing, melodic sound is his own — and has become influential in its own right. He unleashes melodies that are incredibly inventive and utterly timeless.

Muirhead has worked with legends such as Diana Krall, Paul Anka, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Mills and Dizzy Gillespie. In recent years, Al has been honoured with the American Federation of Musician’s Citation Award and the Western Canadian Music Alliance’s Heritage Award for his mentorship and industry-building. He’s also earned a 2016 JUNO Award nomination, the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Special Recognition Award, a two YYC Music Awards, and has charted #1 in Canada and #3 in the US.

Undertones will be released worldwide on Friday, September 28th, 2018 on Chronograph Records.


Porta-Jazz ao Relento| José Pedro Coelho "Passarola Voadora" - 25 de Agosto - 22:00 - Jardins do Palácio de Cristal


No próximo Sábado termina o Porta-Jazz ao Relento 2018, apresentado em parceria com a Porto Lazer, mas não terminam os concertos Porta-Jazz!

Em Setembro haverá mais Concertos Porta-Jazz e continuam as oportunidades para ouvir ao vivo alguns dos mais recentes projetos de Jazz do Porto, editados com Carimbo da Porta-Jazz.


José Pedro Coelho "Passarola Voadora"

Sábado 25 de Agosto   22:00
Jardins do Palácio de Cristal


Este quarteto dá vida às mais recentes composições de José Pedro Coelho, que se apresenta uma vez mais enquanto líder.

Através de um repertório fortemente orientado para a improvisação, ‘Passarola Voadora’ convida a uma narrativa musical densa e forte, mas ao mesmo tempo leve e romântica.

Xan Campos - Piano
Demian Cabaud - Contrabaixo

Marcos Cavaleiro - Bateria


Durante o mês de Setembro os Concertos Porta-Jazz continuam no Palácio de Cristal, desta vez apresentados no âmbito da Feira do Livro do Porto.

Concertos aos Sábados e Domingos, com entrada livre, na Avenida das Tílias do Palácio de Cristal ás 18h00 - com exceção do Sábado 8 de Setembro às 16h00).


Kaveh Rastegar - Light Of Love (ROPEADOPE RECORDS 2018)


Those who have been paying close attention have realized by now that Kaveh Rastegar has been the secret weapon behind some of the most thrilling music of the last 20 years, across a wide spectrum of styles. 

As a bassist, Rastegar is best known as a founding member of the genre-blurring, GRAMMY® Award-nominated quintet Kneebody, though he’s also toured the world with superstars like John Legend (and also appeared as his fictional counterpart in the beloved musical La La Land), recorded with Shania Twain and Beck, served as musical director for singer/hitmaker Sia, and worked with R&B sensation Sabrina Claudio as both songwriter and co-producer. As a songwriter, he’s penned songs with and for heavy-hitters like Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green, Meshell Ndegeocello, De La Soul and Ciara, among many others. 

Now, with the release of Light of Love, Rastegar is intent on being a secret no more. On his debut album as a leader, the bassist and songwriter strides boldly into the spotlight with a set of songs that draw on every aspect of his wildly diverse résumé to create a wholly individual sound. Like its striking cover art, Light of Love is a college – of influences, experiences, and collaborations – that merge to form a mosaic portrait of Rastegar’s talents and interests. Featuring an all-star line-up of gifted singers and musicians, the album (due out August 10 via Ropeadope) features songs as compelling as they are uncategorizable, fueled by entrancing grooves, unexpected twists and captivating storytelling. 

Rastegar refers to Light of Love as a “family album,” bringing together a cast of longtime friends and collaborators to craft songs that unite jazz-club virtuosity with pop-chart soul. The roll call of singer-songwriters includes Amy Kuney (aka AMES), Becca Stevens, Gaby Moreno, Dawn Richard, David Garza, Mike Viola, and Rastegar himself, riding the waves of sound created by drummers Chris Dave (D’Angelo, Robert Glasper) and Scott Seiver (Tenacious D, Aimee Mann), trumpet great Nicholas Payton, keyboardists Brandon Coleman (Stevie Wonder, Kamasi Washington) and Jeff Babko (James Taylor, Martin Short), and guitarists Chris Bruce (Seal, Bettye Lavette) and Josh Lopez (Macy Gray, Black Eyed Peas). 


“This album is a long time coming,” says Rastegar. “I wanted to make something that bridges the gaps between all the different musical worlds that I find myself in -- music that feels really good and also uses all of these voices.” 


The results range from the smoldering cosmic love song “Accidents Waiting to Happen” to the swampy blues-rock lurch of “As Long As You Love Me;” the stripped-down soul of “A Little Too Late” to the intimate but anthemic “Cuento Illogico;” the sensual groove of “Lavender” to the Velvet Underground inspired drone-pop of “Bad Ideas.” The title track basks in its finger-snapping groove while “Roll Call” lays back into a late-‘70s SoCal vibe reminiscent of the Doobie Brothers. “Long March” surges with a bracing stop-start funk, the perfect foil for Nicholas Payton’s acid-tongued trumpet. 

If the songs’ memorable melodies wrap around some unfamiliar contours, that’s most likely due to the unique circumstances of the album’s songwriting. Rastegar entered the studio on separate occasions with Dave and Seiver, engaging the inventive drummers in loose, freewheeling jam sessions. Rastegar took those recordings, isolated some of the more inspired moments, and built songs around these improvised rhythm tracks. He collaborated with the singers in different ways; some were sent tracks and composed their own lyrics, while others got together with Rastegar in the studio to hash out the songs together. 


“What I’ve learned as a songwriter is that there’s a thousand different ways to write a song,” Rastegar says. “I’ve always been a big fan of all kinds of music, but when I was younger I never really thought about why they were made. I just assumed that they sprouted up like flowers. But as I’ve stepped out as a songwriter and a producer, I’ve found that each song makes its own statement. The way this music came together, with a lot of freedom in the initial recording, there ended up being a lot of surprises that you wouldn't normally have if you’d written the chords and the melody first.” 

Several of Rastegar’s improvisations with Dave ended up as compelling miniatures in their own right, elaborated to become instrumentals like the futuristic funk of “Tom Tom” and the shimmering synth-pop of “Cat Woman.” album ends with a solo bass arrangement of Caetano Veloso’s “Luz Do Sol” that shows off the tender beauty of Rastegar’s playing. 

“Bad Ideas,” Rastegar’s debut as a vocalist, presages a forthcoming singer-songwriter project that will feature him as sole front-man. With his debut, however, Rastegar wanted to display his panoramic talents through a wider lens. Light of Love does just that, offering infectious tunes and scintillating virtuosity, eclectic approaches with a singular vision.


1. Bad Ideas (Kaveh Rastegar -bass, guitars, voice, Scott Seiver -drums) 

2. Cuento Ilogico featuring Gaby Moreno (Kaveh Rastegar- electric bass, upright bass, guitars, Chris Dave -drums, percussion, Jeff Babko -Keyboards, Gaby Moreno- voice) 

3. Cat Woman featuring Chris Dave (Kaveh Rastegar- basses, keyboards Chris Dave -drums, percussion) 

4. Roll Call featuring Mike Viola (Scott Seiver -drums, Kaveh Rastegar -bass, Jeff Babko -rhodes, Mike Viola- voice) 

5. Tom Tom featuring Chris Dave (Kaveh Rastegar -basses, keyboards, Chris Dave- drums, percussion) 

6. Light Of Love featuring David Garza (Kaveh Rastegar- basses, Chris Dave -drums, percussion, Jeff Babko -rhodes, David Garza- voice) 

7. As Long As You Love Me (Scott Seiver- drums, Josh Lopez- guitar, Kaveh Rastegar -bass, guitars) 

8. Accidents Waiting To Happen featuring Ames (Scott Seiver- drums, Brandon Coleman -keyboards, Chris Bruce- guitar, Josh Lopez -guitar, Kaveh Rastegar -bass) 

9. Long March featuring Nicholas Payton (Scott Seiver- drums, Brandon Coleman- keyboards, Garrett Smith - trombone Chris Bruce - guitar, Josh Lopez -guitar, Kaveh Rastegar- bass, Nicholas Payton- trumpet) 

10. Lavender featuring Dawn Richard (Scott Seiver -drums, Brandon Coleman -keyboards, Chris Bruce- guitar, Josh Lopez- guitar, Kaveh Rastegar -bass, Dawn Richard -voice) 

11. A Little Too Late featuring Becca Stevens (Kaveh Rastegar- basses, guitars, keyboards, Scott Seiver- drums, percussion, Becca Stevens -voice) 

12.Luz Do Sol (Kaveh Rastegar- basses, Chris Dave -drums, percussion)

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra - PILLAR (ROPEADOPE RECORDS September 14, 2018)


Jonathan Scales’ newest release, PILLAR—his sixth album, and fourth release on taste-maker label Ropeadope—is a testament to the grit and tenacity he possesses, while also serving as an introduction of his new, full-time rhythm battery consisting of bassist E’Lon JD and drummer Maison Guidry. These two formidable young lions hold their own in the company of an incredible cast of special guests, including bassists Victor Wooten, Oteil Burbridge and MonoNeon, trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, keyboardist Shaun Martin, percussionist Weedie Braimah and banjo pioneer Béla Fleck. It is the inclusion of Béla Fleck on this record that stands out most notably in context of Scales’ own personal story, and in this regard, PILLAR represents a remarkable victory for the music lover inside of the 33-year-old Asheville, NC based artist.



JONATHAN SCALES - STEEL PANS + PERCUSSION (3)
MAISON GUIDRY - DRUMS
E'LON JORDAN-DUNLAP - BASS (1-7)
OTEIL BURBRIDGE - VOCALS + 6-STRING BASS MELODY + SOLO (1)
MONONEON - BASS (8)
VICTOR WOOTEN BASS (8)
BÉLA FLECK - BANJO
JEFF COFFIN - SOPRANO SAX
JACOB RODRIGUEZ - TENOR SAX + BARI SAX
JUSTIN RAY - FLUGELHORN (1) + TRUMPET (2,6)
CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH TRUMPET (8)
STEVE ALFORD - CLARINET, BASS CLARINET + CONTRA-ALTO CLARINET
SHAUN MARTIN - KEYBOARDS
WEEDIE BRAIMAH - DJEMBE
MATT WILLIAMS - VIOLINS
FRANKLIN KEEL - CELLO
ZACK PAGE - UPRIGHT BASS
ERIC HEVERON-SMITH - TUBA + TROMBONE

DANIEL SHEARIN - RECORDING, EDITING, + MIXING ENGINEER
MIXED AT SLEEPING DOGS STUDIO (ASHEVILLE, NC) / KENNETH HERRINGTON ASSISTANT ENGINEER / DAN MILLICE MASTERING ENGINEER - ENGINE ROOM AUDIO (NYC) / RECORDED AT ECHO MOUNTAIN RECORDING STUDIO IN ASHEVILLE, NC WITH ADDITIONAL RECORDING IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN NASHVILLE, TN (ITA STUDIO + VIX MIX) / HICKORY, NC / NEW ORLEANS, LA (THE PARLOUR) / BOCA RATON, FL / ASHEVILLE, NC (EAGLE ROOM + JSF HQ) / MEMPHIS, TN / DALLAS, TX / LOS ANGELES, CA (CHAMPAGNE ROOM WEST III)

PRODUCED BY JONATHAN SCALES / "FOCUS POEM" CO-PRODUCED WITH BÉLA FLECK / ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY JONATHAN SCALES / © & ℗ 2018 SCALESNDEM MUSIC (ASCAP) / ADAM LEDBETTER GRAPHIC DESIGN / MICHAEL WEINTROB ALBUM COVER PHOTOGRAPHY AS SEEN IN INSTRUMENTHEAD THE BOOK (WWW.INSTRUMENTHEAD.COM)

1. Fake Buddha's Inner Child (feat. Oteil Burbridge)
2. We Came Through the Storm
3. This is the Last Hurrah! (feat. Jeff Coffin)
4. Cry (feat. Shaun Martin)
5. Focus Poem (feat. Béla Fleck) 04:36
6. Dream-Life State
7. How to Rebuild Your Battleship
8. The Trap (feat. MonoNeon, Victor Wooten, Weedie Braimah, & Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah)


Light Blue Movers - Teleological Devolution (the Venice Sessions pt​.​1) ROPEADOPE RECORDS September 7, 2018


2016..couldn’t wait for that year be over.

As the year was winding down, chaos, turmoil, serious events and transitions would not let up. 

Trump had just been elected. Adrian broke 2 bones in his leg. Gabe moved from NYC to California, then Paris. Prince died, Bowie died. 

Light Blue Movers booked their CD release show in Los Angeles for December 2016. 

It was decided that it would be good for all 4 members to arrive in LA early to rehearse for 3 days but also - book studio time to record the unit LIVE - all 4 in one room. On the previous release, the record was made in groups of 1s 2s and 3s but never - all four. 

West Triad Studios in Venice became the place and they decided to just “let tape roll” on 2 different nights- 4 hours each night. 

Upon entering the sessions; there were no songs in existence, No keys, chords,melodies, words, arrangements or grooves discussed.. just tempos and then.. go! 

What came out next was - unapologetic, searching, sonic freedom that literally sounded like.. life itself. The sound of music only for the sake of finding ANY music available in the air - expression that cannot be said through words. 

This body of work is a direct reflection of the world we were in then and still are in now - even more so.

Recorded completely live 14th and 17th December 2016 
Engineered by Erich Gobel and Julian Coryell at West Triad Studios - Venice, California. 

Deron Johnson - keyboards 
Adrian Harpham - drums 
Jonathon Levy - electric bass 
Gabriel Gordon - electric guitars 

Produced By Adrian Harpham and Deron Johnson with Light Blue Movers. 
Mixed by Adrian Harpham at Terminator A studio NYC 
Mastered by Adrian Harpham at Terminator A studio NYC 

All compositions written by Light Blue Movers except 
Naiveté written by Jonathan Levy

1. Preludes
2. Desperationism
3. Thepostonpage6
4. Dirge
5. Earthday
6. Apathyisms
7. Naivete
8. Backlash
9. Truths
10. Finality

dustlights - In A Stillness (ROPEADOPE RECORDS 2018)


In A Stillness - the debut full-length record of dustlights - was born out of two years focussed on creation, destruction, and renewal. While saxophonist Joe Wilson guided the process in a one-hand-on-the-wheel directing style, bassist Ran Livneh and drummer David Christian equally dug deep into their parts and toward envisioning and realizing the essence of the dustlights sound. Many songs began as deep listens, as group improvisations, or as abstract concepts ideas, which were then played, fully developed, re-listened to, often stripped down, and possibly imploded. The survivors of these rigorous development cycles eventually got set into digital stone now being shared.


Joe MF Wilson - Sax, Effects
David Christian - Drums
Ran Livneh - Bass, Effects

All songs written, performed, and produced by dustlights.

Engineering:
1, 2, 5, 6, 8 recorded by Ariel Loh at Stone Studio.
3, 4, 7, 9, 10 recorded by Aaron Bastinelli at Rubbertracks.
All songs mixed by Eivind Opsvik at Greenwood Underground.
All songs mastered by Maceo Fuentes at Element Mastering.

1. Stolen Treasures And The Sea 04:12
2. Lifeworld 04:38
3. Awoke 04:10
4. Blades That Bend 05:42
5. Tea Wars 05:48
6. Empty Porch Chairs 04:58
7. Night Tide 03:40
8. Heart Counts 05:32
9. Shaken 05:32
10. Inner Stillness 09:46

Shaun Martin - Focus (ROPEADOPE RECORDS 2018)


Focus: A point of concentration 

I think that the piano is one of the most intriguing instruments of the world because it can pull so many emotions at one time. Happy, sad, glad, angry, passionate, you can emote them all from the piano. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that I am still a piano player. I have to remind myself that I did start playing the piano at the age of 4 and I did study Beethoven as well as Bill Evans and George Frederick Handel as well as Herbie Hancock and I’m not just one- dimensional. 

This record reminds me to focus on who I am and where I started. No pitch-bended notes, no modulation wheel, just pure piano and emotion as well as the thought of pure music that can’t be traded. Wrong notes, out of tune, whatever, this album reminds me to focus on the purity of the instruments and the authenticity of music. From beginning to end, every idea is as pure as the instruments they are played on.Every thought is as pure as every mistake. My prayer, is that, the feeling is translated to the listener and enjoyed by all.