Mack Avenue Music Group Releases Albums from Kenny Garrett and Christian McBride for Record Store Day 2022

Mack Avenue Music Group Releases

Kenny Garrett’s Sketches of MD – Live at the Iridium

and Christian McBride’s Conversations with Christian

for First Time Ever on Vinyl for Record Store Day 2022

 

Each Album Available as Limited Edition 2-LP Set

with Color Vinyl and Foil Stamped Numbers on April 23

Mack Avenue Music Group is excited to announce the release of two landmark projects as part of Record Store Day 2022 (April 23) with Kenny Garrett’s Sketches of MD – Live at the Iridium and Christian McBride’s Conversations with Christian.

 

Each of these albums is being released on vinyl for the first time ever as a limited edition 2-LP set with foil stamped numbers; Garrett will be released on red color vinyl and McBride will be released on orange color vinyl.

 

Garrett’s 2008 live release marked the saxophonist’s debut with Mack Avenue Records and made for a compositionally relaxed yet performance intense record. On Sketches of MD – Live at the Iridium, he performed live at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City with his band featuring pianist Benito Gonzales, bassist Nat Reeves, drummer Jamire Williams, and special guest tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders.

 

Like all other great musicians and artists that came before him, Garrett keeps moving forward in his creative direction. "I'm always trying to challenge myself. Don't look for me to sound like my last record. I'm shifting – following what my spirit feels." The sentiment is clear on his most recent release, recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award, Sounds from the Ancestors.

 

For a man that’s known to lead many groups, Conversations with Christian focused on duets for this stunning 2011 release. McBride first considered a proposal to do a duet project during the latter ‘90s. “At the time,” he recalls, “I didn’t feel I was ready, or that it was the project I wanted to do. I had other things in mind. But as time progressed, I got to do other projects—putting together the Christian McBride Big Band and experimenting with a lot of different sounds and layers—and my focus returned to the duets idea.”

 

The iconic bassist placed himself in the forefront of the flow on a duet apiece with 13 of his closest musical friends and cohorts—singers Angélique Kidjo, Sting and Dee Dee Bridgewater; pianists George Duke, Eddie Palmieri and Chick Corea, as well as Dr. Billy Taylor and Hank Jones; violinist Regina Carter; trumpeter Roy Hargrove; guitarist Russell Malone; tenor saxophonist Ron Blake; and actress Gina Gershon. In the process, McBride unleashed the full measure of his already legendary skills, crafting as complete a portrait of his diverse interests—different vibrations of the blues and African-American church experience, bebop, the American Songbook, the Latin Tinge, the Freedom Principle, even comedy—as he has ever presented.

 

The release of these two albums aligns with Mack Avenue Music Group’s longstanding commitment to releasing audiophile quality music in beautifully designed packaging and supporting the vinyl-loving community.

For more information on Mack Avenue Music Group, please visit:

MackAvenue.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Andy James | Rhythm in New York | Available April 15 via Le Coq Records

Vocalist Andy James Celebrates One Of The

Greatest Cities In The World, And The Mecca of Jazz,

On Her Wide-Ranging New Album

 

Rhythm in New York, Due Out April 15 On Le Coq Records, Features An All-Star Band Including John Patitucci, Jon Cowherd, Chris Potter, Marcus Strickland, Terell Stafford, Nate Smith, Marcus Gilmore, Adam Rogers, Chico Pinheiro and Others

While she grew up in Australia, traveled the world as a renowned Flamenco dancer, and now makes her home in Las Vegas, vocalist Andy James has always loved New York City – whether dreaming of the Big Apple from afar or exploring the always thriving jazz scene of the city as both listener and performer.

“New York City – what a town!” James exults. “It has always held a special place in my heart. Even as a child growing up in Australia, I would see the great singers performing on the television from this special place and think, ‘If only that could be me!’”

On her latest album for Le Coq Records, James captures the vibrant tempo and exhilarating thrills always unfolding in the thoroughfares of the city that never sleeps. Due out April 15, Rhythm in New York features a stunning mix of classic standards and original music inspired by life in Manhattan. As has become standard for Le Coq releases, the album boasts an unparalleled line-up of in-demand musicians, all of who have captivated audiences on the bandstands of New York and beyond.

James’ key collaborator on Rhythm in New York is John Patitucci, who not only graces every track with his virtuosic bass playing but co-wrote several tunes with James and his daughter, singer-songwriter Greisun. They’re joined by pianist Jon Cowherd, drummers Nate Smith and Marcus Gilmore, saxophonists Chris Potter and Marcus Strickland, trumpeter Terell Stafford, flutist David Mann, guitarists Adam Rogers and Chico Pinheiro, and percussionists Alex Acuña and Rogerio Boccato. Additionally, Cowherd and Patitucci collectively arranged all 15 songs on the album.

While Patitucci has been a key member of the Le Coq family since its launch, he and James furthered their collaboration last year with the collaborative outing An Evening with John Patitucci & Andy James, which inaugurated the singer’s venture into original compositions.

“Although I’ve always loved the songs of the past – who wouldn't? – I thought it was time to express myself more as a writer of music on this album,” James explains. “I feel it's necessary to convey my sentiments in music so I can grow further as a singer and musician. My collaboration with John Patitucci and his daughter Greisun has been an enormous pleasure for me. They are so talented and always know what I'm looking for; which I’m sure is helped by their family bond.”

Speaking of family bonds, James’ other co-writer on Rhythm in New York is her husband and dance partner, Le Coq founder Piero Pata, who contributed to two new pieces on the album, “Time To Think” and “Just In Time.” As James explains, “Working with Piero has really been easy. Wherever I am, he seems to catch and remember the melodies that I've been casually humming around the house and later brings them to me with lyrics already attached. It makes a great start for a song. Of course, then I sink my teeth into them and change just enough to make it me.”

In writing as well as selecting songs for the album, James thought back over the many memorable visits she’s enjoyed to New York City, stretching back to childhood trips with her parents, who would occasionally travel to the States on business and bring their artistic daughter along. As an adult she would return often to soak in the nightlife and take in the influences that helped forge her own singing style.

“My first walk in Central Park in the snow will always be a highlight,” James recalls. “I will never forget the colors of Times Square at night, the people swarming all over the place with excitement, the magnitude of the shows on offer on every street. I would wander for hours finding one exciting nook and cranny after another to enjoy musicians. Whether at Birdland Jazz Club or the Village Vanguard, there was always someone special to admire.”

Rhythm in New York spotlights a wide variety of moods and styles, while showcasing the jaw-dropping musicianship of the assembled artists. James so admires her collaborators that in at least one instance – her and Pata’s own “Just In Time” – she decided to remove her vocals altogether and let the band shine on their own. But throughout, from the enticing, Bossa-inflected opener “There Will Never Be Another You,” through the lush original ballad “Day Dream” and the Flamenco-inspired “El Ritmo,” to the wistful farewell of “I’ll Be Seeing You,” James finds endless inspiration in her adoration for the city.

“I tried to capture my feelings when I was younger, to convey my impressions traveling to this great city,” she explains. “New York is a city of love in many ways, and its people have proved this on countless occasions. The beauty of the seasons always leaves me breathless. It has so many musical tastes for anybody to enjoy: R&B, pop, opera, musical comedy, and of course my favorite, jazz. It is one of my favorite places on Earth.”

Andy James · Rhythm in New York

Le Coq Records · Release Date: April 15, 2022

For more information on Le Coq Records, please visit:

lecoqrecords.com | Facebook | Instagram

Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) June Experience 2022

JAS ANNOUNCES JUNE EXPERIENCE LINE-UP

 

Jazz, Soul, Blues, Funk, World Music, Gospel & More  

at Multiple Venues Across the Downtown Core

Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) has announced the initial line-up of both artists and venues for the JAS Experience, June 23-26 in downtown Aspen. The Experience will consist of multiple staggered shows daily, taking place at ten different venues, allowing attendees the opportunity to stroll around town and enjoy a full night of diverse music genres and settings. Unlike in 2021 when ticket buyers were assigned a set schedule, this years format will mirror the inaugural 2019 event, allowing attendees to pick and choose the shows they would like to attend at any given time during the night.

 

Passes for the event go on-sale Thursday, February 17 at 10am including the choice of a 2-day weekend pass (June 24-25), or a daily pass that will allow access into all participating venues on either June 24 or June 25. A weekend VIP pass is also available and will include three nights of dinner and private performances at the Aspen Art Museum (June 23-25).

 

In addition to the Aspen Art Museum, JAS plans to utilize space at the Belly Up, Wheeler Opera House, Limelight Hotel, W Hotel’s 39 Degrees, Sterling Club, Here House and Hotel Jerome’s Felix Coffee and Bad Harriet.

 

At this time JAS is requiring all attendees of the June Experience to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test result taken within 72 hours of arrival. JAS will also be enforcing the policies in place at each specific venue, which means a negative test result may not allow access to all sites, including the Belly Up which is currently requiring full vaccination. These conditions are subject to change based on CDC and Pitkin County Health guidelines at the time of the event.

 

Confirmed artists for Friday include: multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer  Kamasi Washington,  Latin jazz percussionist Poncho Sanchez with his 8-piece band, trailblazing trumpeter, singer and songwriter Bria Skonberg, 4-time GRAMMY nominated husband and wife duo The Baylor Project, the funk & soul-jazz concoctions of the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman and Brazilian guitarist Ian Faquini performing a vast spectrum of music in three different languages, blues “wunderkind” guitarist-vocalist Jontavious Willis, Chicago hip-hop/jazz/ reggae/soul group the LowDown Brass Band and multilingual vocal and guitar duo from NYC and Argentina Eleanor Dubinsky and Dario Acosta Teich.

 

Saturday artists include: five-time GRAMMY winning blues guitarist/vocalist Keb’ Mo’, ten-time GRAMMY winners and the most awarded a cappella group of all-time Take 6, world-renowned seven-time GRAMMY winning Bassist Christian McBride, pianist Benny Green and percussionist Jeff Hamilton with their “Remembering Ray Brown” tribute, and Memphis-based soul/blues band Southern Avenue. Also performing again on Saturday are Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini, Jontavious Willis, LowDown Brass Band and Eleanor Dubinsky and Dario Acosta Teich.

 

The Experience will close on Sunday, June 26 with a Gospel Brunch taking place rooftop at the Aspen Art Museum featuring Niki Haris and Wycliffe Gordon. Information on brunch tickets will be released at a later date.

 

The full daily schedule can be found at jazzaspensnowmass.org.

 

General Admission Passes will be available for purchase Thursday at jazzaspensnowmass.org. The 2-day pass will be offered at $199 plus service and single day Friday or Saturday passes at $125 each plus service.

 

Donor/VIP passes are available now at jasstore.org or 970.920.4996. In addition to the nightly dinners VIPs will have the option to request reserved seating at 1-2 venues per night at select venues.

For more information please visit jazzaspensnowmass.org

For more information, please contact:

Jazz Aspen Snowmass · 970-920-4996  

Andrea Beard · abeard@jazzaspen.org

VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW: Brian Bromberg | "Baton Rouge" | Artistry Music

Brian Bromberg Releases New Video

Featuring the Late Nick Colionne

"Baton Rouge (Live from Berks Jazz Fest)"

A Little Driving Music Available Now via

Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group

"Baton Rouge (Live from Berks Jazz Fest)"

"When I was writing the music for my album A Little Driving Music, this song just showed up and essentially just kinda wrote itself. Same with the name, Baton Rouge. It just came to me. I was thinking of Baton Rouge in the summer, hot, humid, sticky, and bluesy. A great vibe! The first musician I thought of to play on the song was guitarist Nick Colionne. We have been friends for years and played together a number of times, but never recorded together. I thought this song would be perfect for him and for the two of us to do together.

This video is from the 2021 Berks Jazz Festival where Nick sat in with my band and we got to perform it live together for the first time. Sadly, I had no idea that it would be the last and only time we would play it together. I am heartbroken that we lost Nico way too soon, but I am so happy that we have this performance of us playing Baton Rouge together. I will cherish this performance and the wonderful smiles we both have playing together."

— Brian Bromberg

After nearly a year of being cooped up within the same four walls, it’s only natural that one’s thoughts might turn to the freedom of the open road. That’s certainly true of virtuoso jazz bassist and world-renowned producer Brian Bromberg, whose third pandemic-era release shrugs off the prevailing mood of COVID-era claustrophobia and political strife for A Little Driving Music, a fun, funky paean to cruising with the top down and leaving your troubles behind.

While countless musicians have spent the quarantine months in a state of limbo, the always-prolific Bromberg quickly figured out a way to continue making music while remaining socially distanced. Out now on Artistry Music/Mack Avenue Music Group, A Little Driving Music follows the bassist’s wide-ranging holiday album, Celebrate Me Home, and the remixed and remastered digital release of his stunning tribute album Bromberg Plays Hendrix. 

“In one aspect it's been a weird, heartbreaking time to be a musician who just wants to play music with human beings, for human beings,” Bromberg laments. “On the flip side, I've been really fortunate. It's been a really positive, productive period because I've had nothing but time to sit in front of a computer or pluck my strings.”

A Little Driving Music features a dozen brand-new Bromberg compositions as well as a surprising 80s cover song, the joyful Katrina and the Waves hit “Walking on Sunshine.” Despite recording each musician in isolation and at a distance, the bassist managed to (virtually) assemble an elite roster of longtime collaborators and all-star special guests including saxophonists Dave Koz, Everette Harp, Gary Meek, Elan Trotman, Darren Rahn and Marion Meadows; keyboardist Tom Zink; guitarists Jerry Cortez, Nick Colionne and Ray Fuller; drummers Joel Taylor and Tony Moore; vibraphonist Craig Fundiga; and percussionist Lenny Castro. There’s even a string orchestra featuring members of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, conducted by arranger/producer Corey Allen (again, with COVID safety protocols in place).

“This is the hand you're dealt, so you make the most of it,” Bromberg says of the unusual circumstances under which the album was recorded. “Everything about how we do things has changed, but when you come to terms with that and accept it for what is, you can enjoy the process. Especially when you're dealing with a lot of talented people and state-of-the-art technology – it's amazing what you can do despite not being in a prime situation.”

No trace of that adverse situation can be heard as the album kicks off with “Froggy’s,” a carefree, high-spirited funk tune highlighted by a lively horn section emulating the chorus of frogs that often greets the composer at his Southern California home. Bromberg takes a blistering solo on piccolo bass, which could easily be mistaken for a shredding electric guitar. The baton is then picked up by Everette Harp’s vibrant turn on sax. 

A diary entry for these strange times, “Quarantine” was the first track penned by Bromberg after lockdown commenced. The rest of the album was also composed in quarantine, with the sole exception of the title track – fittingly enough, as the freewheeling “A Little Driving Music” fills the listener with a sense of movement and freedom much missed over these solitary months. “That Cool Groovy Beatnik Jazz” is another self-explanatory title, conjuring the laid-back, finger-snapping groove of a classic BYOB hipster café (meaning Bring Your Own Bongos).

Both “Bado Boy!” and “Lullaby for Bado” are dedicated to a cat that Bromberg and his fiancée rescued from Barbados, a complicated tale that eventually involved the island’s Minister of Agriculture. (“It would be as if you wanted to rescue a cat and had to talk to the Vice President of the United States to do it,” Bromberg says incredulously.) The former tune, which features Barbados-born saxophonist Elan Trotman, reflects the feline’s playful spirit; the latter, pairing Bromberg’s emotional acoustic bass with the Dominican Republic strings, is an elegy for the lost cat.

“We knew he was sick, but we hoped he'd live a long time,” Bromberg recalls. “Unfortunately, he only lived a year, but he had a hell of a year living with us instead of being alone as a stray cat sick in the Caribbean.”

With an assist from Dave Koz, “Walking on Sunshine” reimagines the 80s classic in a jazz context, slower and funkier than the incessantly upbeat original. “After the year we've had – and, sadly, the year we're likely going to have – a little positive energy goes a long way,” Bromberg explains. “So, I wanted to record something with positive energy and uplift that also had that twist, that most recording artists might not have thought of doing.”

Short for Sagittarius, “Sag 5” is named for the December 5 birthday that Bromberg shares with saxophonist Darren Rahn, who guests on the track, melding sounds so harmoniously with the bassist that it lends a bit of credence to astrological synergy. Adding Andrew Neu on clarinet and Mitch Forman on accordion, “A Rainy Day in Paris” transports the listener to a café in the City of Lights as the weather turns gray outside. “If that song doesn't make you want to have a glass of wine and some cheese, I don't know what will,” insists Bromberg. “The only thing missing is a red and white checkered tablecloth.”

With Marion Meadows extolling the hopeful melody on soprano sax, “Peace” is Bromberg’s offering to the search for sanity in a contentious world. As he describes it, the tune is “the equivalent of a musical time out, suggesting that everybody just take a deep breath while the world and this country, in particular, is pretty upside down.” 

The country-accented “Jedediah’s Gold” paints a sepia-tinged portrait of a Gold Rush miner and his stake in the Old West, while “The Sitting Room” luxuriates in the feeling of relaxing in a favorite, comfy spot at home. The greasy, slinky “Baton Rouge” detours down south for a bit of hot, sweaty, fun-in-the-sun funk with Nick Colionne laying down some down-home guitar licks.

“There's some heavier music on A Little Driving Music,” Bromberg concludes, “but for the most part it's a fun, positive energy record. There's nothing better than that Zen moment of listening to great tunes on the road, looking out the window at life. That's the vibe of it to me: I hope people just want to put it on in the car and crank it up.” 

Artistry Music

Brian Bromberg • A Little Driving Music

Artistry Music • Release Date: May 21, 2021

For more information on Brian Bromberg, please visit: BrianBromberg.net

Lello Petrarca Trio - Napoli Jazzology (February 2022 Dodicilune / Ird)

LELLO PETRARCA TRIO

NAPOLI JAZZOLOGY

DODICILUNE / IRD

Prodotto da Dodicilune, distribuito in Italia e all’estero da IRD e nei migliori store on line da Believe, martedì 22 febbraio esce “Napoli Jazzology”, terzo progetto discografico del Lello Petrarca Trio. Dopo "Musical Stories" (2016) e “Reflections" (2018), prosegue infatti la collaborazio ne tra l’etichetta discografica leccese e il pianista campano affiancato, anche in questa avventura, dal contrabbassista Vincenzo Faraldo e dal batterista Aldo Fucile. Musicista, compositore, polistrumentista e arrangiatore poliedrico ed eclettico che attinge da stili e generi diversi, nel nuovo disco Lello Petrarca sceglie di riproporre alcune delle più celebri e amate canzoni napoletane tratte dal repertorio classico e moderno. In scaletta 'O Sole Mio, Funiculi' Funicula', Gente Distratta, Reginella, Era De Maggio, Tammurriata Nera, Passione e Resta Cu 'Mme. 

Aldo Fucile / Lello Petrarca / Vincenzo Faraldo

Nel corso degli anni Lello Petrarca ha collaborato, tra gli altri, con Nino Buonocore, Daniele Sepe, Stefano Di Battista, Giovanni Amato, Markus Stockhausen, Isabella Ferrari, Martux_m, Gianluigi Trovesi, Pietro Condorelli, Maurizio Giammarco, Fabrizio Bosso, Ga briele Mirabassi, Enrico del Gaudio, Pericle Odierna, Vittorio De Scalzi (New Trolls), Fabrizio Frizzi, Piergiorgio Odifreddi, il tenore Pino De Vittorio, il trombettista americano Andy Gravish ed altri ancora esibendosi in prestigiosi festival e aprendo il concerto di Al Jarreau durante il festival russo "Usadba Jazz 2017". Ha collaborato alla composizione e alla registrazione delle musiche per un documentario di Marco Paolini andato in onda su La7. Su Italiamia ha condotto una sua rubrica musicale intitolata "Tra palco e realtà”.

 

Vincenzo Faraldo inizia la sua attività negli anni '70. Dopo varie esperienze spaziando tra pop-rock (Fausto Mesolella, La Prima Pagina), musica popolare (Campania Felix) e jazz-rock (L'Alchimista), concentra la sua attenzione sul jazz, partecipando alla formazione di gruppi con musicisti italia ni e americani. Ha suonato con l’orchestra jazz “Campania Jazz Ensemble” diretta dal  compositore e pianista Gerardo di Lella. Attualmente fa parte del CFN Trio e dei Corepolis, due gruppi che fondono la World Music e il Jazz. Nel corso degli anni ha collaborato, tra gli altri, con Pietro Condorelli, Jimmy Owens, Giulio Capiozzo, Bruce Forman, Tony Scott, Francesco Nastro, Flavio Boltro, Cinzia Spata, Mal Waldron, Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, Gianni D'argenzio, Sonny Taylor, Gerardo Di Lella, Giovanni Amato, Massimo Faraò, Jerry Popolo, Bob Binocolo, Valerio Silvestro, Max Ionata, Lello Petrarca, Emilio Silva Bedmar, Sergio Di Natale esibendosi in numerosi festival jazz italiani. Molto ricca anche la sua discografia.  

Affascinato sin da piccolo dagli strumenti a percussione Aldo Fucile ha collaborato, tra gli altri, con Jerry Popolo, Gianni Amato, Aldo Vigorito, Giulio Martino, Pietro Condorelli, Andy Gravish, Bob Fix, Paolo Pelella, Fausto Ferraiuolo, Vittorio Pepe, Lello Cannavale, Filiberto Palermini, Josè Davila, Joseph Lepore, Tony Ronga, Bob Marquart, Valerio Silvestro, Oscar Montalbano, Gianni D'argenzio, Jerry Bergonzi, Roberto Schiano, Corrado Paonessa, Emiliano De Luca, Francesco Battarino, Pietro Ventrone, Lello Carotenuto, Antonio Fresa, Nicola Rando, Lello Petrarca, Aldevis Tibaldi, Tullio Pizzorno, Nando Trapani, Leonardo Laperuta, Valerio Virzo, Westley Ivankovich, Alberto Falco, Giacomo Pedicini, Antonio Imparato, Marco de Tilla, Paolo Licastro, Mario Mazzaro, Vincenzo Saetta, Daniele Sorrentino, Mauro Marigliano, Daniele Esposito, Peppe Costa, Walter Ricci, Loredana Lubrano, Enzo Amazio, Flavio Guidotti, Antonio Capasso, Umberto Muselli, Dino Massa, Carlo Lomanto, GianFranco Coppola, Franco Coppola, Marco Sannini, Francesco D'Errico, Paolo Innarella, Pippo Matino, I ris Romen, Carlo Actis Dato. Il batterista ha fatto parte inoltre della "Swing Time Big Band" diretta dal M° Renato Gaudiello e della Big Band "Les enfant terribles" diretta da Valerio Silvestro.

L’etichetta Dodicilune è attiva dal 1996 e dispone di un catalogo di quasi 300 produzioni di artisti italiani e stranieri. Distribuiti nei negozi in Italia e all'estero da IRD, i dischi Dodicilune possono essere acquistati anche online, ascoltati e scaricati sulle maggiori piattaforme del mondo grazie a Believe.

1 - 'O Sole Mio

2 - Funiculi' Funicula'

3 - Gente Distratta

4 - Reginella

5 - Era De Maggio

6 - Tammurriata Nera

7 - Passione

8 - Resta Cu 'Mme

• COMPOSITIONS BY

E. Di Capua, A. Mazzucchi, G. Capurro (1)

L. Denza, G. Turco (2)

P. Daniele (3)

G. Lama, L. Bovio (4)

M.P. Costa, S. Di Giacomo (5)

E.A. Mario, E. Nicolardi (6)

E. Tagliaferri, N. Valente, L. Bovio (7)

D. Modugno (8)

Lello Petrarca - piano

Vincenzo Faraldo - double bass

Aldo Fucile - drums

• PRODUCTION DATA

Total time 35:08 STEREO DDD

(p) 2022 DODICILUNE (Italy)

(c) 2022 DODICILUNE (Italy)

www.dodicilune.it

CD DODICILUNE DISCHI Ed518

8033309695181

• RECORDING DATA

Produced by Lello Petrarca and Maurizio Bizzochetti, Gabriele Rampino, Dodicilune, Italy

Label manager Maurizio Bizzochetti (www.dodicilune.it)

Recorded 5, 6 May 2017 at Studio Logic, Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Ce), Italy

Mixed 7, 8 May 2017 at Studio Logic, Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Ce), Italy

Sound engineer Maddalena Bellini

Mastered 12 October 2017 at 20Hz20kHz Mastering Lab, Napoli, Italy

Sound engineer Davide Barbarulo

Cover photo m Daniele Granata  Photos by Pietro Paolo Falco

Contact: lellopetrarca.com, info@lellopetrarca.com, facebook.com/LelloPetrarcaOfficial

PRE-ORDER

Craig Schoedler - Bass Legacy

Craig Schoedler (composer/bassist/guitarist)was born and raised in Wilmington, De and attended The Tatnall School. He went on to study performance and composition at Temple University, and New York University, where he earned a Masters degree. Craig has released 5 CDs of his own , earning international praise. 

1. Power 08:55

2. Burlington 07:24

3. Adani 06:49

4. BVI 07:53

5. Terminal A 08:54

6. Krong Kong 2020 08:56

7. Rainbow Bridge 08:32

8. Resiliance 07:51

Craig Schoedler: six-string electric bass & keyboard

Bill Evans: Saxophone (tracks 3&6),

Eric Marienthal: Saxophone (tracks 1,5,8)

Larry Marshall: Percussion & Drums

Bob Coulon: Piano & Keyboards

Kristina Pruitt: Vocals

Rich Kurtz: Guitar, Engineer, Programming

Tony Troy: Album Art

Miles Shades: Content Director

Recorded at Cadence Music Inc. by Rich Kurtz

Co produced by Rich Kurtz and Craig Schoedler

www.cadencemusicstudio.com

PRE-ORDER

XOA - Program Change (May 27, 2022)

Having previously released music via Soundway Records and Five Easy Pieces, South London based producer XOA (AKA Nick Tyson) caught the ears of Gilles Peterson, DJ Mag, Boiler Room, Red Bull, XLR8R (and more) with his use of rich analogue sonics, steeped in the electronic sounds of London’s musical underbelly, blending vibrant textures and cosmic melodies, melding afrobeat and jazz sensibilities with house and techno.

Following a brief hiatus, XOA now re-emerges with not only a 4 track EP entitled ‘Program Change’, but also as a four person outfit, which sees Tyson (Bass & Electronics) joined by Johnny Tomlinson (Synths / Fender Rhodes), Josh Arcoleo (Tenor Saxophone) and Joost Hendrickx (Drums).

XOA has a new direction and meaning: hard hitting Jazz with big analogue electronic sounds. The focus is on the playing, with little to no programming on the tracks, but with a lot of care and focus on the individual sounds, drawing on Tyson’s experience as an electronic music producer.

In Tyson’s words “we just wanted and needed to get together to write, play, share time and create together, and I wanted each member to reach out at different points and express themselves’. The record is a result of that.

Instilled with a new revitalised energy and focus, the group channel deep interstellar visions throughout their music, incorporating celestial arpeggios, haunting motifs, acid infused bass lines and driving electronics throughout the record.

The EP’s title track ‘Program Change’ (due for release 18th March) serves as the first single, immersing the listener in an warp speed kaleidoscopic journey through space and time, giving a taste of what to expect from the EP. Second offering ‘World Tour’ (due for release 22nd April) sees the group unite with fast-rising Bristolian MC Gardna, who brings his vocals to the scattered drum patterns and drifting pads, punctuated by some truly phenomenal saxophone riffs.

Feeding on their newly-forged collaborative energy, XOA have created an urgent and enthralling record - one which perfectly captures the lightning-rod tenacity of their live performances.

The release will be the first on Tyson’s own imprint Outervisions - a label which embraces creatively driven artists blending sounds of Jazz and electronic music from London and beyond. 

1. Program Change (Radio Edit)

2. Counterforce

3. World Tour (feat Gardna)

4. Program Change (Main Edit)

5. Bump

PRE-ORDER

Aidan Baker - Songs Of Undoing (May 6, 2022 Improved Sequence)

Recorded mid-pandemic, Songs of Undoing cannot help but have a sort of mid- or post-apocalyptic overlying concept, lyrically dealing with themes of exodus and travel / wandering, self-reliance, the weight of history...with pointed references to two post-apocalyptic, societal / environmental collapse novels, Octavia Butler's "Parables of The Sower" and Kate Wilhelm's "Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang." Musically, the songs move between minimal slowcore and a sort of textural noise-rock or what might be called deconstructed grunge, taking influence from artists like Lungfish, American Analog Set, PJ Harvey, and Stina Nordenstam.

Bio:

Aidan Baker is a classically-trained multi-instrumentalist using the electric guitar as his primary instrument. Using prepared and alternate methods of playing the guitar, along with various electronic effects, Baker creates music which generally falls within the ambient/experimental genre but draws on influences from rock, electronic, classical, and jazz. A highly prolific artist, Baker has released numerous recorded works, both solo and with various group projects - most notably the duo Nadja - on such independent labels as Karlrecords, Important Records, Southern Lord, and his own imprint, Broken Spine Productions. Baker is also the author of several books of poetry. A regular live performer, Baker has toured extensively around the world, including appearances at such international festivals as FIMAV, SXSW, Incubate, Unsound, and Mutek, among others. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Baker currently resides in Berlin, Germany. 

1. Undone

2. The Accumulation Of Objects

3. No One Is Coming To Save You

4. The Ghosts Of Buildings

5. Song Of Undoing I

6. What It Takes To Stay, What It Takes To Leave

7. The Sower

8. Song Of Undoing II

9. Late The Birds Sang

10. Done

500 copies, 100 on Limited Blue Vinyl.

CD ships May 6th 2022

LP ships June 10th 2022

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J'USED - PLACES ( May 2, 2022)

Das neue Album der Band J’USED folgt, ähnlich wie sein Vorgänger „Characters“, einer konzeptuellen Grundidee: Jedes Stück ist von einem realen Ort inspiriert. So unterschiedlich wie diese Orte - sie reichen von den „Ilhas Desertas“ vor der Küste Madeiras, über die unterirdischen Welten Neapels „Sotterranea“ bis hin zu heimischen Gefilden in Rheinhessen „Palmenhof“ - sind auch die acht entstandenen Kompositionen. Ein breites Spectrum an Farben und Atmosphären, die in dieser intimen, akustischen Besetzung ihre persönlichen Bezüge klar offenbaren.

1. Soterranea 06:55

2. Palmenhof 06:22

3. Ilhas Desertas 06:02

4. Lakeshore 06:14

5. Bellinzona 04:39

6. Kaitieke Road 07:00

7. Santa Cova 07:09

8. Ährenfeld 03:33

Oliver Naumann – Altsaxophon

Lukas Moriz – Klavier

Eduardo Sabella – Kontrabass

Johannes Lüttgen – Schlagzeug

Mixing: Markus Born

Mastering: Christoph Stickel

Cover: Sara Rojo

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Ben Feldman and Jenny Xu - Partner, Partner (February 22, 2022)

This is a first duo album from both Ben Feldman and Jenny Xu, as well as Jenny's debut vocal album.

1. Fly Me to the Moon 03:57

2. Pennies from Heaven 04:42

3. In the Wee Small Hours 06:13

4. I'm Old Fashioned 04:40

5. I Thought About You 05:52

6. Make Someone Happy 04:56

7. The Touch of Your Lips 03:20

Vocals: Jenny Xu

Double bass: Ben Feldman

Sound engineer: Ben Feldman

Mixing and mastering: Chris Spencer

Recorded in Ben Feldman's bedroom

Album photography: Ben Feldman

Back cover: Leonard Feldman

Album design: Jenny Xu

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Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder - GET ON BOARD (April 22, 2022 Nonesuch Records)

Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder discuss the making of their album 'GET ON BOARD,' out April 22 on Nonesuch Records, in a conversation with writer Lynell George.

1. My Baby Done Changed the Lock on the Door

2. The Midnight Special

3. Hooray Hooray

4. Deep Sea Diver

5. Pick a Bale of Cotton

6. Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee

7. What a Beautiful City

8. Pawn Shop Blues

9. Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses

10. Packing Up Getting Ready to Go

11. I Shall Not Be Moved

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Richard Andersson - U·Synlig (March 20, 2022)

This album is the result of Richard Andersson interpreting 10 visual pieces of art. As Andersson is blind, he is not able yoo see the pieces of art, witch is why the pieces as been described fro him by various people. Each track is entitled with the name of the piece of art that was described to Richard and the music is his interpretation on double bass. You can see the descriptions (in Danish only) in the booklet or in the lyrics section of each track.

By buying the physical album, you will recieve a luxurious box including a Vinyl and a beautiful booklet that (in a manipulatede manner) displays the pieces of art Richard that is interpreting.

1. Legende børn. Enghave plads

2. Dinnes hjørne

3. Summer shadow leaves, Denmark

4. Brudstykker af en lykkelig barndom

5. Reality refugees

6. The day knowledge killed him

7. Dommedag

8. Sankt Hans aften

9. A view of the island of New Caledonia in the South

10. Mennesker på vejen

Richard Andersson on double bass

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Jothan Callins & The Sounds Of Togetherness - Winds Of Change (February 22, 2022 MAD ABOUT RECORDS)

Rare Spiritual Jazz funk Masterpiece reissue for the first time ever Worldwide with the original 4 page booklet

“Winds of Change” is generally compared to the Strata East style of jazz

Jothan Callins had played with Olatunji in the late 1960s, he both joined The Sun Ra Arkestra and founded his own Sounds of Togetherness. The incarnation of the band featured on this 1975 New York recording includes Cecil McBee, Norman Connors, Joseph Bonner, and Roland Duval.

Released as a one and done on Triumph Records, there is a little information about Callins and almost nothing about the sessions. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Callins played with a long list of luminaries, was an educator and obtained his Masters degree at the University of Pittsburgh (where Nathan Davis directed the jazz studies program). He established the Birmingham Youth Jazz Ensemble (BYJE) in addition to becoming the first Jazz Artist in Residence in the Birmingham Public Schools. At the time this record was released, Callins was teaching in NYC.

1. Prayer For Love And Peace 08:14

2. Winds Of Change 15:05

3. Sons And Daughters Of The Sun 10:03

4. Triumph (Invitation / Call To Warriors) 10:10

Composed By, Trumpet, Bells – Jothan Callins

Bass – Cecil McBee

Congas, Percussion – Roland Duval

Drums, Percussion – Norman Connors

Piano, Tambourine – Joseph Bonner

Engineer – Frank Kulaga

Illustration – Taiwo Duwal

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LITTERJUG - LITTERJUG (February 22, 2022 Gotta Let It Out)

Bloodstock themes, cascading drum fills, pumping bass lines, and flamethrower saxophone cries - LITTERJUG is a rollercoaster ride of joyful anarchy.

LITTERJUG is a Copenhagen-based contemporary trash jazz trio featuring three original improvisers from Poland, Lithuania, and Denmark.

The band's explorations are heavily rock-inspired, with a dose of abrasive free flow improvisations. The trio offers contrast-filled, action-packed music, sometimes rocking a simple groove, and other times boldly wandering into abstract territories.

1. Usurpator

2. Bøffel

3. Guitar

4. Snabelfisk

5. Projektil

6. Marv

7. Litterjug

LITTERJUG is:

Andrius Dereviancenko - tenor saxophone, clarinet

Szymon Gasiorek - drums, percussion

Asger Thomsen - double bass, objects

All music composed by Asger Thomsen

Recorded at Panalama, Copenhagen by Peter Rossel Lademann

Mixed by Peter Rossel Lademann & Asger Thomsen

Mastering, back photo, and drawings by Asger Thomsen

Front photo by Szymon Gąsiorek

Layout by Asger Thomsen & Tomo Jacobson

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Marco Bianchi "LEMON" 4et - Switch (February 22, 2022)

This album is called “Switch” and it is dedicated to the moment in life when everything suddenly changes.

I asked to my self: how will my life change now? How I will react? Which elements will remain and which will go away? Why?

The “Switch” is present inside the tracks, (in the form of melodies, chords, rhythm, different genres) and among the songs (like playlist).

"Switch" tells you all about this.

1. Xennial 08:17

2. Beat Takeshi 05:43

3. Banitsa 07:49

4. Lisieux 07:46

5. Zubin Metal 07:08

6. Tum Bao Bab 09:18

7. Orange is the New Lemon 05:00

8. Kintsugi 02:58

Composed, arranged and produced by Marco Bianchi

Marco Bianchi, vibes, marimba and glockenspiel

Maurizio Aliffi, guitars

Roberto Piccolo, double bass

Filippo Valnegri, drums and percussions

featuring:

Cecilia Aliffi, viola on “Lisiuex”

Ilaria Taroni, choirs on “Banitsa”

Maria Natchkova, voice over on “Banitsa”

Recorded in 2021 by Marco Bianchi and Filippo Valnegri at TRAM Studio, Lake of Como

Mixed and Edited by Marco Bianchi at TRAM Studio, Lake Of Como

Guitars Reamp of "Xennial", "Beat Takeshi", "Zubin Metal" by Larsen Premoli at RecLab Studios, Buccinasco (Milano)

Mastered by Cynthia Daniels at MonkMusic Studios, Easthampton, New York

Cover idea: Marco Bianchi

Graphic by: Roberto Cattaneo

Photos by Mauro Grandi

Produced by Marco Bianchi

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Matt Clark / James Edmunds + Jules Lawrence - Inhibition Vanishes: Live​/​encounters at The Bees Mouth, Hove (February 2022)

Inhibition vanishes indeed, or at least it did for one member of the audience… well, anyway, here are the unedited (perhaps I should say unadulterated…) recordings of Matt and James’ live performance at the Bees Mouth in Hove, September last year, complete with ambient noises from the street. These are the recordings that formed the basis for Music In Unusual Spaces…

1. Holmes' Return 09:58

2. End Of The Beginning 06:24

3. Inhibition Vanishes 07:22

4. Experimental, jazz and improvised music, - Footsteps 08:22

5. Nepal 07:06

6. Metronine 06:18

Matt Clark - guitar

James Edmunds - drums

Guest appearance on sax (tracks 4 and 5) - Jules Lawrence

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Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt (April 29, 2022 Nonesuch Records)

Nonesuch Records releases pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan’s StandArt —his first album of American standards— on April 29, 2022. StandArt includes songs from the 1920s through the 1950s, by Richard Rodgers, Charlie Parker, Jerome Kern, David Raksin, and others; it also includes a piece Hamasyan improvised with his bandmates —bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Justin Brown —and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, who is featured on two of the album’s tracks. Other special guests include saxophonist and label-mate Joshua Redman on Charlie Parker’s “Big Foot,” as well as saxophonist Mark Turner on Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s “All the Things You Are.” Produced by Hamasyan and recorded last spring in Los Angeles, StandArt is Hamasyan’s first release of American music, having previously only released original compositions and traditional Armenian music.

1. De-Dah

2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

3. Tigran Hamasyan, Mark Turner - All the Things You Are (feat. Mark Turner)

4. Tigran Hamasyan, Joshua Redman - Big Foot (feat. Joshua Redman)

5. When a Woman Loves a Man

6. Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise

7. Tigran Hamasyan, Ambrose Akinmusire - I Should Care (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire)

8. Tigran Hamasyan, Ambrose Akinmusire - Invasion During an Operetta (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire)

9. Laura

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Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few - Lift Every Voice (February 22, 2022 DIVISION 81 RECORDS)

The power of song has connected many people since the dawn of

human existence. The world is full of challenges and the battles for

peace and unity are constant.

This song reflects still the desire of our ancestors.

A desire to unite all people in understanding. This recording was

crafted with the purpose to connect all people through sound. In the

setting of the legendary Van Gelder Studio bringing the sound Jazz

Standards and Spiritual Anthems together with one request, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.

-Sonny Daze

We decided to go into the Studios of Rudy Van Gelders for a couple of reasons. That's because we were enduring another struggle in black culture/America and "Lift Every Voice" serves as an Ode to our survival. Our never yielding faith and also as a requiem for every person who was Black America and was slain unjustly. Persecuted, prosecuted, and even strip of dignities being seen as men, women, and children. "Lift Every Voice" reminds us to weather the storm and remember that the sun always comes shining through. "God of Our weary years, God of our silent tears" It's a song that speaks to everyone who faces adversity on a daily basis. Our hearts sing with determination and resolve. We will continue forward and beyond until victory is won.

-Isaiah Collier

1. Lift Every Voice 13:07

2. Guidance (Yoruba Soul Mix)

Isaiah Collier - Soprano Sax

Michael Shekwoaga Ode - Drums

Jeremiah Hunt - Bass

Mike King - Piano

Remix by Osunlade of Yoruba Records.

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Quiet Quiet Loud - Quiet Quiet Loud EP (February 2022)

Informed by a series of improvisational exercises to generate creativity

1. The One 04:44

2. Blips 02:48

3. Unheard Of 04:24

4. Breath Cycles 04:46

Gabe Sarnoff - Guitar

Shaantam Chawla - Drums

Hanji Xu - Bass

A.J. Schumann - Piano

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Del Robles & James Hegarty - 3 Days + 2 Cities Live Jam Day 1 (February 2022)

Del in Washington DC. Hegarty in St. Louis. Distance improvisations over Zoom, recorded locally in high def on Jan. 29, 2021. These tracks are from day 1 of the three-day project. www.jimhegarty.com

1. Day 1 Track 1 08:26

2. Day 1 Track 2 11:24

3. Day 1 Track 3 15:36

4. Day 1 Track 4 12:55

5. Day 1 Track 5 22:51

Yamaha G3 piano 1964

Moog Voyager

Moog Mother 32 - Doepfer Theremin controller

Eurorack with Kilpatrick, Dave Smith, Doepfer, and Industrial Music Electronics modules

Keystep sequencer/keyboard

MicroFreak

Handmade flute, AT4040 microphone

Lexicon MPX1

Electrix Mo-FX

Mackie 1602VLZ4

Del Robles, percussion

James Hegarty, piano and electronics

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