NYC Winter Jazz Fest & Sunnyside!

Winter Jazz Fest is happening in NYC this week (1/10-1/17)!

Sunnyside Records is well represented at the Marathon Nights!

Please check out our artists!

Alexis Cuadrado - The Immigrant

Sara Serpa - Recognition

Brandon Ross's For Living Lovers

Jamie Baum Septet+

Harriet Tubman Play Free Jazz

Luciana Souza's "Word Strings"

Fred Hersch Pocket Orchestra

Guilhem Flouzat Trio

More Info Here!

Recordings on our Bandcamp page will be 20% off through 1/14!

Purchase Here:

Enter This Code at Checkout for 20% Discount:

nycwjf

Coming in the New Year:

Jan. 13 - Clovis Nicolas - Freedom Suite Ensuite

Jan. 26 - Wayne Escoffery - Vortex

Feb. 9 - John Raymond & Real Feels - Joy Ride

Feb. 23 - Adam Nussbaum - The Lead Belly Project

Mar. 23 - Caroline Davis - Heart Tonic

Apr. 13 - Duduka Da Fonseca Trio - Plays Dom Salvador

Apr. 20 - Edward Simon - Sorrows and Triumphs

Apr. 27 - Chano Dominguez & Javier Colina - Chano & Colina

May 11 - Román Filíu - Quartería

Sunnyside Artists Live:

Jan. 12 - Jamie Baum Septet + @ Winter Jazz Fest - Subculture - NYC

Jan. 12 - Brandon Ross For Living Lovers @ Winter Jazz Fest - New School Jazz Bldg 2nd Fl - NYC

Jan. 12 - Sara Serpa @ Winter Jazz Fest - New School Jazz Bldg 2nd Fl - NYC

Jan. 12-13 - Aaron Goldberg @ Blue Note - NYC

Jan. 13 - Guilhem Flouzat Trio @ Winter Jazz Fest - The Bitter End - NYC

Jan. 13 - Harriet Tubman @ Winter Jazz Fest - New School Tishman Auditorium - NYC

Jan. 13 - Luciana Souza @ Winter Jazz Fest - Subculture - NYC

Jan. 14 - Laszlo Gardony Trio @ Amherst Town Library - Amherst, NH

Jan. 17 - Cristina Pato Quartet @ Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium - Palm Beach, FL

Jan. 17-18 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Indiana University - Bloomington, IN

Jan. 19 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Rudy's Jazz Room - Nashville, TN

Jan. 20 - Duane Eubanks Quartet @ Candlelight Lounge - Trenton, NJ

Jan. 20 - Cristina Pato Quartet @ South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center - Miami, FL

Jan. 20 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ The Velvet Note - Atlanta, GA

Jan. 21 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ White Horse Black Mountain - Asheville, NC

Jan. 23 - Jay Clayton & Kirk Nurock @ Mezzrow - NYC

Jan. 26-27 - Wayne Escoffery @ Smoke - NYC - CD Release for Vortex

Jan. 27 - Camille Bertault & Dan Tepfer - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Jan. 27 - Laszlo Gardony @ James Library - Norwell, MA

Jan. 27 - Cristina Pato Quartet @ Clark State Performing Arts Center - Springfield, OH

Jan. 28 - Randy Ingram @ Jazz Dock - Prague, Czech Republic

Feb. 1 - Cristina Pato Quartet @ Cathedral of San Fernando - San Antonio, TX

Feb. 2-8 - Benny Green @ The Jazz Cruise - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Feb. 7 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Jazz Standard - NYC - CD Release for Joy Ride

Feb. 9 - Dan Tepfer - Maui, HI

Feb. 10 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ The Liberty - Cincinnati, OH

Feb. 11 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts - Menomonie, WI

Feb. 12 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ The Icehouse - Minneapolis, MN

Feb. 13 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Jazz Showcase - Chicago, IL

Feb. 14-15 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Luther College - Decorah, IA

Feb. 15 - Dan Tepfer Trio @ Blue Note - Honolulu, HI

Feb. 16 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ The Mill - Iowa City, IA

Feb. 16-17 - Abdullah Ibrahim @ Dimitriou's Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA

Feb. 17 - John Raymond & Real Feels @ Noce - Des Moines, IA

Feb. 17 - Luciana Souza @ Portland Jazz Fest - Portland, OR

Feb. 18 - Abdullah Ibrahim @ Chan Center for Performing Arts - Vancouver, BC

Feb. 21 - Abdullah Ibrahim @ Revolution Hall - Portland, OR

Feb. 21-24 - Benny Green @ Jazz Bistro - St. Louis, MO

Feb. 22-25 - Abdullah Ibrahim @ SFJAZZ Center Miner Auditorium - San Francisco, CA

Feb. 24 - Laszlo Gardony @ Spire Center for the Performing Arts - Plymouth, MA

Feb. 25 - Dan Tepfer w/ Eric Harland @ Jazz Nights Princeton - Princeton, NJ

Feb. 28 - Benny Green @ San Jose Winter Jazz Fest - San Jose, CA

Don't forget the Mingus Big Band every Monday @ Jazz Standard in NYC!

Adam Nussbaum - The LeadBelly Project (SUNNYSIDE RECORDS February 23, 2018)

From jazz and soul to rock and country, the blues are the bedrock and a uniting feature for much of the popular music originating in the United Sates. The simple and repetitive structures are easy to grasp and perform, making the blues extremely approachable. Under the command of brilliant writers like the legendary Leadbelly, the blues maintains a unique place between high art and common expression.

The discovery of the music of Leadbelly was transformative for young Adam Nussbaum. The only child of artistic parents in Norwalk, Connecticut, Nussbaum was exposed to many recordings, from classical to folk to jazz and blues. It was the image of Huddie Ledbetter on the original Folkways 10-inch record covers that fascinated the five year old. The celebrated blues and folk musician’s music seared itself into his ears, as it does in young listeners, informing the future drummer’s musical approach for years to come, most explicitly on his new recording, The Leadbelly Project.

Adam Nussbaum / Photo by Neil Swanson

Nussbaum studied classical piano for five years, but it wasn’t until he was twelve that he focused on drums. He played in local bands before moving to New York to study at the Davis Center at City College. Most of Nussbaum’s education was earned by sitting in with other musicians and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of the City’s most notable players, including Dave Liebman and John Scofield. His professional career began as he left school to go on tour with Scofield. He has remained a first call drummer over the past 30 years, playing alongside legends like John Abercrombie, Gil Evans, James Moody, Stan Getz, and many others.

Nussbaum has had a long association with bassist Steve Swallow, through whom he met saxophonist/composer/arranger Ohad Talmor, who then became a great friend and collaborator. It was Talmor who suggested that Nussbaum begin a new project. It was for this that the drummer decided to revisit some of the music that inspired him early on, specifically the music of Leadbelly. Nussbaum found that the simplicity and clarity of Leadbelly’s songs provided many possibilities in interpretation. It was only a matter of finding the right voices to fill out an ensemble.

For his quartet in addition to Talmor, Nussbuam decided to eschew the bass and employ two electric guitarists (two six stringers for Leadbelly’s single 12-string guitar) whose only requirements would be to be open-minded, stay out of each other’s way and be supportive of the music. Steve Cardenas was an obvious choice as Nussbaum had been a fan of his playing and felt that he would be receptive and sensitive to this melding of jazz, blues, and folk. Nate Radley was a perfect foil for Cardenas and a sensitive listener who could bring much to the music.

1 Old Riley

2 Green Corn

3 Black Girl (Where Did You Sleep Last Night)

4 Bottle Up and Go

5 Black Betty

6 Grey Goose

7 Bring Me a Little Water, Sylvie

8 You Can't Loose Me Cholly

9 Insight, Enlight

10 Sure Would Baby

11 Goodnight Irene

Adam Nussbaum / drums

Steve Cardenas / guitar

Nate Radley / guitar

Ohad Talmor / saxophone

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal: Two new additions to the program: JD McPherson and Max Richter

JD McPherson

April 14, L’Astral

Max Richter

Featuring the ACME ensemble performing music from Infra and The Leftovers

October 9, Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts

PROMO CODE : JAZZ2018

French Quarter with Yacine Boularès, Samy Thiébault and Perrine Mansuy feat.

Christophe Leloil

January 18 • L'Astral

Buy

Valerie June

February 9 • Gesù

Buy

Nils Frahm

All Melody

March 22 • MTELUS

Buy

Too Many Zooz

March 31 • L'Astral

Buy

Natural Wonder

The Ultimate Stevie Wonder Experience

January 17 • Corona Theatre

Buy

Ana Popović

April 22 • L'Astral

Buy

The Devil Makes Three

January 19 • MTELUS

Buy

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

January 31 • MTELUS

Buy

Noel Gallagher 

February 18 • Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

Place des Arts

Buy

Celebrating David Bowie  

February 17 • MTELUS

Buy

François Moutin & Kavita Shah Duo with Special Guests Sheila Jordan and Martial Solal - Interplay (DOT TIME RECORDS February 16, 2018)

Dot Time Records is proud to announce that it will release INTERPLAY, the exciting new album  from the Kavita Shah/François Moutin Duo.

Interplay is a meeting of minds and spirits, one that embraces virtuosity, spontaneity, and lyricism through a repertoire of standards and original music adapted to the unique instrumentation of acoustic bass and voice. It features 11 tracks recorded at Sear Sound Studios in New York and Studio le Meudon in Paris, and is due for release in January 2018. Shah and Moutin are also joined by their octogenarian mentors–NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan on vocals, considered by many as the pioneer of bass-and-voice duets, and legendary pianist Marital Solal–on two tracks each. The result is an improvisational journey across lyric-driven and wordless pieces alike.

FRANÇOIS MOUTIN (www.moutin.com), a virtuosic bassist, was born in Paris, and received a doctorate in physics at the age of 24 before choosing to become a professional musician. He has been a member of the legendary Martial Solal Trio for three decades, and since age 29, he has co-led the Quintet Moutin with his twin brother Louis, a project which later evolved into the Moutin Reunion Quartet. He regularly composes and tours extensively with this group around the world. In addition, François has worked with such musicians as: Antoine Hervé, André Ceccarelli, Jean-Michel Pilc, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Toots Thielemans and  Michel Legrand just to name a few.

KAVITA SHAH (www.kavitashahmusic.com) is an award-winning vocalist, composer, and lifelong New Yorker who makes work in deep engagement with the jazz idiom while addressing and advancing its global sensibilities. Hailed by NPR for possessing an “amazing dexterity for musical languages,” Kavita incorporates strands of Latin American, West African, and South Asian traditions into her original music. Not unlike François, Kavita studied Romance Languages & Literatures at Harvard before pursuing a Master’s in jazz voice at Manhattan School of Music. In 2012, she was named Downbeat’s Best Graduate Jazz Vocalist; in 2013, she won ASCAP’s Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Award. Her debut album, VISIONS, co-produced by Lionel Loueke, was released in 2014 to great critical acclaim. Kavita regularly brings her music to world-class stages such as the Kennedy Center, Duc des Lombards, Blue Note and numerous jazz festivals across the Americas, Europe, and Australia.

“I started the concept of doing bass and voice in the early 1950’s, so to be a guest on a wonderful young singer and swinging bass player’s recording some 60 years later is a fantastic feeling.” – Sheila Jordan, NEA Jazz Master

1. You Go To My Head 4:28

2. La Vie En Rose 3:46

3. Coming Yesterday 6:48

4. Bliss 3:31

5. Falling In Love With Love 6:24

6. Aigue Marine 3:32

7. Blah Blah (4:49)

8. Utopian Vision 3:38

9. Interplay 6:05

10. The Provider’s Gone 3:06

11. Peace 6:00

Kavita Shah : voice, ukelele (track 10)

Francois Moutin : acoustic bass

Martial Solal : piano (tracks 3, 6) 

Sheila Jordan : voice (tracks 5, 11)

Now Available for Pre-order! Release Date February 16, 2018

Reggie PIttman / Loren Daniels Quartet - Smilessence (January 2018)

The greatly anticipated second release from a group described as  “…a swinging, tight and vibrant band, rooted deeply in the bop tradition.”

— Ken Franckling, Jazz Notes

“Smilessence” is a deeply grooving session from beginning to end! Each member of the quartet (Reggie Pittman – trumpet/flugelhorn, Loren Daniels – piano/elec. piano/organ, Mike Richmond – bass, Jonathon Peretz – drums) shines throughout this recording. This “working band” of seasoned jazz performers digs in and delivers the “goods” on the great variety of rhythmic feels that comprise “Smilessence”. From up tempo burners to funk, reggae, calypso and ballads, the 11 original compositions and arrangements by Daniels and Pittman grab your ears and never let go! “Smilessence” is here put on the box and feel your smile begin!

1. Knee Hi to a Bee (Bop!) 6:13

2. Sco-Ho-Ho 8:04

3. Consternation 4:45

4. There is No Greater Love 6:47

5. You Better Say Alice 7:53

6. Smilessence 6:02

7. Change 6:49

8. 2 Hip 2B 6:16

9. Straight Up 5:18

10. Shaky Leg (Pt. 2) 6:34

11. And It Goes…On 10:06

Reggie Pittman - trumpet / flugelhorn

Loren Daniels - piano / elec. piano / organ

Mike Richmond - bass

Jonathon Peretz - drums

Buy

Reggie Washington - Rainbow Shadows Vol. 2 (A Tribute to Jef Lee Johnson) 2018

This album is the follow up to Reggie Washinton's successful 2015 release Rainbow Shadows Vol 1 and the continuation of his tribute to Jef Lee Johnson. This month marks 5 years since Guitarist, singer and songwriter Jef Lee Johnson died of complications from pneumonia and diabetes at age 54. Johnson's list of credits during his short but productive career are to numerous to list however it was in Ronald Shannon Jackson’s group Decoding Society in 1986 that Jef Lee and Reggie came to meet.

Reggie Washington is a bassist of high standing and has toured and recorded with some of the greatest names in jazz during his career. In 2006 Washington released his first album as leader titled “A Lot of Love, LIVE!”. This was followed by the 2012 with the album “Freedom” and in 2015 Washington released Rainbow Shadows Vol 1.

In the liner notes to Vol2 Reggie stated “This album expresses many feelings reflecting today’s tense geo-political climate. It speaks to our times. And if you carefully listen to and read Jef Lee’s lyrics, they ring true.”

I have to admit this was not an easy review to write. This statement is not at all meant negativity, I found I needed multiple hearings to fully grasp the depth and diversity burned onto this disc. As one would expect from an album paying homage to Jef Lee Johnson that blues influences will play a prominent role. The album fills this expectation to fullest however the story doesn’t finish there, what I like most about the album is that Washington and crew have taken the blues and infused this with a modernity that expands and adapts the musical legacy of Jef Lee Johnson and thereby ensuring that his music will live on and continue to cross boundaries.

The album opens with a track called “Silence”. In the notes to the album Reggie states that the track was originally intended to be an instrumental however when vocals were added by Philadelphia native Monique Harcum Reggie says “the choice became clear that this track should open the album”. I can’t agree more, “Silence” sets the scene for an album that draws you in from the first note and continues to surprise with each track. This track is firmly rooted in the Mississippi Delta with guitar and drums holding down the groove allowing Reggie the freedom to double the melody in unison with Harcum.

As the title to the following track “Blind Willie McTell” eludes, a latent blues undertone is once again present although subtle to say the least. This track, originally by Bob Dylan, is opened by Washington with a bass solo. In due course the track morphs into two way conversation between Marvin Sewell on guitar and Washington tied together beautifully by Patrick Dorcean on drums. As the track progresses DJ Grazzhoppa joins the conversation adding samples of some of the most idiotic statements made so far by the current U.S. President, Donald Trump. I have to admit at the end of the track I was left speechless, incredible. Having played this album many times I have to claim this tune as my favorite track on the album.

The structure of the album is interesting with longer extended tracks being interspersed with shorter tracks, often with spoken word, that function as a segue to what’s coming next. This in no way negatively effects the organic flow of the album and in my opinion only adds to the continuity by adding context. I particularly enjoyed the rhythmic tension created in “Hype” parts 1 and 2 and the down low funk of “Sizzlean”, a tune about an artificial breakfast substitute bacon strip popular in 1970s and 80s.

Reggie’s solo peice “Other Thoughts of Fanny’s Toy” is a masterpiece in melody. Of particular note is the section where both tracks come together being doubled an octave apart before once again splitting off for the return of the theme.

This album is rooted in the blues and full of creativity. The performances are outstanding as is the production quality – I can’t recommend this album more highly. As a tribute to Jef Lee Johnson, I can only imagine he is wearing a heavenly grin from ear to ear.

Reggie Washington (basses)

DJ Grazzhoppa (turntables & samples)

Marvin Sewell (guitar)

Patrick Dorcéan (drums)

Guest Performers:

Monique Harcum (lead vocals)

John Massa (saxophones)

Hervé Samb (guitar)

Jimi Hazel (guitar)

Ronny Drayton (guitar)

Federico Gonzalez Peña (keyboards & strings)

1. Silence (No Secret)

2. Blind Willie McTell (Live)

3. Hype, Pt. 1

4. RSJ

5. Children of the Sonic Soul / Gutter Punk with a Geschlossen

6. The Moon Keeps Telling Me Things

7. It Usually Slides Open / Solo To “O”

8. Hard to Keep the Faith

9. Cake

10. Sizzlean

11. Other Thoughts of Fanny’s Toy

12. Hype, Pt. 2

13. Testimony / Open Up

14. RSJ (Reprise)

15. It Ain’t Hard for You

16. Emmett Till

17. Rainbow Shadow Excellent Ending

Reggie Washington Website

Buy the album at: iTunes | CD Baby | Buy Direct

Reggie Washington will be presenting the CD Live in Paris at New Morning on the 13th of February. More Details here.