Thursday, July 7, 2011

Terri Lyne Carrington :: The Mosaic Project



Drummer, Producer, Composer, Arranger Terri Lyne Carrington has recorded an ensemble CD with some of the world's top musicians, performing music that celebrates different aesthetics in music and in life. The Mosaic Project being released July 19 is a celebration of female artists with Terri Lyne being joined by some of today's most celebrated female instrumentalists and vocalists in the world, 'women with voices,' coming together to support and celebrate each other from a musical and social perspective.

Terri Lyne is joined by Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nona Hendryx, Cassandra Wilson, Esperanza Spalding, Helen Sung, Tineke Postma, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Ingrid Jensen, Sheila E., and Gretchen Parlato. The CD includes music from several of the artists with instrumental and vocal tracks, commenting on historical and current themes/issues with the intent to offer an informative, enjoyable, listening experience, driven by creativity and consciousness. As with the mosaic art technique, the idea was for this project to vibrantly connect colorful pieces together to create something integral, using thoroughly composed song forms, some abstract improvising, and also the human voice - creating 'sharp shapes, with blurred edges.'

The Mosaic Project is a beautiful gathering of great female artists, yet the beauty is also in the fact that you don't hear gender. You hear many strong musical ideas based in jazz, performed on the highest of levels. For me there is magic in every piece because of the incredible line up of players and guest artists. Though it is my project, it is the personalities, the lives, and the talent of all of these women that make this project so special and indeed a group offering and unique statement we made together based on common, yet diverse, points of view.



Grab a free mp3 download from The Mosaic Project below











Click Here To Preview The Mosaic Project

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Nicola Conte :: Love and Revolution



Nicola Conte’s newest release, Love & Revolution represents a bold new chapter in the career of Nicola Conte – quite possibly his most collaborative record to date, and easily his most righteous as well! Different from his previous releases, Love & Revolution is being released by Impulse Records, which in essence is perfect when you consider that this album is infused with a sense of spiritual jazz.
This is actually the perfect vibe, especially in how Conte links together the best 60’s and 70’s aspects of the labels aesthetic. Collaborators on this project include vocals from Gregory Porter, Jose James, Alice Ricciardi, among others; plus Till Bronner, Fabrizio Boss, and Flavio Boltro on trumpet; Magnus Lindgren and Tim Warfield on tenor; as well as Timo Lassey on flute and baritone. Other musicians include Gaetano Partipilo, Pietro Lussu, Paolo Benedettini, Teppo Makynen, Bridgette Amofah, Nailah Porter, Fabrizio Bosso, and Pierpaolo Bisogno.

Love & Revolution contains the benefits of beautiful arrangements from Magnum Lindgren in an album where the human voice is the protagonist, while blending seamlessly with a sound carpet (if you will) of extraordinary effectiveness. It is within this context that Nicola Conte assembled these extraordinary musicians for a live recording – reserving only a few additions during post production.

The end result – absolutely amazing and wonderful to listen to! Over the years, Nicola Conte's continues to release the very best in jazz music and this release continues that tradition. Tracks include "Love From The Sun", "Here", "Black Spirits", "Quiet Dawn", "Shiva", "Ghana", "I'm The Air", "Ra In Egypt", and "All Praises To Allah". In addition, there is also a 2-CD version of Love & Revolution with 6 more cuts that include "Forest Flower", "Freedom Day", "The Black Apostles", and "Autumn In Our Town".

Click Each Track To Preview

01. Do You Feel Like I Feel
02. Love from the Sun
03. Here
04. Black Spirits
05. Mystery of You
06. Shiva
07. Ghana
08. Quiet Dawn
09. Scarborough Fair
10. Love and Revolution
11. Bantu
12. All Praises to Allah
13. Ra in Egypt
14. Temple of Far East
15. I'm the Air

Norman Jay MBE :: Good Times :: 30th Anniversary Edition



This Summer, Strut Records teams up with one of the most revered of all DJs, Norman Jay MBE, to celebrate 30 years of Good Times, the party that changed the face of the Notting Hill Carnival and which has become a Summertime fixture at festivals worldwide.

Jay set up his first sound system, Great Tribulation, in 1979 with his brother Joey which became Good Times Sound System in 1981, the start of a 30-year residency at Notting Hill Carnival. Norman changed the face of the music played there, introducing a range of gritty, soulful styles to complement the predominantly reggae-based sound systems. The move paved the way for the open-minded Carnival we know today, with Good Times still at its core.



From Good Times, Jay's career burgeoned. He became a key DJ during the '80s London rare groove scene, hosting a series of legendary clubs – Shake 'N' Fingerpop, High On Hope (inspired by New York's Paradise Garage) and famed sessions at London's Bass Clef (later the Blue Note), all of which built his reputation for open-minded soulful selections spanning soul, funk, disco, early house, reggae and hip hop. Through his club nights, he was one of the first to introduce legendary US DJs like Tony Humphries, Louie Vega and Blaze to the UK. Further success followed - he was one of the founders of London station Kiss FM and ran the seminal Talkin' Loud label alongside Gilles Peterson at Phonogram.

Jay's tireless work as a DJ has earned him many accolades – he has appeared on the BBC's Question Time, and received an MBE for his work in 2002, the first time any DJ had received such an accolade.



In the wake of his many achievements and the ongoing success of Good Times, Jay has enjoyed a series of essential compilation albums on React, Resist, Nuphonic and Azuli stretching back to 2000, as well as a recent spin-off album, 'Good Times Australia'. Now, the maestro returns with a special 30th Anniversary collection for Strut, another bumper set of genre-hopping classic and rare Good Times favourites. Tracks include boogie rarity 'Dreamin' by short-lived band Zalmac and Fries & Bridges' 'Forever This', a 4x4 belter featuring an early vocal by chart superstar Cee-Lo Green. Jay touches on independent hip hop with Basement Chemist, jazz grooves courtesy of Kira Neris and Attic Tree, skanking reggae from Jacob Miller and doo-wop soul courtesy of Little Anthony & The Imperials.

Norman Jay presents Good Times 30 is released on CD, LP and download. For the CD and LP formats, leading journalist and author Lloyd Bradley interviews Norman Jay for an extensive career-spanning sleeve note. The package also features rare and unseen photos from across Norman Jay's career as a DJ.

Click here to receive a free MP3 of "Ted Taylor - Ghetto Disco"

Tracklist
1. MARK CAPANNI – I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
2. AVERY SUNSHINE – I GOT SUNSHINE
3. TED TAYLOR – GHETTO DISCO (Edit)
4. ZALMAC – DREAMIN’
5. TERRI WELLS – WHO’S THAT STRANGER
6. LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS – I DON’T HAVE TIME TO WORRY
7. MARIO BIONDI – MY GIRL
8. JACOB MILLER & INNER CIRCLE – TIRED FE LICK WEED IN A BUSH
9. THE BASEMENT KHEMIST – EVERYBODY (L I F E)
10. J BOOGIE’S DUBTRONIC SCIENCE feat. GOAPELE and CAPITOL A – TRY ME (People Under The Stairs Remix)
11. ATTIC TREE – VOAR
12. CURTIS MAYFIELD – VICTORY
13. DANTE – FREAK IN ME
14. FRIES & BRIDGES – FOREVER THIS
15. THE DETROIT EXPERIMENT – THINK TWICE (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
16. ASHLEY SLATER – PRIVATE SUNSHINE

Norman Jay MBE :: Good Times :: 30th Anniversary Edition Available Worldwide July 19

Rahsaan Patterson :: bleuphoria



LOS ANGELES – Mack Avenue recording artist and soul innovator Rahsaan Patterson continues to push the boundaries of soul music with the release of his latest project, bleuphoria (July 19). His latest effort, bleuphoria, takes listeners on a sonic ride showcasing Rahsaan’s diversity in music genres from gospel to classic R&B soul to new age funk but also dissects the transcendence of an artist who conquers personal fears and artistic growth unfolding-beautifully through every song. Filled with signature Rahsaan infinite octave-ranging ballads (Goodbye and Miss You), hypnotic mid-tempo tracks (Stay With Me, 6 AM and first single Easier Said Than Done), funk-drenched club grooves (Ghost featuring Jody Watley) and genre-bending studio experiments (Crazy [Baby] and Mountain Top), bleuphoria is yet another testament of why Rahsaan decided to move in front of the microphone after years of being a successful songwriter.

“This album is a summation of my worldly experiences and really offers musical insight into my journey and what has influenced and inspired me over the years,” says Rahsaan. “Of course I’m rooted in classic R&B soul but I’m so much more than one category and this album is the proof.”

An array of renowned recording artists lend their talents on bleuphoria including Jody Watley, the legendary Tata Vega, gospel great Andrae Crouch and his choir, Shanice Wilson, Lalah Hathaway and Faith Evans, further solidifying its importance in the ever evolving genre of soul music.

Listen to the first single 6 AM

Rahsaan Patterson - 6 AM by ThinkTank Digital



Visit Rahsaan Patterson's Mack Avenue Artist Page to preview bleuphoria


Image by Raj Naik