Saturday, March 30, 2013

"Hallelujah: A Celebration of Rebirth and Renewal" with Charmaine Clamor, tomorrow, Easter Sunday, in Hollywood


Come & celebrate Spiritual Renewal & Rebirth with singer Charmaine Clamor on Easter Sunday, March 31st, 7pm at Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood.
Piano: Andy Langham
Bass: Dominic Thiroux
Drums: Abe Lagrimas Jr

RSVP: 323-466-2210
$20 Tickets & Info: www.catalinajazzclub.com  

"I haven't had a solo concert in Los Angeles in a couple of years," Charmaine says, "and I am thrilled to be making a Los Angeles debut of my special Easter Show at Catalina Bar & Grill."

"When I'm not singing I heal people as a physical therapist, I've been doing it for 13 years. My journey with healing begins with me. After many unsuccessful attempts with traditional medicine I decided to seek alternative care and took control of my own health. I changed my diet, decreased stress by meditating, and enlarged my yoga practice. I'm now on the path to full healing, never more aware of the utmost importance of being healthy in body, mind and spirit."

At the concert with her Killin' Sweethearts band -- Abe, Dominic and Andy --, Charmaine promises "to celebrate spiritual rebirth and renewal with you. I will offer uplifting songs to nourish the soul, songs like "His Eye is On the Sparrow," "Come Sunday," "Overjoyed," and, of course, the title song, Leonard Cohen's powerful anthem "Hallelujah."

"Hallelujah!" is a non-denominational celebration of being alive. So, "here's to life!"

Friday, March 29, 2013

Gina Saputo & Courtney Lemmon live in CA!

Come check out Gina Saputo/Courtney Lemmon show at Steamers on SATURDAY NIGHT, March 30th! Jazz and POP duets! Featuring: Matt Politano, Nate Light & Charles Ruggiero. Ph: (714) 871-8800 www.steamerscafe.com

Contemporary singers-songwriters needed!

The person running this search is the kind of guy every artist hopes to meet - a true star maker! Our point? Easter is coming on Sunday. You're going to be busy with family. Use Saturday to find your best songs and make your pitch before this opportunity ends up in the old, "Crap, I missed it!" folder.

CONTEMPORARY SINGER SONGWRITERS in the general stylistic range of Christina Perri, Ed Sheeran, Colbie Calliet, etc., are needed by a Big-Time Industry Veteran looking for new acts to develop. This company needs artists who are "confident and ahead of the curve." A fresh sound and perspective, while sounding like you'd be heard on the same playlist as the referenced artists will help you stand out for this pitch. Top-notch songs with a UNIQUE vocal will go a long way!

Songwriting and production must be CURRENT! If you've got a growing fanbase and touring experience, you'll be even more appealing. So make sure those things are mentioned in your bio. MALE or FEMALE vocals are BOTH okay. ALL TEMPOS are OK for this pitch. Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics, photo, and bio. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - no full critiques from TAXI - and must be received no later than Tuesday, March 2, 2013. Please visit www.taxi.com

Singer Songwriter needed

The person running this search is the kind of guy every artist hopes to meet - a true star maker! Our point? Easter is coming on Sunday. You're going to be busy with family. Use Saturday to find your best songs and make your pitch before this opportunity ends up in the old, "Crap, I missed it!" folder.

CONTEMPORARY SINGER SONGWRITERS in the general stylistic range of Christina Perri, Ed Sheeran, Colbie Calliet, etc., are needed by a Big-Time Industry Veteran looking for new acts to develop. This company needs artists who are "confident and ahead of the curve." A fresh sound and perspective, while sounding like you'd be heard on the same playlist as the referenced artists will help you stand out for this pitch. Top-notch songs with a UNIQUE vocal will go a long way!

Songwriting and production must be CURRENT! If you've got a growing fanbase and touring experience, you'll be even more appealing. So make sure those things are mentioned in your bio. MALE or FEMALE vocals are BOTH okay. ALL TEMPOS are OK for this pitch. Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics, photo, and bio. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - no full critiques from TAXI - and must be received no later than Tuesday, March 2, 2013. Please visit www.taxi.com

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Comin' Soon: JazzApril + UNESCO's Jazz Day!

Please help spread the word about JazzApril!
The Jazz Journalists Association's JazzApril campaign supports both Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day (April 30) We use JazzApril to refer to both and to stress that all of "April is Jazz Month."

For those of us who live and breathe jazz, dedicating a month to jazz may seem a bit redundant, or even silly-- but what JazzApril (the JJA's project to support the Smithsonian's Jazz Appreciation Month + UNESCO's Jazz Day on April 30) is really trying to do is to reach out beyond the cognoscenti, and build new audiences for jazz.  That can't help but be good for all of us. Cheers!

Poncho Sanchez live @ Steamers!

Tonight @ Steamers!
SUN MAR 24, 7PM-11PM
ALL AGES- $15 CALL 714-871-8800 FOR TIX  
GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PONCHO SANCHEZ!
 
Steamers Jazz Club and Cafe138 W. Commonwealth Ave
Fullerton, CA 92832
714-871-8800
jazz@steamersjazz.com
www.steamersjazz.com
As a percussionist, he's L.A.'s answer to Mongo Santamario; as a band leader, Poncho Sanchez' crisp arrangements, Cubop flair and informed jazz sensibility bear comparison to Machito's."

Afro-Cuban music and jazz have been among Sanchez's obsessions since his pre-teen years. Born in Laredo, Texas on October 30, 1951 but raised in L.A., he was the youngest of eleven kids - some of them hardcore jazz enthusiasts, and all of them devoted salseros.
For Sanchez, it wasn't hard to be exposed to such Latin greats as Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente, Machito, Celia Cruz, and Ray Barretto (along with heavy doses of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown and Thelonious Monk) on a daily basis. Mambo, son, cha-cha, rhumba, guaracha - Sanchez quickly absorbed all of these Afro-Cuban styles (which fall under the umbrella term "salsa") as well as the art of jazz improvisation.
One of Sanchez's primary inspirations was the late vibist Cal Tjader, who did so much to popularize Latin jazz in the 1950s. After idolizing Tjader most of his life, a 23-year-old Sanchez ended up joining his band in 1975--and would remain with him until his death in Manila in the Philippines on May 5, 1982, at the age of 56.

Comin' soon: JazzApril + UNESCO's Jazz Day

Please help spread the word about JazzApril!
The Jazz Journalists Association's JazzApril campaign supports both Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day (April 30) We use JazzApril to refer to both and to stress that all of "April is Jazz Month."

For those of us who live and breathe jazz, dedicating a month to jazz may seem a bit redundant, or even silly-- but what JazzApril (the JJA's project to support the Smithsonian's Jazz Appreciation Month + UNESCO's Jazz Day on April 30) is really trying to do is to reach out beyond the cognoscenti, and build new audiences for jazz.  That can't help but be good for all of us. Cheers!

April! Jazz Appreciation Month!

April! Jazz Appreciation Month! Join' us in this celebration! And please visit: www.smithsonianjazz.org/

Friday, March 22, 2013

Scot Albertson & Billy Test live in NY

Friday 3/22 & 3/23 (Show time: 8:00pm-11:00pm)
JERRY SCOTS Open Mic at Parnells Restaurant, with guest host SCOT ALBERTSON!
The great singer will be performing in a vocal/piano duo with Billy Test. If you are in the NY area, don't miss these sets!
Parnells Restaurant
350 East 53rd Street, & 1st Ave.
NYC, NY 10022 -
Ph: (212) 753-1761

Sunday, March 17, 2013

CD/DVD Set of the Month (New) - "The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion"

CD/DVD of The Month (New)
Randy Brecker: "The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion" (HalfNote)

Featuring: Randy Brecker (trumpet), David Sanborn (alto sax), Mike Stern (electric guitar), Will Lee (electric bass), Dave Weckl (drums), George Whitty (keyboards) & Ada Rovatti Brecker (tenor sax)

In the annals of jazz history, the Brecker Brothers wrote a chapter all their own. Though Michael Brecker died in 2007, the sound they created spawned generations of imitators. Now, Randy Brecker and former members of the Brothers’ studio and touring bands have reconvened to make new music.

Now, the story continues with David Sanborn, Mike Stern, Will Lee, Dave Weckl, George Whitty, Ada Rovatti Brecker et al featuring killer versions of “Some Skunk Funk” (previously revisited by Randy with the late Bob Berg when both took part of the CTI Superband "Chroma" on its live CD "Music on the Edge") and “Straphangin’,” as well as a host of Randy Brecker originals. Besides the new studio CD, this special set includes a 98-minute DVD filmed at NY's Blue Note.

Disc 1 (CD)
1. First Tune Of The Set 2. Stellina 3. The Dipshit 4. Merry Go Town 5. The Slag 6. Really In For It 7. Elegy For Mike 8. On The Rise 9. Adina 10. R N Bee 11. Musician’s Ol’Lady Dues Blues

Disc 2 (DVD: LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE)
1. First Tune Of The Set  2. The Slag  3. Adina 4. Really In For It 5. Straphangin’ 6. Stellina 7. Merry Go Town 8. Inside Out 9. Some Skunk Funk

SHM-CD (with DVD) of the Month - "Diana Krall: Glad Rag Doll"

SHM-CD of the Month (with bonus tracks + DVD)
Diana Krall: "Glad Rag Doll" (Verve/Universal Japan)

Features cardboard sleeve jacket and the high-fidelity SHM-CD format compatible with standard CD players. This limited edition includes many bonus tracks (17 songs in total) plus a bonus DVD -- with the "Glad Rag Doll" EPK -- encoded for region 2 (Japan, Europe, and Middle East), No subtitles are included.

SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) enables greater transparency, more open sound, lower distortion and better resolution that leads to more sound details. It achieves higher quality audio through the use of a polycarbonate plastic with improved transparency derived from LCD display manufacturing technologies.

Produced by T-Bone Burnett

Featuring: Diana Krall (vocals, piano), Marc Ribot (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 6-String bass & banjo),T-Bone Burnett (guitars), Howard Coward (ukulele, mandola, tenor-guitar, harmony vocals), Jay Bellerose (drums),Dennis Crouch (bass), Bryan Sutton (guitars), Colin Linden (guitars, dobro), Keefus Green (keyboards, mellotron)

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Vocal CD of the Month - "Introducing Letizia Gambi"

Vocal CD of the Month
"Introducing Letizia Gambi" (Jando Music)

Produced by Lenny White
Executive Producers: Giandomenico Ciaramella & Letizia Gambi

Special Guests (in alphabetical order): Gato Barbieri, Ron Carter, Chick Corea, Gil Goldstein, Wallace Rooney, Patrice Rushen & Lenny White
Also Featuring: Max Ionata, John Benitez, Antonio Farao, Hector Del Curto, Dave Finch, Vince Evans, Dario Rosciglione, Nick Moroch, Pete Levin, Axel Tosca, Carlos Franzetti, Jisso Ok, Nick Danielson et al

Artwork: Enzo Criscione
Photos: Alberto Borgonovo & Paolo Soriani
Recorded mostly @ Knoop Studios (New Jersey) by Manfred Knoop
Mixed by Manfred Knoop & Pablo Arraya
Mastered by Greg Calbi @ Sterling Sound (NYC)

The golden voice of Letizia Gambi debuts on this beautiful album produced by master Lenny White (of Return To Forever fame, not to mention his work on Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" and Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay," two seminal albums from the 70s.) Her strong and powerful singing shines throughout the CD, recorded with an all-star cast (see the list above) assembled by White, her teacher and mentor.

The repertoire ranges from the opening track "Una Furtiva Lagrima" (the famous aria from Donizetti's opera "L'Elisir D'Amore," a Caruso "hit" updated to the pop-jazz idiom by White's arrangement) to Bjork's trance tune "Bachelorette" to Prince's "The Question of U." The ecletic program, unified by White's production skills, also includes old ("'O Sole Mio," featuring Ron Carter; I only wish that the bass could have been recorded at Van Gelder's to sound fat & warm like only Rudy knows how to do) and new (Pino Danielle's "Appocundria," featuring Chick Corea on piano) Neapolitan melodies, tasteful pop/r&b originals, and a jazz standard (Duke Ellington's "In A Sentimental Mood") married to "Munasterio 'E Santachiara".

Like Gil Goldstein says on the 20-page CD booklet (wondrous artwork, by the way, full of seductive pics and liner notes by Ashley Kahn), "Lenny White and Letizia Gambi have created the hippest musical address in Naples, at the intersection of Neapolitan music and jazz." And, like Ron Carter adds on his statement, "It was soooo nice to play with a singer that can really sing." What else can we say? Well, we already said in our 34th Annual Jazz Station Poll. Check the Female Singers, New Talent and Best 10 Vocal Jazz CDs categories and see for yourself. Brindiamo!
http://jazzstation-oblogdearnaldodesouteiros.blogspot.com.br/2012/12/the-best-jazz-of-2012-os-melhores-do.html

CD/DVD Set of the Month (Historical) - "Miles Davis: Live in Europe 1969"

CD/DVD Set of The Month (Historical)
Miles Davis Quintet: "Live in Europe 1969 - The Bootleg Series Vol.2" (Sony)

"Live in Europe 1969" lives up to the Miles Davis Bootleg Series mission of presenting live performances that are previously unreleased, have previously only been bootlegged, or are very rare. This new set is the first collection of Miles's Third Great Quintet, aka "The Lost Band" of 1968-1970 with Miles (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor sax), Chick Corea (Fender Rhodes), Dave Holland (bass) & Jack DeJohnette (drums) at their peak; they were never recorded in the studio).

This long awaited 3CD + 1DVD release captures the short-lived freeheeling quintet in three separate concert settings, starting with two full-length (one hour-plus) sets at the Antibes Jazz Festival in France on June 25 & 26, 1969, in Stockholm as part of "The Newport Jazz Festival In Europe" five months later, and completed with a stunning NTSC DVD 46-minute performance at the Berlin Philharmonie, filmed in color.

Rhythms here are completely unbound – sometimes wilder even than the sounds on "Bitches Brew," and played with a similar intensity on the keyboard, trumpet, and sax solos – an unbridled power that really takes off over the space of the very long cuts on the collection! The whole thing's an essential addition to these very important years for Miles, and the tunes include "Miles Runs The Voodoo Down", "Sanctuary", "It's About That Time", "Footprints", "Paraphernalia", "Nefertiti", "No Blues," "Masqualero", "Spanish Key", "Directions", and "Bitches Brew". DVD also features a November 7, 1969 performance from the Berliner Jazztage – of titles that include "Directions", "Bitches Brew", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", "It's About That Time", and "The Theme". Essential for all Miles' fans.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Gina Saputo live @ Steamers, tonight!

Gina Saputo @ Steamers (138 W. Commonwealth Blvd. - Fullerton, CA) tonight, March 8! $8 ALL AGES-! Call (714) 871-8800

Featuring Matt Politano (piano), Dave Miller (bass), Ramon Banda (drums) & Larry Salzman (sax).
Not to be missed!

SACD of the Month - "Freddie Hubbard: Red Clay"

SACD of the Month (Hybrid)
Freddie Hubbard: "Red Clay" (CTI/ORG)

Produced by Creed Taylor
Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Featuring: Herbie Hancock (Fender Rhodes & Hammond organ), Ron Carter (electric bass), Lenny White (drums) & Joe Henderson (tenor sax & flute)
Recorded January 27, 28 & 29, 1970, at Van Gelder Studios (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey)
Cover photo by Price Givens
Album design by Tony Lane

"Red Clay" is a jazz classic. Period. And now it becomes the second CTI album to be released on SACD (Hybrid issue, that plays on SACD and CD players, like had happened with the first CTI title on this format, Jim Hall's "Concierto," that came out on Mobile Fidelity in 2003.)

Includes four great tunes composed by Hubbard: Besides the title track, which became a contemporary jazz standard, includes three other great compositions by Hubbard: "Delphia" (a gorgeous ballad dedicated to his mother, with Herbie moving to organ and Henderson playing flute), "Suite Sioux" and the explosive hard-bop "The Intrepid Fox."

For more details and to order (because it's a limited issue and soon will be sold-out...), please check:
http://www.base.com/buy/product/freddie-hubbard-red-clay-sacd-music-cd/dgc-orgm1085sacd.htm

Box Set of the Month - "The Brecker Bros. The Complete Arista Albums Collection"

Box Set of the Month (8-CD set)
The Brecker Bros.: "The Complete Arista Albums Collection" (Sony)

Available in the U.S. through DustyGroove:
http://www.dustygroove.com/browse.php?kwfilter=brecker+albums&incl_oos=1&incl_cs=1

And that's what they say:
"Seminal work from The Brecker Brothers – 6 of the group's best albums, plus the two "Blue Montreux" live albums – packaged together in one very cool set, in tiny LP-like sleeves! The self-titled "Brecker Brothers" album is the first super effort from the team of Randy & Michael Brecker, whose twin-horn frontline forged a very popular sound in the mid 70s – some really well-crafted numbers, done with a strong smooth approach that still sits well after all these years!

"Back To Back" features the twin horns of Randy & Michael Brecker, along with alto by David Sanborn, keyboards by Don Grolnick, and guitar by Steve Khan – but one of the things that really makes the album great is the vocal arrangements, which were handled by Luther Vandross, who also sung on the album along with Patti Austin. The set's got a great soulful feel – with some wonderful mellow groovers that have a sweet 70s sound!

"Don't Stop The Music" is a stone classic from The Brecker Brothers – working with touches of club and disco grooves to give an even smoother edge to the jazz funk of the pair. And thanks to some solid soloing that's not afraid to go for the easy spots, the album's a lot more solid than an number of sound-a-like copycat LPs to come out at the time!

"Heavy Metal Be Bop" is tight and funky jamming, with a bit more guitar here than on some of their other records – hence, possibly, the title! Keyboards and guitar jam strongly, but Randy and Michael still get in plenty of space for their solos – pushing their jazz licks with the jamming intensity that might normally be relegated to guitar heroes in the rock world.

On "Detente," the Brecker's are still rooted in jazz, but definitely step out with plenty of soul in the mix too – vocals from DJ Rogers, Carl Carlwell, Luther Vandross, and others – all of whom really add a lot to the set! On "Straphangin," the BBs manage to groove with a sharpness and depth that most of their smoother fusion contemporaries just weren't hitting – an edge that reminds us of the deeper roots these guys had before they started hitting the mainstream!

Last up are the live fusion classics Blue Montreux Vols 1 & 2 – both recorded as a unique live all-star outing by a group of Arista's best jazz players at the time! The group's an octet, but plays together in differing formations throughout the record – with Warren Bernhardt on keyboards, Michael Brecker on saxes, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Steve Jordan on drums, Steve Khan and Larry Coryell on guitars, Tony Levin on bass, and Mike Maineri on vibes – the last of which really make for some of the best numbers on the album!

DVD of the Month - "Hermeto Pascoal: Hermeto Brincando de Corpo e Alma"

DVD of the Month
Hermeto Pascoal: "Hermeto Brincando de Corpo e Alma" (HPAM)

The Brazilian-born genius of the universal music presents another astonishing release: solo performances played on (and through) his body, but coming directly from his blessed soul, with the use of no "traditional" instruments at all. All tracks filmed live at the spur-of-the-moment during the studio sessions in Curitiba, where he currently lives with his adored wife and musical partner Aline Morena, who co-produced the DVD. Instead of a bass, heartbeats. Instead of drums, body percussion. Instead of flutes, lots of whistlings. Reeds? No, just the sounds from Hermeto's beard. Unbelievable! Essential for all Hermeto fans as well as for anyone interested in the evolution of contemporary music.

NTSC, Digital Surround 5.1
All tracks composed & performed by Hermeto Pascoal
Artistic Direction & Executive Producer: Aline Morena
Technical Director: Dirceu Saggin
Engineer: Beto Japa @ Trilhas Urbanas Studio (Curitiba, PR, Brazil)
Assistant Engineer: Mauricio Bernardo
Mixed & Mastered by Beto Japa, Hermeto Pascoal & Aline Morena

Video Director: João Marcelo Gomes
Director of Photography: Mauricio Baggio
Sync: Solano Trento
Still Photography: Mauricio Baggio & João Marcelo Gomes
Graphic Project: Adriana Alegria
Cover Design: Ruy Pereira
Image Treatment: Defendi Machado

CD of the Month (Historical) - "Unreleased Art Pepper Vol. II @ Sankei Hall"

CD of The Month (Historical) 2-CD Set
Art Pepper: "Unreleased Art Pepper Vol. II @ Sankei Hall, Osaka, Japan" (Widow's Taste)

Recorded live in November 18, 1980
Produced for Release by Laurie Pepper
Mastered by Wayne Peet @ Newzone Studio
Photos, Album Design & Liner Notes: Laurie Pepper
Artwork asst. by K.C. Kyle, J. Rasfeld & T. Carnasale

Featuring: Art Pepper (alto sax & clarinet), George Cables (acoustic piano), Tony Dumas (acoustic bass) & Carl Burnett (drums)

"An Art Pepper Banquet"

Laurie Pepper founded Widow's Taste Records in 2006 to "introduce unreleased and unheard Art to people who love him as well as to people who don't yet know him, so they can fill their lives with soulful beauty." Since then, the label has been releasing prime Pepper recordings on an annual basis. Widow's Taste's latest offering, "Unreleased Art Pepper, Vol. VII," is a two-CD set recorded in November 1980 in Osaka, Japan. Its release coincided with that of "Neon Art: Volume One," the first of three Art Pepper vinyl singles scheduled for 2012 release by Omnivore Recordings.

The Osaka session is a happy one, swinging and melodic. It reunites the alto saxophonist with pianist George Cables, and "Art's mood was sunny throughout this trip," recalls Laurie, "because he loved being on the road with George and loved working with him every night."

Other reasons for Art's cheer (he mentions them onstage): The acclaim accorded his just-published book "Straight Life," co-authored with Laurie, and the satisfaction he felt after completing his ballad album with strings, "Winter Moon" (Galaxy). Art's inspired live performance of "Winter Moon" at this Osaka concert is, as far as Laurie knows, the only one extant and one good reason for releasing this material.

The vinyl singles owe their existence to Omnivore Recordings' Cheryl Pawelski, who happened to hear the burning version of Art's deeply funky tune "Red Car" posted by Widow's Taste last year as a free listen for the fans. Cheryl immediately called Laurie to ask if they could make a deal for a vinyl release. They did. Between them they chose that "Red Car" and, for the flip side, an effervescent "Blues for Blanche." "Art hated the idea that people put jazz in a pigeonhole," says Laurie. "He said he wanted to make people forget the categories. 'I want to make them open up and listen.'" Omnivore, with its comedy, pop, rock, and what-is-it catalog, is a vehicle that's made to carry absolutely everything.

"When I first heard the live version of 'Red Car' from Parnell's [1981]," says Pawelski, "I instantly wanted to share it with everyone I know, and that's when I knew we had a project. Omnivore, by design, aims to share outstanding previously unissued music, and rarely is it as good and as much fun as these Art Pepper recordings. Omnivore is grateful to be working with Laurie Pepper to bring Art's music to a new audience." To which Laurie says, "Amen!"

Volumes Two and Three of "Neon Art" offer greatest hits: Volume Two includes "Mambo Koyama," "Over the Rainbow," "Allen's Alley"; Volume Three, "Make a List," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Arthur's Blues." For more information about these singles, please visit www.omnivorerecordings.com.

Widow's Taste's seventh Unreleased Art Pepper is all about the music, especially the soulful "Winter Moon" and blazing "Make a List" performances. It was recorded by an anonymous audience member on cassette. The crowd was absolutely silent, Laurie recalls, "but the room is a presence; let's just say it's very live. So this particular album plants you firmly in the audience beside that sneaky fellow on that night at Sankei Hall." It's been remastered by Wayne Peet, as have all six preceding Widow's Taste releases, and he revivifies this show. The album also includes a 32-page booklet, packed with photos of the tour and, as usual, Laurie's gossipy reminiscences of life on the front lines.

By the time of this recording, Art had settled on his favorite drummer, Carl Burnett, who appears on almost every recording Art made during his last years. Tony Dumas was the youngest, shyest member of the band, but he's impressive, and Art says so. With Tony, Art made "Landscape" and "Besame Mucho" (Galaxy). And Tony is the bassist on last year's best-seller for Widow's Taste, "Blues for the Fisherman," the four-disc set from Ronnie Scott's in London. George Cables is on the historic "Art Pepper Live at the Village Vanguard" set, "The Trip," and "No Limit" (Contemporary) plus all the Galaxy "Maiden Voyage" albums, "Tête-à-Tête," and "Goin' Home." He's also featured with Carl on "Unreleased Art Pepper, Vol. I: Abashiri" (Widow's Taste) and on upcoming "Neon Art: Volumes Two and Three" (Omnivore).

George Cables will be heard on more releases in the years to come. In fact, a treasure trove of hitherto unheard material has quite recently been unearthed, much of it recorded directly from the sound boards at great concerts in Japan, where Art returned repeatedly. While much of the material is the same from gig to gig, each version stands alone and fresh as Art engages with it. In store are not-to-be-missed performances -- and some surprise unique tracks like this "Winter Moon."
***********
Previous Widow's Taste releases:
Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. I: Abashiri
If the sound is surprisingly good, the playing is often astonishing. The great altoist could pack so much raw emotion into his work that he made most others seem like dilettantes. --Ray Comisky, The Irish Times

Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. II: The Last Concert
[A] privilege to listen to the final concert of the master, Art Pepper. . . soulful, with a strong swing feel, lyrical, edgy. --Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition

Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. III: The Croydon Concert
Pepper throws down the gauntlet, throwing caution to the wind, and plays with an urgency not heard since his Village Vanguard performances in 1977. The sound is crisp and potent. --C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

Art Pepper: The Art History Project (Vol. IV)
The remastering by Wayne Peet is superb. It's a delight to have Laurie Pepper's choices here. Just knowing that she finds these tracks meaningful and in this order makes them special. --Marc Myers, JazzWax

Art Pepper: Unreleased Art, Vol. V: Stuttgart
[A] miraculous double disc. This is Pepper's triumph. Listen to it once and you'll want to immediately go out and score the first four volumes. Bravo! --Brian McCoy, Examiner.com

Blues for the Fisherman: Unreleased Art Pepper, Vol. VI
Pepper is simply on fire. It's one of those perfect musical statements that could never have been captured in any studio. The immediacy and emotion of the moment are so boldly displayed that it could only have been possible through the energy of a live crowd. --Greg Simmons, All About Jazz

CD of the Month (New) - "Gene Bertoncini & Mike Mainieri: Reunion"

CD of the Month (New)
Gene Bertoncini, Mike Mainieri, Michael Moore & Joe Corsello: "Reunion" (Ambient)

Rating:
***** (musical performance & sonic quality)

Produced & Engineered by Mark Conese
Executive Producer: Michael Stamm
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered @ Ambient Recording Co.
Art Direction & Photography: Michael G. Stewart
Design Assistant: Christa McInturff
Liner Photos: James Burns III
Liner Notes: Gene Bertoncini

Featuring: Gene Bertoncini (acoustic nylon string and electric hollow body guitars), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Michael Moore (acoustic bass) and Joe Corsello (drums)

This sublime & sophisticated CD combines the talents of four of today’s most well respected musicians recorded with audiophile recording techniques. The tonal combination of guitar and vibes paired with acoustic bass and traditional jazz drum set makes this recording a sonic delight. “Reunion” is comprised of classic standards and original compositions. The CD title “Reunion” comes from Gene Bertoncini’s long association with Mike Mainieri, Michael Moore and Joe Corsello all of whom have played with Gene at one point or another over the past 50 years.

However, the classy program surprisingly opens with a subtle bossa reading of the famous bolero "Besame Mucho," composed in the 40s by the legendary Mexican composer Consuelo Velasquez, and later transformed in a bossa-nova by João Gilberto (one of Bertoncini's idols) on the "Amoroso" album (1977), for which Claus Ogerman created a lush orchestration that he adapted for Diana Krall's version on "The Look of Love" in 2001.

The impeccable repertoire also includes another Bertoncini favorite, Horace Silver's elegant blues "Strollin'" (Gene had previously recorded it as the song title for a duo album on Stash with Michael Moore in 1987), Mal Waldron's haunting ballad "Soul Eyes" (dedicated to John Coltrane and a song included in the first LP I ever produced, Yana Purim's self-titled debut for RCA in 1981), Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" (from "West Side Story"), Gershwin's "Embraceable You" (the best instrumental version since Roland Hanna's take for his CTI album "Gershwin Carmichael Cats"), Michael Moore's "The Lilter" and trombonist Jimmy Knepper's cult masterpiece "Bertha The Dragoness," previously covered by Bertoncini & Moore in a trio album with Roger Kellaway.

The title song “Reunion” is an original composition by Michael Mainieri. This quartet has performed to sold out crowds at The Jazz Standard in NYC and has received the highest critical acclaim. “Reunion” will let you hear some of today’s most prolific musicians recorded in an optimized studio environment, practically transporting them directly into your listening room.

Gene is simply the best "acoustic guitarist" in the world. Nobody plays jazz on acoustic guitar like him! He was Luiz Bonfa's favorite guitarist, and that's why Bonfá recorded many albums with Bertoncini as his rhythm guitarist (in such gems from the early 70s as "Sanctuary" and "The New Face of Bonfá") or special guest on CDs like "Non-Stop To Brazil" (1989, for Chesky) and "The Bonfá Magic", which I had the honor to produce back in 1991 for Caju/Milestone. The day Gene arrived to record @ Duplex Sound Studio in NY, in May 1991, was one of the most special moments in my life.

A dream come true happened there, after years of huge admiration for Bertoncini's artistry since I was a child and, when I was just 10 years old, I got copies of his albums for CTI with Hubert Laws ("Rite of Spring," "Afro-Classic," "In The Beginning"), followed by many more great projects with Lalo Schifrin ("Marquis de Sade"), Michel Legrand ("Twenty Songs of the Century," "After The Rain"), Paul Desmond ("Skylark"). Not to mention other outstanding sessions with Wayne Shorter, Ronnie Foster et al.

During my trips to NY in the 80s, I attended many of Bertoncini's fascinating duo performances with Michael Moore @ Zino, a fantastic Italian restaurant. Besides their great LPs as a duo and the outstanding "O Grande Amor" trio album with Edson Machado ("O Grande Amor," the final session by the legendary Brazilian drummer), I had became a big Moore fan through his impeccable playing and gorgeous bass sound in concerts with Bill Evans and Gerry Mulligan as well as on Art Farmer/Jim Hall's "Big Blues," a terrific piano-less CTI album that also featured... Mike Mainieri on vibes!!! And also find out that Mainieri's performance on Joe Zawinul's "Young and Fine" hit for Weather Report ("Mr. Gone"), covered by Art Farmer & Joe Henderson on their sensational (although underrated) fusion session "Yama," included one of the best solos ever performed on a vibraphone! Some years later, during my first trip to Paris, in 1989, I got all the Japanese issues available @ Fnac of such Steps (Ahead) albums as "Step By Step" and the fiery 2-CD live set "Smokin' in the Pit." I must confess I'm being introduced to Joe Corsello's talents right now, and it's being love at first sight. The art of subtlety on drums.

For this CD, a hybrid digital/analog recording technique was employed exploiting the best of the two technologies. 176.4-kHz 24-bit A/D conversion was used to make this recording. It was mixed in the digital domain with 32-bit floating point precision to a Playback Designs up-sampling D/A converter to 5.6 MegaHertz 1-bit DSD. This high fidelity analog output was processed thru an early 1970’s vintage Neve compressor to a custom all tube ½” two track analog tape machine running at 15ips. The resultant analog recording was used as the source for the CD master. The result captures all the detail of high resolution digital with the warm analog sound of transformers and vacuum tubes for an ultra-musical sonic presentation.

One of the best albums of the year. Period.