In guitar history, no one single figure stands as tall as jazzman Charlie Christian. He helpd not only to introduce electric guitar to the world, but also popularized single string solos, moving the instrument from background rhythm to the forefront of popular music. And like so many important jazz players, he made enormous contributions on the span of an all-too-short life dying at the age of 26 from tuberculosis.
The long awaited release of Medeski, Martin and Wood performing Masada material is finally available and it is one of their tightest and most imaginative CDs ever! Played to packed houses from Budokan to Bonaroo and back again, MMW is one of the most popular and vibrant modern instrumental ensembles around. Returning to the fold like three prodigal sons, they have created twelve exhilarating arrangements that alternately groove, loop, shred and burn with a fiery passion.
Gary Smulyan stands out among the handful of baritone saxophonists of the modern jazz era. He has recently been a featured soloist with the Vanguard Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Joe Lovano Nonet and the Dave Holland Big Band. "The Real Deal" gives Smulyan the opportunity to step into a leader role with his first CD in several years. He's assembled a quintet featuring the outstanding trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and the top shelf rhythm section of pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Kenny Washington. In this empathetic setting, Smulyan is able to relax and stretch out with a nice mix of seldom heard standards and two of his own originals.
For the first time, an intimate view of what happens at a John McLaughlin recording session. Filmed over a period of five days, during the making of John's new record Floating Point, you can see how great musicians work together with spontaneity and vitality. For this meeting of the minds John invited some of the most outstanding instrumentalists including Indian vocalist Shankar Mahadevan. Through the interviews of all musicians, you will get to know how they approach John's compositions. In addition, there is an extra audio track with John commenting on the entire recording. This movie lifts the curtain on the making of music today.
An astonishing collection and piece of blues history, this album caresses your ears with some of the finest tunes by the Queen of Blues who, despite her short life, managed to impose her trademark vocal style on generations of blues makers. Featured here are classics like "Evil Gal Blues," "Since I Fell for You" and a remarkable version of "Please Send Me Someone to Love" written by Percy "Hit the Road Jack" Mayfield.
Digitally remastered two CD set containing a pair of albums from the Jazz guitarist: Splendido Hotel (1980) and Electric Rendezvous (1981). Both made the U.S. Top 200 Albums chart. Splendido Hotel features Chick Corea and Steve Gadd, whilst Electric Rendezvous has Jan Hammer and Paco de Lucia amongst others. BGO. 2010.
Two CD reissue of this 1973 compilation from the Jazz greats. The Modern Jazz Quartet has been one of the leaders in the Jazz field for decades, from the 1950s through the 1990s. This set encompasses most of their Atlantic Records recording career.
This amazing double album collects some of the best sessions from the height of the European 'season of jazz' when many of the best American jazzmen sought and found refuge and comfort in the smoky dark venues of existentialist Mitteleuropa, away from the high tension of the violent civil rights battles raging back home. Recorded between 1963 and 1966, these live gigs performed by the Sonny Rollins/Don Cherry Quartet (Paris, January, 1963); the Sonny Rollins quintet with members of the Modern Jazz Quartet (Berlin, Oct. 30, 1965); and the Sonny Rollins trio (Graz, Austria, Nov. 12, 1966) showcase the magnificent sounds that made Rollins one of the top horn players of his day and one of the most interesting, prolific, and long-lasting jazz icons of all time.
Here's the trumpet master and his great orchestra backed by the powerhouse drums of Buddy Rich and fronted by vocalist Paula Gilbert. His band was touring like mad then, and you can hear it; they do Cherry; That Old Black Magic; Moanin' Low; Embraceable You; Autumn Leaves; Sugar Foot Stomp, and more!
2007 five CD set, a great installment in Sony/BMG's Original Album Classics series that brings together rare and out of print titles with some best sellers from the Sony/BMG Jazz catalog. Many of these albums have been unavailable on CD for some time and are sought after by collectors. Each set is presented in a high quality, rigid cardboard slipcase containing five 'vinyl replica' mini LP sleeves. This collection from the Jazz fusion greats features the albums I Sing the Body Electric, Sweetnighter, Mysterious Traveller, Black Market and Night Passage.
Hammond b-3 organ legend Joey DeFrancesco is the modern day heir to the legends of the likes of jimmy smith, 'brother' Jack McDuff and Richard 'groove 'Holmes. He returns with an album his fans are bound to love- a specially priced two for the price of one called 'the baddest B-3 burner in the business'. it's features some of his most well known material and in a word it's Joey at his best.
2009 marks the return of New York based guitarist Wayne Krantz. Few musicians are capable of handling, or willing to face, the degree of risk Krantz throws himself into so intently. His dangerous, boldly imperfect music is almost entirely of the moment, and has won him an increasing amount of underground buzz as something of an anti-guitar hero. Now, with "Krantz Carlock Lefebvre", his first album for artist friendly, eclectic label Abstract Logix, he is returning to a recording studio for the first time in over fifteen years. Featuring drummer Keith Carlock and bassist Tim Lefebvre.
Cyrus Chestnut, one of the world's most celebrated jazz pianists, unveils new original compositions on his new release "Cyrus Chestnut Quartet", on WJ3 Records. This is the first time for Chestnut, who's released over a dozen albums since his recording debut in 1992, to lead his own quartet on CD. Produced by Todd Barkan (Kenny Burrell's Be Yourself Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Freddie Hubbard's Above & Beyond), Cyrus Chestnut Quartet features Stacy Dillard on sax, Dezron Douglas on bass and Willie Jones III on drums. The collection is comprised of seven new original straight-ahead swinging tunes by Chestnut and "What's Happening" by Douglas. Tracks:1.) No Problem2.) Annibelle Cousins3.) Dream4.) What's Happening - by Dezron Douglas5.) Waltz for Gene and Carol6.) Solace7.) Indigo Blue8.) Mustard.
The debut recording by acoustic upright bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, a native of Portland, OR, is an exercise in joy and freedom. Well rendered for such a very young musician, it's quite notable, considering the certainty of her concept and clarity of her vision. While steeped in contemporary jazz, there are Latin flavors, unabashed free moments, and some implied and direct swing. Further, it is an expression of her well-being, optimism, and future hope for her life in this music. Also in her peer group, pianist Aruan Ortiz and drummer Francisco Mela add a hundredfold to this music and establish themselves as leaders-to-be, and are quite capable partners for Spalding's wonderful sounds. The first piece, a take of the Jimmy Rowles evergreen "The Peacocks," let's you know something special is going on. Spalding's bass leads out with the probing piano of Ortiz as wordless vocals and a modal jam all precede the melody, followed by a free section. The imagination quotient of this interpretation is off the charts. "Mompouana" is a most impressive circular tune surrounding the sweetness and light of Spalding's voice in a 9/8 time signature, choppy piano motifs, upper to midrange drama, and thoughtful, intricate secondary lines. In their ultimate playful state, "Perazuan" and "Perazela" show Spalding's ability to scat, with Ortiz on the former and furiously alongside Mela on the latter track. The other covers are a darker-than-the-original rendition of Chick Corea's neo-bopper "Humpty Dumpty" and the personable, lighthearted "Loro," written by Egberto Gismonti. "Two Bad," with a feeling reminiscent of the standard "Alone Together," is a brittle, quirky, and unpredictable tune that is the only instrumental of the lot. Spalding sings no lyric content whatsoever; her style is all natural, sensual, and precious. Whether she is coerced to sing songs in the future is to be determined. Junjo is an auspicious beginning that should catch the ears of any lover of great music.
The famed extended recording sessions of the Miles Davis Quintet, wherein they taped the band's basic repertoire (and what a marvelous mixture of jazz originals and standards) in the manner of nightclub sets rather than the repetition of the usual studio takes. Cookin' was the first to be released and it excited listeners not only with it's contents but with it's promise of more to come. Davis, Coltrane, Garland, Chambers, and Philly Joe: one of the classic groups in the history of jazz. It established a level of excellence that was to foster a long, successive line of outstanding Davis quintets and sextets through the Fifties and Sixties. From the muted eloquence of "My Funny Valentine," through the fingerpoppin' "Blues by Five," to the urgent swing of "Airegin" and "Tune-Up," Cookin' has the ability to thrill the listener no matter how many times it is played-the mark of an all-time great performance. With John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones. T
2007 five CD set, a great installment in Sony/BMG's Original Album Classics series that brings together rare and out of print titles with some best sellers from the Sony/BMG Jazz catalog. Many of these albums have been unavailable on CD for some time and are sought after by collectors. Each set is presented in a high quality, rigid cardboard slipcase containing five 'vinyl replica' mini LP sleeves. This collection from the Jazz ensemble features the albums Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire, Between Nothingness & Eternity, Apocalypse and Visions of the Emerald Beyond.
A specially priced 12-track compilation spotlighting the Great American Songbook recordings from the legendary singers Improv Records catalog some of the most amazing music of Bennetts entire career. This CD is perfect for all traditional pop enthusiasts, fans of the Great American Songbook, and, of course, fans of the legend himself. This new collection is also ideal for Valentines Day celebrations.
This is the second installment in the collaboration between Hunter (master of the 8-string guitar) and Previte (electronic and acoustic drum virtuosos). This time around the rotating thrid member slot is filled by turntable wizard DJ Logic. Together they've turned up the heat further prgressing their sound into a more aggressive mix of funk, jazz and jam band-style rock.
