For nearly two decades, the world at large knew precisely where to find the acclaimed guitarist Kevin Eubanks. For five nights a week, Eubanks was cranking up the band and issuing steamy solos as music director on NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." In spring of 2010, after 18 years on the job, Eubanks decided to move on, although retirement was the last thing on his mind. That much is clearly stated in potent musical terms on Zen Food, his first recording for the Mack Avenue label.

THE MESSENGER is a project that reflects not only the guitarists virtuosity on his instrument, but also his impressive compositional skills - writing all but two tracks. Perhaps THE MESSENGER's most distinctive element is it's broad sense of musicality. This is certainly, in part, attributable to Kevin's experience with leading the Tonight Show with Jay Leno band for so many years. As Kevin views it, "to me, it's all just music."

Guitarist Kevin Eubanks held one of the most coveted chairs in television for nearly 18 years as the leader of the TONIGHT SHOW band, when his muse struck and prompted him to take his axe and move on. Kevin surely did not idle away what little free time he had during that tenure, touring everywhere in the country and world where time permitted him. Before taking the TV slot that boasted talents like Bradford Marsalis and the venerated Doc Severinsen, Kevin had an acclaimed recording career spanning several labels garnering many awards and a host of followers along the way. This release finds him in the company of his favorite players, most of whom can be found jamming with him at L.A's famed Baked Potato. Run, don't walk, to the nearest player and check out "Spider Monkey Cafe," "The Dirty Monk" and more sizzlin' six-string songs.

On East West Time Line, Eubanks explores the chemistry he maintains with musicians on both coasts. And once again, his distinctive fingerstyle approach to the instrument is in the service of tunes that run the stylist gamut from urgent swingers to introspective ballads to Latin-tinged numbers and some get-down Philly funk. Discussing his collaboration with his friends Eubanks said "I think because I'm so familiar with all the musicians and we played together over the years in different settings, on different tours, that it helped the music quite a bit. It's that thing where everybody's pulling for each other to do well and trying to make each other sound better..."

The impeccably balanced Duets includes four spontaneous arrangements of well-known classics. 'Nature Boy,' 'Blue in Green,' 'Summertime' and 'A Child Is Born'; plus interpretations of modern pop songs (Adele's 'Someone Like You' and Ellie Goulding's 'Lights')

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Learning by doing: In the eighties Stefan Winter volunteered for a record company to learn autodidactically the profession as music producer. At the time a demo tape of the young Steve Coleman arrived, nobody showed any interest. During Stefan Winter's first stay in New York City (1984) he jumped at the opportunity and offered Steve Coleman a record deal. This was the hour of birth of the debut recording with the core musicians of the later named "M-Base Collective" and at the same time of the label JMT (Jazz Music Today). Right after the first record Winter started working with Greg Osby, Cassandra Wilson, Robin Eubanks, Gary Thomas, Gery Allen and many others like Kelvin Bell, Kevin Bruce Harris, Marvin "Smitty" Smith and Terri Lyne Carrington. It is historical certainty that these works were recorded mainly in the eighties, but as a listener one can hardly believe it. Each album offers a new inspiring approach to making music which is still characteristic today. Listen to the "M-Base" not to rest on tradition, but to see these artists experience as a sound basis for the future. This compilation is the second release in the Winter & Winter Jubilee Edition, celebrating the labels' 30th anniversary.

Classical Music

This is a relaxed set that nonetheless bristles with optimism and exploratory drive, toughened by challenging melody lines and taut horn blends that sometimes recall the Jazz Messengers-showing the influence, perhaps, of the late pianist and former Messenger Mulgrew Miller, whom trumpeter/flugelhornist Duane Eubanks cites as a mentor and role model.