FAR FAR AWAY is a sonic powerhouse, leveraging every aspect of this magnificent, all-star quintet. Kurt Rosenwinkel's searing, innovative playing is on full display, Jim Snidero demonstrates a broadsword of a sound, and the rhythm section of Orrin Evans, Peter Washington and Joe Farnsworth groove and interact at the highest levels of artistry. Building on the 5-star success (Down beat Magazine) of LIVE AT THE DEER HEAD INN, which included Evans, Washington and Farnsworth, Snidero adds fuel to the fire with the addition of Rosenwinkel's highly influential guitar style. The result is an inspired performance bursting at the seams with musicality and drive. Jim Snidero's six originals create the perfect mix of current trends and tradition. Swing, Latin, and Euro grooves are all represented, yet the album is surprisingly cohesive, flowing from one tune to the next. The classics "It Might as Well be Spring" and McCoy Tyner's deeply relevant "Search for Peace" round out this amazing release.

For three decades Mike LeDonne has been an exceptional avatar of the Hammond B3 organ. Forged by his impressive jazz apprenticeship, with the likes of Milt Jackson, George Coleman and Benny Golson, LeDonne comes from a long and distinguished line of masters of that instrument. And for eighteen years, he's lead the Groover Quartet his formidable foursome consisting of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Joining the quartet is the great drummer Mike Clark. After collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton and others, Clark has influenced a generation of percussionists and brings his own unmistakable style to two tracks on the CD.

Alto saxophonist Jim Snidero brings the sum total of his experiences to the fore on Main Street, including those as a leader as well as a sideman with Frank Wess, the Mingus Big Band, Jack McDuff, and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Here he draws upon a quarter-century of touring experiences for a trip through some of the American experience via a cycle of new compositions and two covers. With bassist Linda Oh, drummer Rudy Royston and Cuban pianist Fabian Almazan, Main Street offers fresh original material, imaginative arrangements, inspired soloing, and cohesive yet spontaneous group interaction.

Jim Snidero is known to spin out wonderfully clean, inventive lines. His transparent sound and rapid execution evoke the early Art Pepper, as well as one of Snidero's own teachers Phil Woods. He never resorts to aimless scribbling, even at the quickest tempos, while his ballad interpretations are filled with exquisitely oblique lines. This, the saxophonist's second release for Savant, presents a unique ensemble, with no keyboard of any kind, the rhythm section of Paul Gill, bass and Billy Drummond, drums propel the proceedings forward while fret-master Paul Bollenback lays down the changes.

The music on this recording is at once far-reaching and intimate. It has a quality enjoyed well beyond contemporary fans of this style of music, and yet this recording gives the listener the sense of being privy to a very precise moment in music history with Memphis Slim (1915-1988) as he plays piano. Slim (born Peter Chatman) grew up listening to his father perform blues in various venues in Memphis, Tennessee. He started performing around town at a young age before moving to Chicago at 25. He is accompanied on this album- the third of his four recordings for Folkways Records - by Arnold "Jump" Jackson (drums) and Arbee Stidham (guitar). The liner notes feature a biography of Slim by music critic Martin Williams.

Peter Chatman Jr.., aka Memphis Slim, stomps out a "progressive boogie and blues" on the piano. Self-taught in the honky-tonk juke joints of Tennessee, he produced some of the most powerful boogie-woogie out there, with an incessant bass like you wouldn't believe.

This December 1977 recording features two of the most prominent AACM musicians, Roscoe Mitchell and Anthony Braxton. Mitchell's composition "run the gamut, beginning with the darkly gorgeous opener that features Braxton's contrabass clarinet nestling evocatively beneath the composer's earthy flute, Mitchell's other pieces investigate the sparer, more abstract realm, as the duo's wide variety of reeds populate the sonic environment with scattered moans, squeaks and pops. Overall, this is a fine meeting between two of the most forward-looking thinkers and players in the music. Recommended. " - Brian Olewnick, allmusic. Com Anthony Braxton also contributes three compositions.

Smooth Jazz Superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest sax- ophone tone on the on the planet, Marion has sold over two million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Just Doing Me, Marion's most intimate and heartfelt album to date, takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is produced by the top producers in smooth jazz: Marion's long-time collaborator, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa), Wirlie Morris (Norman Brown, Charlie Wilson), and Paul Brown (Boney James, Peter White)! Highlights include the deeply sensuous "Pink Glass," the funky and spirited "Say What," and much more!

Smooth Urban Jazz superstar Kim Waters has sold over two million albums in his more than 20 years of touring and recording. Loved by R&B and Jazz fans alike, his crossover appeal, Smooth Jazz #1 radio hits, and dynamic performances have placed him among the elite in his field. That Special Touch has special significance to the artist because the album features the young smooth jazz hit maker, Kim's daughter Kayla! The energy and joy of this occasion have inspired and elevated Kim's writing and playing to new heights! Highlights include Kim and Kayla's dream-like remake of Adele's smash hit "Go Easy On Me," the ebullient "Joy Dance," the intensely pulsating "House Call," and more Kim Waters originals!

2017 release. Poetry In Motion is the highly anticipated follow up to Najee's much loved You, Me and Forever which was #1 both on the Billboard chart and at Smooth Jazz radio. As the title implies, the album represents Najee's exploration into the world of sensuality and romance, interspersed with some fantastic spirited grooves that have made Najee a favorite the world over!

Saxophonist Euge Groove is one of the bestselling Contemporary Jazz artists, scoring more than half a dozen #1 Smooth Jazz radio hits and selling over 250,000 albums. His last album, HOUSE OF GROOVE, hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, continuing his hit driven chart reign. GOT 2 BE GROOVIN delivers Euge Groove's trademark Funk/Jazz grooves on a wide ranging set including potential radio hits as well as featuring a couple of vocal tracks by AMERICAN IDOL finalist Elliot Yamin and Gospel singer Chanel Haynes of Trin I Tee 5:7.

Smooth Jazz superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the Jazz scene today. Blessed with movie star looks and the smoothest saxophone tone on the planet, Marion has sold close to one million albums in his brilliant career. WHISPER is probably Marion's most intimate and sensuous album yet. In support of this album, Marion Meadows will be touring coast to coast as part of Sax and the City with special guest Paul Taylor.

This is an addendum to the acclaimed "Bix Restored" series that featured meticulous restoration of every recording on which cornetist Bix Beiderbecke played. The highlight of this volume is three newly discovered alternate takes of recordings featuring Beiderbecke: one by Paul Whiteman's orchestra and two by Frankie Trumbauer's orchestra, one of which, "Futuristic Rhythm," contains the best and most significant new solo by Bix to be discovered in nearly three decades. The rest of the CD is filled with the reverberations of Bix's influence on his contemporaries between 1927 and 1939. On this CD, you will hear the work of well-known horn men like Jimmy McPartland and Bobby Hackett, as well as more obscure disciples such as Andy Secrest and Stirling Bose. Also included are other performers such as Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman and Red Norvo, showing that Bix's influence was not limited to cornetists and trumpeters. The package also features a new essay on Bix's influence by renowned author, Bix scholar and cornetist Richard M. Sudhalter.