2019 archive release. Miles Davis shocked the music world in 1985 when he left Columbia Records after 30 years to join Warner Bros. Records. In October of that year, he began recording the album Rubberband in Los Angeles at Ameraycan Studios with producers Randy Hall and Zane Giles. The musical direction Davis was taking during the sessions marked a radical departure, with the inclusion of funk and soul grooves; with plans to feature guest vocalists Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan. Eventually, the album was shelved and Davis went on to record Tutu, leaving the Rubberband songs unheard and untouched for over 30 years. It was finished by the original producers Hall and Giles; with Davis' nephew, Vince Wilburn, Jr., who played drums on the original sessions for the album in 1985-86.
Kenny Garrett may have made it onto your radar playing for Ellington and Davis, but he's since made a name on his own, leading a variety of lineups in his takeover of the "post-bop" subgenre of jazz. Listen to him on this 2002 cut, where he'll make you one of his happy people.
SOUL FOOD, the delicious new album from Cyrus Chestnut, might well be the acclaimed pianist's most succulent dish yet. From the gorgeous simplicity of his solo piano rendition of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot, " to the classic trio swing of "Fantasia, " the album is a lip-smacking musical buffet encompassing an array of flavors such as gospel, R&B, and good old fashioned jazz. Chestnut is accompanied by an equally tasty lineup of players, including bassist Christian McBride, dummer Lewis Nash, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeter Marcus Printup, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, and labelmate James Carter on tenor sax. His seventh Atlantic release - and first collection of original material since 1998 - Cyrus Chestnut's SOUL FOOD is the ideal recipe for a homecooked musical feast.
In 1999, for the 2nd year in a row, Brad Mehldau's piano trio topped the Down Beat Critic's Poll for Best Acoustic Jazz Group in the Talent Deserving Wider Recognition category. Art Of The Trio 4: Back At The Vanguard further justifies those accolades. This live set, the newest installment of his trio releases, will continue to build Mehldau's growing public recognition (marked by a recent article in Time Magazine) and his stellar profile in the jazz world. Features "Solar," "London Blues" and "Exit Music (For A Film)."
On the latest album from the leading statesman of smooth jazz, Bob James takes a joy ride that shatters perceptions and re-energizes both the format and his music. Utilizing various producers and lineups (including all the members of Fourplay), Joy Ride jumps with the energy of creative rebirth, boosted by the huge success of his parallel career in Fourplay. Featured tracks: "Raise The Roof" (feat. Boney James), "It's Alright" (feat. Norman Brown) and "Take Me There."
At age 17, Kenny Garrett joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra, led by Duke's son. In '87, Garrett was enlisted by Miles Davis and played on 4 albums with him, including Davis's final recording (Miles Davis & Quincy Jones: Live at Montreux). with his latest album, the alto sax powerhouse continues to add to his legendary body of work. Following '97s Song Book (Grammy nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance), Simply Said (featuring Pat Metheny and Marcus Miller among others) is intense, imaginative and expressive.
When the world's preeminent vibraphonist joins with one of the world's most talented big bands, it's definitely Explosive. Bassist/arranger John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton have worked with Milt Jackson since the '70s. Now with the Clayton Brothers (Jeff on alto sax) and "Bags" as Qwest label mates, it was inevitable that their distinctive grooves would unite. A firestorm of soulful, swinging tunes, key tracks include "Bag's Groove," "Since I Fell for You" and "Emily."
Here's George himself describing his exceptional new album: "this album can best be described as a 'for lovers only' or an 'evening in the life of..' type of record. It is a keyboard album where I play mostly piano and/or Rhodes, along with a Wurlitzer 140B electric piano on one track. It is the first instrumental album I've recorded in over 20 years." The musical supporting cast includes such players as Christian McBride, Lenny Castro and guitarists Paul Jackson and Ray Fuller.
Joshua Redman's newest album is a jazz celebration of 20th century popular song. Featuring 10 tracks by 10 composers - ranging from the Gershwin's, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Rogers & Hammerstein to Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder and Prince - it's a stunning collection of modern standards freshly interpreted by one of the preeminent figures of contemporary jazz. Featured tracks include "Summertime," "Visions" and "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
CONVERSATIONS IN SILENCE from the Nashville Chamber Orchestra is a selection of sumptuous folkloric instrumental music performed by an exceptional group of musicians. Classical tradition is adhered to but not stridently; the songs are infused with a Western sensibility.
Produced by Claus Ogerman, this catalog reissue features "Boto," "Valse" and "Correnteza." Personnel: Antonio Carlos Jobim (Fender Rhodes, vocals), Ron Carter (bass), Joao Palma (drums), Ray Armando (percussion). Bob Blumenthal supplies the liner notes for this release.
This double-album was originally released in 1980. Musicians include Oscar Castro-Neve's, Bob Cranshaw, Grady Tate and Rubens Bassini. Tracks include "Double Rainbow," "Girl from Ipanema," "Someone to Light Up My Life," "Desafinado" and "This Happy Madness." Also included are liner notes by Bob Blumenthal.
Redman has earned a well-deserved reputation as perhaps the most extraordinary saxophonist to emerge in the '90's. The material on this album (said to be his most far-reaching and ambitious work to date) was honed by Joshua and his musicians during an extensive world tour earlier this year. Joshua adds a more groove-oriented rhythmic element to his music with tremendous success. All 10 of the album's tracks were composed and arranged by Joshua and produced by his longtime producer Matt Pierson.
In addition to his work as a soloist, Bob has earned a rep for stunning collaborative projects with David Sanborn, Earl Klugh and the other 3 members of Fourplay (responsible for some of the most successful albums in jazz). His latest pairs him with virtuoso saxophonist Kirk Whalum (backed by a group of ace musicians) for a set featuring new compositions by both players. Two vocal tracks are included; "Midnight at the Oasis" features vocals from Bob's daughter Hilary and Kirk's brother Kevin. Expect this to be an NAC chart-topper.
After releasing last year's jazz-funk classic Did You Hear That, Joe Sample has come full circle and reverted back to a traditional jazz trio format. Accompanied by longtime collaborators Jay Anderson and Lenny Castro, Sample is also joined by guests like Charles Lloyd (sax), Ralph Penland (drums) and Dean Parks (guitar). Featured tracks include "Old Places Old Faces," "Hippies on a Corner" and "Miles of Blue (Blue Miles)."
George has been one of the few jazz artists to "cross over" repeatedly over the last two decades, and this 14-track collection has every big hit! Includes on Broadway; Give Me the Night; This Masquerade; Love Ballad; Turn Your Love Around; Never Give Up on a Good Thing; 20/20, and more.
Joshua Redman made a splash on the modern jazz scene with Wish, his second album. With his signature saxophone, he transforms tracks such as Eric Clapton's "Tears of Heaven" into modern, pop-oriented jazz. The album includes a few original tracks alongside his jazz interpretations, and the album's cohesiveness is as admirable as it is pleasurable.
By the time Snapshot was released in 1992, George Duke's career had survived myriad changes in the development of pop and funk, but even at age 46 he was spry and inventive enough to keep his finger on the pulse of what was new. Timeless slow jams like "No Rhyme, No Reason," "The Morning After," and "Speak Low" kept Duke relevant, while "History (I Remember)" and "Geneva" confirmed that his jazz-funk chops remained as flawless in 1992 as they'd been in 1976.
George Benson / BREEZIN - ten time Grammy Award winning American musician/guitarist/vocalist. This one-time child prodigy topped the Billboard 200 in 1976 with the triple-platinum album, Breezin.-With the 1976 release Breezin, his debut album for Warner Brothers, Benson began to put his vocal on tracks such as This Masquerade. Breezin topped the Pop, Jazz and R&B album charts in Billboard.- At the 19th Grammy Awards (1976) Breezin' won Best Pop Instrumental Performance for Benson and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Al Schmitt, while "This Masquerade" won Record of the Year for producer Tommy LiPuma and Benson-Benson uses a rest-stroke picking technique similar to that of gypsy jazz players such as Django Reinhardt. -In recent years, Benson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Oh, Good Grief displays a re-interpretation of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts classics as Guaraldi experimented with electric keyboard and electric harpsichord in preparation of the release of his next album, The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi. The members of this trio were pianist Vince Guaraldi, guitarist Eddie Duran, drummer Carl Burnett, and bassist Stanley Gilbert. This album shows lively new versions of the classic tunes of Peanuts.
