The Robert Glasper Experiment just unleashed their 2nd single from their highly anticipated new album ArtScience due out September 16. As if it’s possible to get even more excited about this album, “Day To Day” sends me right over the edge. With Casey Benjamin on lead vox “Day To Day” is reminiscent of the funk/soul/jazz driven albums of Herbie Hancock in the 70s. Think Herbie Hancock Sunlight and Monster. And as per usual, Mr. Glasper owns the keys and caresses them with his signature loving touch. Check out the single below and grab the album September 16. Also check your favorite online retail outlet to place your pre-order.
‘Coming Of Age’ by bassist Ben Williams was one of the best and one of our favorite jazz albums of 2015. Check out his new video, via Revive Music, for “Toy Soldiers” featuring fellow Washington, D.C. artist W. Ellington Felton.
Purchase the new Skoolwerk Apparel Love ByrdTee and get a FREE Donald ByrdTribute Mix CD! The Funk N Soul of Donald Byrd Mixed by DJ Conscience.
You can’t buy this compilation in stores and there hasn’t been anything in the market place that combines 80s (Isaac Hayes produced) Donald Byrd and 70s (Mizell Brothers produced) Donald Byrd. The Harlem -based DJ Conscience brings both eras together for this funk n soul Donald Byrd tribute mix presented by Skoolwerk Apparel.
Liner Notes:
‘Love Byrd’ celebrates the work and legacy of trumpeter Donald Byrd. From hard-bop to jazz/soul/funk, Donald Byrd took jazz and jazz listeners to another space in the 70s and early 80s. In 1981 Donald Byrd along with his 125th Street, N.Y.C. band released the soulful, jazz-tinged “Love Byrd” LP produced by the legendary Isaac Hayes. By the late 90s “Love Byrd” became a highly sought after rare groove classic LP by DJs and rare groovers worldwide. By the 80s Donald Byrd had already transitioned from his hard-bop jazz roots to a more soul/funk groove. That transition and groove can be credited to his collaborations with the Mizell Brothers (Blue Note Records) in the 70s.
The Miles Quintet honors “The Second Great Miles Davis Quintet” (1964-68) consisting of Miles Davis (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Wayne Shorter (saxophone), Tony Williams (drums), Ron Carter (bass). The Quintet’s approach to improvisation came to be known “time no changes” or “freebop,” because they abandoned the more conventional chord-change-based approach of bebop for a modal approach.
In celebration of the highly anticipated Netflix original documentary What, Happened, Miss Simone?, REVIVE Music/RCA Records are proud to release NINA REVISITED: A Tribute to Nina Simone. The 16 track tribute pays homage to the legendary Nina Simone with re-worked renditions of some of her most popular songs by artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Common, Usher, Jazmine Sullivan, Lisa Simone (daughter of Nina Simone), newcomer Grace, Alice Smith, Gregory Porter and Lalah Hathaway.
NINA REVISITED: A Tribute to Nina Simone, was produced by Jayson Jackson, Suzette Williams and Peter Edge, Grammy Award winners Robert Glasper, who cites Nina Simone as “one of the most important and influential artist ever,” and Ms. Lauryn Hill.
Nina Simone is truly one of the greatest talents in musical history and with NINA REVISITED: A Tribute to Nina Simone, REVIVE Music/RCA Records hope to celebrate the music, career and life of the legendary musician.
“That the album changes so much, though, is strangely its own form of tribute. Simone’s albums were inherently eclectic, as she often switched genres from song to song, and sometimes within one song itself. In the end, listeners might leave wondering how Hill would have carried the weight of a full Simone tribute album by herself (as artists like Meshell Ndegeocello and Xiu Xiu have done), but more appropriately, we close with Simone on her own terms — the voice that set these artists, and the nation, musically free in the first place.” — NPR First Listen
Tracklist:
01. Lisa Simone – My Mama Could Sing (Intro)
02. Ms. Lauryn Hill – Feeling Good
03. Ms. Lauryn Hill – I’ve Got Life
04. Ms. Lauryn Hill – Ne Me Quitte Pas
05. Jazmine Sullivan – Baltimore
06. Grace – Love Me Or Leave Me
07. Usher – My Baby Just Cares For Me
08. Mary J Blige – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
09. Gregory Porter – Sinnerman
10. Common & Lalah Hathaway – We Are Young Gifted & Black
11. Alice Smith – I Put A Spell On You
12. Lisa Simone – I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
13. Ms. Lauryn Hill – Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair
14. Ms. Lauryn Hill – Wild Is The Wind
15. Ms. Lauryn Hill – African Mailman (Instrumental)
16. Nina Simone – I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
After years of touring, recording and performing with the likes of Jill Scott, Bootsy Collins, Mike Phillips, Liv Warfield and the DooDoo Funk All-Stars, soul/jazz/funk trumpeter Farnell Newton is Ready To Roll! The modern funkster and educator is part of a bubbling Portland music scene that boasts some of the finest young soul/jazz/funk artists in music today. Let’s just say Portland artists are kicking butt and taking names when it comes to building their scene and taking it Worldwide!
On Ready To Roll, Farnell’s newest album, the trumpeter delivers a rich batch of funk, soul and contemporary jazz with a signature style of playing we’re becoming more and more familiar with. Farnell can smooth it out just as well as he can funk it up! Farnell has also invited several of his friends along for the ride! Guest vocalists include Ashley Jayy, Donyea Goodman, Jerrod Lawson, Tony Ozier and Cleveland P. Jones.
Stream and purchase the album below and we guarantee you’ll love the artistry of Farnell Newton! Spread the word!
Evening News is an exciting new long-awaited indie jazz quartet hailing from Hampton Roads, Virginia. I have been waiting patiently for Kasey Square (piano) and Wellington “Boo” Britt (drums) to come together as a recording and performing jazz ensemble for years. Having previously worked with these fine musicians as a concert promoter and being a fan of their impeccable musicianship and style, I am extremely excited about Evening News and their upcoming debut album. The quartet was assembled in 2011 by pianist Kasey Square who called on drummer, former band mate and long-time best friend from Norfolk State University “Boo” Britt and CJ Mercer a bassist who previously worked on projects with the duo. The trio then added another Norfolk State University friend Gregory John on saxophone. Once the personnel was in place the group started working on their music for their album.
The group collectively decided not to perform publicly until the completion of the album. Their first single “Clear Skies” has been released on iTunes and Amazon this month and the band is now ready to give the people what they want!
An album release show is scheduled for January 31, 2015 at Train Station in Newport News, Virginia. The band admits to being heavily influenced by the Yellowjackets, Weather Report and Dave Weckl Band but has definitely put their own stamp on the music that they have written for their debut. Trust me Evening News is the new jazz band to watch in 2015!
Evening News is Kasey Square (piano), Wellington “Boo” Britt (drums), CJ Mercer (bass) and Gregory John (saxophone).
RED CLAY 1970 was inspired by the soul-jazz-funk-fusion that became the Freddie Hubbard trademark sound as a CTI recording artist. Freddie Hubbard’s Red Clay album was recorded and released in 1970 and was his first album on Creed Taylor’s CTI label. Red Clay marked his shift from Blue Note bebop to CTI soul-jazz-funk-fusion. The album would also define Freddie Hubbard’s music direction as a CTI recording artist for much of the 70s as well as set the template and the tone for all future CTI artists and recordings.
There are times when we get serviced new music that hits us right between the eyes. The new single “Wednesday Girl” from up and coming jazz/r&b, singer/songwriter KENYA did just that! I have to admit that before I listened to the track I read the production credits and it features production by the dynamic duo Khari Cabral (Jiva, Julie Dexter) and Daz-I-Kue (Bugz In The Attic member/producer).From that point I knew to expect something tasty and sublime on the production end. What I didn’t know was how soulful and jazzy KENYA would flow over the soul bossa/UK drum n bass production of Cabral/I-Kue. KENYA delivers the type of sophistication, versatility and excitement that definitely makes her an Artist To Watch! Listen to the soulful and jazzy “Wednesday Girl”HERE and peep the atmospheric UK drum n bass vibe at the end! Expect to hear much more from KENYA as she preps to release her forthcoming album “My Own Skin.” Also if you have plans to be in the DMV in December you don’t want to miss KENYA LIVE at the Legendary Blues Alley December 8, 2014 for two shows 8pm and 10pm. For more info and KENYA updates visit her official website kenyamjmusic.com.
Marc Mac continues to expand the Nu Era journey into Soulful Techno with 8 new tracks. Continuing on from The Third Adam, Nouveau Synthetic Compositions delves deeper into psychedelic techno-fusion while still keeping Marc’s distinctive Nu Era ingredients. Marc’s natural ability to seamlessly cross-pollenate genres shines through most with his Nu Era workings and an understanding of vintage electronic music is present at most times with this new record.
“I don’t want to exclude the human feel from my electronic productions, I’d like to think anyone of these compositions would easily translate to a small orchestra.”
This mini album comes in a lovely 7” gatefold sleeve packaged with 7” vinyl and an eight track CD. Limited to 500 copies. Preview and pre-order at omniverse-records.bandcamp.com. Global distribution by Kudos distributors. Digital release also available through iTunes and other selected stores.
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