ContemporaryJazz.com » downloads

Contemporary Jazz on Twitter in July

John Hilderbrand — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:31:07 +0000

I’ve posted over 500 tweets of contemporary jazz news, release dates, and site information on Twitter in the last few months. It’s how I communicate quick contemporary jazz items of interest. In today’s quick-moving world, this is how I get most of my information – through brief, one-sentence notifications. Later, I can go back and read more about something or compose a blog post. Follow my tomorrowjazz tweets on Twitter!

I keep a list of my most recent tweets here on the site, but here are some items you might have missed.

Smooth jazz takes another blow as The Weather Channel replaces it with classic rock for Weather on the 8′s.
Miroslav Vitous’ new CD honors Weather Report http://is.gd/1oYMf
New release from jazz pianist Eldar coming August 25. Called Virtue, it has guests Nicholas Payton and Joshua Redman.
Pandora and three others might be ok but that doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing Internet radio. http://is.gd/1sYhv
Mike Stern’s Big Neighborhood out 8/11 w/ Dave Weckl, MMW, Steve Vai, Esperanza Spalding, Eric Johnson, Terri Lyne Carrington, and more.
B.B. King calls George Benson “the best guitarist in the world in all kinds of music.” http://is.gd/1yQhp
One of today’s greatest jazz composers, Terence Blanchard, releases Choices on August 18th. Recorded in New Orleans. http://is.gd/1zHt7
Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge release The Comet’s Tail: Playing The Compositions of Michael Brecker on 8/11 w/guest stars. http://is.gd/1AYmC
Pat Metheny writes about his upcoming “orchestrionics” recording. It’s going to be interesting. http://is.gd/1L7tI
Far Out Recordings-Brazilian Music Sampler Free at Amazon MP3 Store. With Marcos Valle, Joyce, Azymuth, Sabrina Malheiros. http://bacn.me/9ja
Didn’t know Larry Carlton was joining Steely Dan on six dates during their current tour.

Try It Out Trekkers – New Cool Collective

John Hilderbrand — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:24:22 +0000

Try It Out Trekkers is a one-time variation of Try It Out Tuesdays in celebration of the opening of the new Star Trek movie. TIOT offers a free full MP3 of an artist. This New Cool Collective cut is from their big-band/acid jazz recording released about nine years ago called Big. The release also features other Trek-themed song titles like “For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky” and “SPKJ (Four Captains At Warpspeed)”.

Click the play button to hear “NCC 1701.” If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy it from Amazon.com.

New Cool Collective – NCC 1701

Paul Brown & Marc Antoine Tickets and CDs Giveaway

John Hilderbrand — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:02:09 +0000

Contemporary jazz guitar collaborations between label mates have resulted in some memorable recordings over the history of the genre. The first ones that pop in my head are George Benson and Earl Klugh (Collaboration on Warner Bros.) and Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton (Larry & Lee on GRP). Peak Records joins in on the tradition with Paul Brown and Marc Antoine. Their new release is ForeignXchange. Brown was the go-to producer for smooth jazz for a long time before starting a solo career. Antoine has had a notable smooth jazz career for over 15 years. I’ve heard his beautiful “Storytime” (from Urban Gypsy, one of his first releases) on a PBS Kids sponsor message a number of times.

The recording has guest performances from Philippe Saisse, Gregg Karukas, and Jessy J. The more noteworthy tracks I heard had the horn section of Jerry Hey, “Bill Richenback” (though I think the liner notes mean Bill Reichenbach), and Dan Higgins. If I programmed a Sunday Brunch show, I’d be playing “Foreign Exchange.” Worth mentioning is that Brown and Antoine are both listed as writers of each of the ten songs on ForeignXchange.

You can experience Brown and Antoine live. They’ll be on tour and I’m happy to be able to give away to one lucky person a pair of tickets to the KIFM festival in San Diego on May 23 where Marc and Paul will be performing. The winner will also get a signed copy of ForeignXchange. I’m also giving away a couple of copies of the CD.

To win the ticket and autographed CD, just respond to this post with your favorite Paul Brown or Marc Antoine (or other smooth jazz) song, concert experience, etc. Make sure you include a valid email address so I can contact you with details.

To win a copy of the CD, follow me on Twitter! I’ll direct message two random winners to ask for a mailing address. I love Twitter because I can convey quick information much faster than blogging. That’s my primary method for announcing contemporary jazz news.

This contest ended on Friday, May 1. The winner was notified on Sunday.

Hear “Foreign Exchange” – Quicktime | Windows Media

Try It Out Tuesdays – Jack Broad

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:56 +0000

Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s track is from guitarist Jack Broad. Drumolator at The Forum recently asked if there are any fusion fans. It’s been a popular post. There are a number of jazz fans who miss that rock-jazz sound. Fusion fans, as well as fans of jazztronica, will find something they like on Jack’s recording, Current. This track, “Emanations,” spotlights Broad’s electric guitar playing and has a bit of drum ‘n’ bass. Like every track on the CD, it was composed, programmed, recorded, and mixed by Broad.

Click the play button to hear “Emanations.” If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy it from Amazon.com.

Jack Broad – Emanations

Try It Out Tuesdays – Torcuato Mariano

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:02:28 +0000

Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s track is from guitarist Torcuato Mariano. Mariano made an impact on contemporary jazz listeners with his first two recordings in the 90s. The memorable melodies and sweet playing allowed him to rocket up the new adult contemporary radio charts, no easy feat for a then-unknown artist. His new recording, So Far From Home, is out now on NuGroove Records.

Click the play button to hear the title track. If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy it from Amazon.com.

Torcuato Mariano – So Far From Home

Try It Out Tuesdays – Alexander Shulgin

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:00:34 +0000

Alexander Shulgin is a Russian composer and jazz artist. He’s got quite a resume that includes being a leader in the Russian music industry and a composer in television and film. Learn more about him at the MusicDish Network or on MySpace.

I received three MP3s of Shulgin’s work and there is a diversity in writing and performance. Click the play button to hear his “Brazilian Summer.”

Brazilian Summer

Try It Out Tuesdays – Groove Thing

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:10:41 +0000

Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s track is from Groove Thing, the acid jazz effort from vibraphonist Bill Ware. This track, “On the Sand,” came on my iPod while driving home today. As I wrote about last summer, This Is No Time… is a favorite of mine. Vibes and flute are two of my top five favorites instruments. Of the number of Groove Thing tracks I could pick, “On the Sand” wins because it puts another of my faves in – trombone. Where else are you gonna hear vibes, flute, trombone, guitar, and the acid jazz vibe? This track is also a regular on ContemporaryJazz.com Radio.

Click the play button to hear “On the Sand.” If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy This Is No Time… from Amazon.com. It’s been out of print for a long time but you can still get a new copy for less than $7.

Groove Thing – This Is No Time…

Try It Out Tuesdays – Bobbi Humphrey

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:00:30 +0000

It’s Black History Month. It’s Motown’s 50th Anniversary. It’s Blue Note’s 70th Anniversary. Here’s one track to acknowledge all three. From the Blue Note Salutes Motown compilation (originally on her Dig This! release), here’s Bobbi Humphrey covering the Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong composition “Smiling Faces Sometimes.” Bobbi had success during her recording tenure with Blue Note in the 1970s. I’ve been buying some of those memorable recordings recently.

Click the play button below to hear Ms. Humphrey’s rendition of the song made famous by The Undisputed Truth.

Blue Note Salutes Motown

Try It Out Tuesdays – Joe Sample

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:00:19 +0000

Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s artist is someone you likely don’t need to try out. You know him. Joe Sample is a contemporary jazz legend. I love his work with the Crusaders and his solo recordings equally. I think my favorite disc of his is Ashes To Ashes. There’s two reasons to spotlight Mr. Sample: He just turned 70 a couple of weeks ago and Valentine’s Day is this weekend and this track is an excellent walk-in-the-sun-with-someone-special composition.

Click the play button to hear “I’ll Love You” then hit the Shopping Cart icon to buy this classic recording from Amazon.com (available on CD, cassette, LP, or MP3 download).

Joe Sample – Ashes To Ashes – “I’ll Love You”

Try It Out Tuesdays – JEN meets CAN7

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:01:30 +0000

Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s artist is JEN meets CAN7. This composition, “Temptation & Seduction,”…it’s erotic. It is to be listened to only late at night. I’m entranced by the lyrics and voice. The jazz vibe is perfect.

Click the play button to experience “Temptation & Seduction.” If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy the MP3 from Amazon.com.

JEN meets CAN7 – “Temptation & Seduction”