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New CDs and DVDs In May

John Hilderbrand — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:50:09 +0000

Here is a list of new CDs and DVDs coming in May that I’m aware of. Click to order the CD from Amazon.com, or to download MP3s. Your purchases through these links help the site!

May 5
Poogie Bell Band – Get on the Kit |
Jim Beard w/ Vince Mendoza – Revolutions
Incognito – Live in Jakarta DVD

May 12
Return To Forever – Live at Montreux 2008 DVD / Blu-ray
Stanley Clarke Trio w/ Hiromi and Lenny White – Jazz in the Garden |
Candy Dulfer – Funked Up! |
Charnett Moffett (feat. Will Calhoun) – The Art of Improvisation

May 19
Richard Elliot – Rock Steady |
Nicola Conte – Rituals |
Terri Lyne Carrington – More To Say… (Real Life Story: NextGen) |

May 26
Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez – Quartet Live!
Diana Krall – Live In Rio DVD / Blu-ray

New Music in March

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:37:06 +0000

Earlier this month, I posted some of the new contemporary jazz and jazz-related videos that have come out this year. Below are some of the new CDs that came out this month. On the carousel to order the latest from Diana Krall, Gregg Karukas, Chris Botti, the Rippingtons, Sean Jones, Chuck Loeb, Return To Forever, Nils, and Philippe Saisse.

2009 Contemporary Jazz Preview

John Hilderbrand — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:08:07 +0000

One constant in the contemporary jazz world is the planning and reliable execution of Heads Up recordings. I just got the list for 2009 and it’s another winner for contemporary jazz fans. I’ll elaborate more in later posts but here’s what’s on the schedule:

January
Incognito – More Tales Remixed – remixes of songs from the latest Incognito release;
Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Live;
Walter Beasley – Free Your Mind

February
Joe Zawinul – 75 – two-disc live set;
Pieces of a Dream – Soul Intent;
Mike Stern – New Morning The Paris Concert;
The Bad Plus Joined by Wendy Lewis – For All I Care

March
Marion Meadows – TBD;
Chuck Loeb – Between 2 Worlds;
Yellowjackets – New Morning The Paris Concert

April
Candy Dulfer; Hiroshima

May
Spyro Gyra; Zap Mama; Stanley Clarke/Hiromi/Lenny White

June
Alexander Zonjic, Andy Narell

August
Najee; Mike Stern; Joe Zawinul DVD

September
Take 6 – a new holiday recording

Legends on Tuesday – David Sanborn, S.M.V.

John Hilderbrand — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:58:53 +0000

Tuesday, August 12, is a big day for contemporary jazz fans. It’s the day that several legends will drop new music – and all of them on two recordings. In fact, four of the five artists who were on the Legends tour about a decade ago are on them.

You’ve read the review – now it’s time to experience three bass masters collaborating on one recording. S.M.V. – Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten – together on Thunder. Read more about it.
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David Sanborn is back with an album that likely will serve as a highlight in his career. What upfront was to funk, Here and Gone might be to soul and blues. Sanborn pays homage to the music that inspired him, especially the music of Hank Crawford. “Hank was the great saxophonist and arranger for Ray Charles in the 1950s and early ’60s, and his arrangements and playing were central to me in forming my ideas about what music was and should be,” states Sanborn. “He had such a wonderful economy in what he did: He didn’t waste any notes, and there was nothing superfluous about his playing.” To help realize the vision he had for this recording, the saxman brought in some names: Christian McBride and Steve Gadd are the rhythm section and Eric Clapton sings and plays “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town.” Also contributing are Joss Stone, Sam Moore, Gil Goldstein, Russell Malone, and Wallace Roney. I didn’t receive an advance on Here and Gone but I did hear three cuts. I don’t know if it’s a word but I’m describing it as “rootsy.” I mean, it’s Sanborn playing the style that influenced him, and it doesn’t sound like it’s a slick, overly polished record. Rootsy.

Listen to, buy (for $9.99) and watch Sanborn discuss his career in an exclusive Amazon.com video.
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Sanborn talks about the recording and his influences:

Review: Thunder from Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten

John Luciano — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:42:10 +0000

Thunder. Rhythmic, melodic, rock you out, funk you up. Thunder! Back in the spring when I interviewed Marcus Miller, I asked him what was in the pipeline. He mentioned that there was a bass trio recording that he Stanley and Victor were working on – and oh what a recording it’s turned out to be. I can’t imagine a better name for this all-star collaboration between these three Bass Masters of the Universe. The thunderous power that is conjured up by SMV is awe-inspiring, not just in the low and middle registers, but in the compositions and arrangements as well. This isn’t some ego driven free-for-all that’s all chops and no meat. In my opinion, it’s the compositions that drive this recording, with each bassist unselfishly contributing for the benefit of the whole. I have to admit that of the three players, I’m least familiar with Victor Wooten; but I was easily able to identify each distinctive voice, in fact, this is probably the best setting I’ve heard Stanley play in in quite sometime. To have three of today’s leading bassists, each of which bring much more to the table than just being a recording artist, creating such a cohesive project, speaks volumes of their talents and obvious kinship. One could only hope that this doesn’t end up being a one-off project. Also, kudos to Heads Up for having the guts to release this project, in a year that has been extremely lean for anything remotely approaching quality jazz, yet alone fusion. One last opinion if I may: I’ve purchased maybe five actual physical CDs this year, but I’ve purchased at least 60 downloadable, complete jazz recordings thus far. How come they don’t come with downloadable digital booklets?

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