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Prestige Records Releases 3rd & Final Set Of John Coltrane Box Series: “Side Steps” highlights Coltrane’s role of the sideman

drumminfabe — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:22:00 +0000

The artistic prowess of saxophonist John Coltrane was so expansive and influential – even in his own short lifetime, let alone in the decades since his death – that it’s difficult to quantify or differentiate his significance as a leader, a collaborator, a sideman or any other role in the jazz idiom. What’s certain, though, is that some of his most pivotal session work took place on the Prestige label in the 1950s.

Prestige Records is releasing the 3rd and final box set of the John Coltrane series, dedicating the work he did in the mid to late 50s. This set contains 5 CDs, covering 43 of Coltrane’s most popular and notable tracks as a sideman, alongside leaders like Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Red Garland, Tadd Dameron and others. The set is now available in stores and online today, October 6th, 2009.

Read All Your Jazz review of this box set

The John Coltrane Series

Over the past three years, Prestige Records has released boxed sets of Coltrane’s numerous sessions from the mid- to late ’50s, each spotlighting a specific dimension of his tenure with the label. Fearless Leader – released in September 2006, in celebration of Coltrane’s 80th birthday – showcases his recordings as a bandleader. Interplay, released in September 2007, contains Coltrane’s early collaborative recordings with a variety of stellar musicians from the same era.

Side Steps is the third and final set in this series. The 5-CD set captures Coltrane in a supporting role, as a sideman to leaders like Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Red Garland, Tadd Dameron and others. The collection of 43 tracks represents the entirety of Coltrane’s session work as a Prestige sideman, from mid-1956 to early 1958, with the exception of his work with Miles Davis (which is featured in The Miles Davis Quintet: Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions, released in 2006).

In short, Prestige was the place where Coltrane cut his teeth. Nick Phillips – co-producer of the boxed set and Vice President of Jazz and Catalog A&R for Concord Music Group (Prestige’s parent company) – says the following:

“This is where he was really gaining his experience. You can hear him developing his
individual voice in these recordings, already sounding like no one else but John Coltrane,
yet not having fully developed into the John Coltrane who would become one of the
most important and influential artists in the history of jazz.”

Download A Sample From Brian Setzer’s New Upcoming Album: “Songs From Lonely Avenue”

jazzman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:33:43 +0000

Jazz and swing aficionado Brian Setzer takes a walk on the dark side with his new film noir inspired album Songs From Lonely Avenue, set to release October 13th, 2009 on Surfdog Records.

Featured Tracks:
1. “Trouble Train” (Download)
2. “Lonely Avenue” (Download)

The Album:

With a propulsive rhythm, an ominous minor key, wickedly good instrumental solos and the familiar character of the Devil up to his old tricks, opening track “Trouble Train” sets the mood for the whole album (with echoes of that other great song about Lucifer, Charlie Daniels’ “Devil Went Down to Georgia”). Throughout the rest of the album, thugs prowl the street, young couples dance the night away in New York, hearts are broken, and lives are taken, all over pitch-perfect melodies and arrangements.

Comprising ten vocal tracks and three instrumentals, Songs From Lonely Avenue marks the first time Setzer has written every track on an album. With all the scope of a Raymond Chandler novel or an Orson Welles film, it’s his most ambitious project to date.

And as he did on 2007’s Wolfgang’s Big Night Out, Setzer recruited 87-year-old Frank Comstock, one of the most important and inventive arrangers of instrumental music of the last century, to score the horn arrangements. Comstock wrote music for many of the era’s top artists, including Doris Day, Sonny Dunham, Benny Carter and Judy Garland (not to mention the “Rocky & Bullwinkle” theme!).

Artist Info:

Furthermore, the “New King Of Jingle Bell Rock” (Billboard) Brian Setzer and his 18-piece big band will kick off their seventh Christmas Extravaganza 27-date tour on November 20th in Detroit. This fall, Surfdog Records will re-release Setzer’s hugely successful collection of yuletide music: Christmas Rocks as well as the The Ultimate Christmas Collection CD and DVD combination- songs that have become part of the holiday tradition for millions over the last several years.

From launching the rockabilly revolution with the Stray Cats to pioneering the swing revival with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, this Long Island-born innovator has earned his unique place in modern music by walking the line between conceptual discipline and balls-out rockin’. Setzer won three Grammy Awards (two for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “Sleepwalk” from The Dirty Boogie in 1998 and “Caravan” from Vavoom! in 2000, plus one for Best Pop Performance with “Jump, Jive an’ Wail,” also from The Dirty Boogie) by targeting that place where wild energy and visionary imagination intersect.

“Jazz Inside NY Magazine” Offering Complimentary Download Of Their August Issue

drumminfabe — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:43:24 +0000

A popular magazine and reliable source for jazz in New York, Jazz Inside NY Magazine is offering a complimentary download of their August 2009 issue. It is 80 pages of full-color news and updates – available with just one click of the mouse. This issue features John Patitucci on the cover and an in-depth interview.

Download by going to http://www.jazzinsidemagazine.com and clicking on the cover image of John Patitucci on the left.

August 2009 Issue Details:

The August issue of Jazz Inside NY Magazine also highlights the Bass Lovers Celebration, Summer Jazz Festivals, and the Jazz Education Sourcebook & Program Guide, Part 1. Bassists featured include Todd Coolman, Richie Goods, Cameron Brown, Esperanza Spalding, Joris Teepe, Bill Moring, Leonardo Cioglia, Vicente Archer, Carlos Henriquez.

The CD Spotlight section features reviews of new recordings, and the Venue Spotlight focuses on Cleopatra’s Needle. There are also performance reviews of John Pizzarelli, plus articles by jazz legends such as Ira Gitler and others. Comprehensive monthly calendar and event listings for the number one jazz market in the world – New York – span 16 pages. Jazz Inside NY Magazine is also available in print, FREE at 200 locations around the New York metro area.

For information about advertising, and about both free website hosting for industry participants, and how to easily increase your online presence with marketing tools at the website, contact Eric nemeyer, eric@jazzinsidemagazine.com, 215-887-8880.

JazzTimes Magazine To Continue Under Ownership Of Madavor Media

jazzman — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:43:18 +0000

With the mainstream media swamped with stories of print magazines folding, the story of the re-launch of JazzTimes Magazine under new ownership by Madavor Media is a positive tale of determination and vision. On July 10th, 2009, Madavor Media, a market-leading enthusiast publishing and trade-show group based in Boston, acquired the JazzTimes brand and effective immediately will resume publishing the influential music magazine and its Web site jazztimes.com.

Background:

JazzTimes was founded in 1970 by Washington, D.C. based record store owner Ira Sabin, who started the publication as a newsletter for his store, eventually changing its name from Radio Free Jazz to JazzTimes. The list of contributors to the magazine during its nearly 40-year history reads like a Who’s Who of modern jazz journalism – including Leonard Feather, Stanley Dance, Martin Williams, Ira Gitler, Dan Morgenstern, Stanley Crouch, Nat Hentoff, Gary Giddins, Amiri Baraka, Harvey Pekar, Nate Chinen and Ashley Kahn. The publication has won numerous awards for its content and design, and the All-Music Guide
has called JazzTimes “arguably the number-one jazz magazine in the world.”

What’s In Store:

Current Editor-in-Chief Lee Mergner and Managing Editor Evan Haga will remain with the publication to maintain continuity and connection within the jazz community. “For Evan and I, this is a great opportunity to reinvent the magazine in the face of so many interesting challenges,” says Mergner. “And we look forward to the synergy with the other titles in the Madavor stable of publications.” Jeff Sabin and Eric Adams will continue as the magazine’s advertising-account representatives.

The next issue will feature a cover story on saxophonist Joe Lovano, as well as a piece by investigative reporter Marc Hopkins on the effect of the current economic climate on jazz festivals. The first issue bearing the real imprint of Madavor will be the September issue, which spotlights jazz guitar including stories on John Scofield, Nels Cline and George Benson, plus lots more. JazzTimes also publishes an annual Jazz Education Guide, filled with valuable information and material for students, parents, and educators.

About Madavor Media:

Madavor Media publishes other titles and manages trade shows that are number one in their respective fields in the sports and enthusiast markets. Through its print and digital magazines, trade shows, websites, e-mail newsletters, and other partnerships across the publishing industry, Madavor offers unique ways to communicate with passionate consumers who are eager to learn more about products and events that support their interests.

Jazz Pianist Joel Holmes Releases New Album “African Skies”

jazzman — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:54:31 +0000

African Skies is the electric sophomore release from jazz piano prodigy Joel Holmes. Mr. Holmes has been lighting up the Eastern United States for years and has recently been touring the world with Grammy-nominee Nnenna Freelon. Somewhere in between touring and earning his jazz performance degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins, Mr. Holmes managed to create ten of the most inspirational songs you are likely to hear this year.

African Skies

African Skies opens with the dynamic title track. The hot Latin rhythms are distinct and the saxophone interpretations of the world-renowned Gary Thomas is breath taking. The interplay between Cuban percussion phenomenon Melena and Mr. Thomas is as rich as it is haunting. Likewise, Mr. Holmes’s piano solo is riveting. He takes the original melodic theme and takes the listener on a roller coaster ride as the passion of this band explodes. This is an unforgettable song.

Joel Holmes is the right artist that has created the right album at the right time. African Skies is a plush adventure of styles, genres and cultures. From the African continent to Cuba to the Far East…from contemporary jazz to fusion to R&B Joel Holmes takes his listeners on a global sonic journey that is not to be missed.

More Artist & Album Information

Album Information:
Artist: Joel Holmes
Album: African Skies
Label: Blue Canoe Records
Release Date: March 23, 2009

Listing Of Jazz Magazines: A great way to keep up to date with jazz

jazzman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:31:18 +0000

All Your Jazz has put together a short list of great jazz magazines for you. While most of your latest jazz news and events can be found online, there are always new things to find. Some magazines include exclusive interviews while others offer sample music from select artists. If you are fan, performer, or just listener of jazz, this list of great magazines will help you keep up to date with jazz.

Crescendo & Jazz Music
This magazine features articles on famous crescendo and jazz artists, album reviews, video reviews, information on jazz festivals, band competitions, tributes, saxophones, pictures, and even some music to read and play.
($45/year – 4 issues)

Down Beat

In the 1930s, before any important book on jazz had yet been written, Down Beat collected the first important body of pre-1935 jazz history. It became a monthly, then semi-monthly, a diary of the swing era as it happened, then tracked the progression of bop, pop, rock, freedom, fusion, and nineties neoclassicism, all from the perspective of the musician. This magazine is edicated to jazz and blues musicians, fans, and audiophiles. Focuses on roots-oriented music and includes artists profiles, record reviews, and arranging tips.
($27/year – 12 issues)

JAZZIZ Magazine

This award-winning magazine gives you the lowdown each month on what’s hot (and what’s not) in jazz with insightful editorial, CD reviews, and inspired photography, art and design. Each issue of this magazine comes with Ttwo limited edition CDs, called “Jazziz on Disc”, that let you listen to music featured in the magazine at home, in the car, at work or on the go. “Jazziz on Disc” is a beautifully packaged 2 CD set filled with classic, new and exclusive music not available anywhere else. A subscription includes a quarterly print magazine, a monthly “page-flip” interactive magazine, daily and weekly updates, 10 CDs, news, events, videos, radio and more.
($60/year – 4 issues)

Jazz Review

An information site for Jazz Review Magazine, Britain’s most informative, indispensable, stylish and authoritative jazz magazine, packed with exclusive interviews with the leading figures in the music, compelling historical overviews which will enlighten beginners and experts alike, and a massive and up-to-the-minute reviews section where our team of critics audition everything that’s new on CD and give readers the definitive lowdown on what’s worth hearing – and what isn’t.
(Online – FREE)

Jazz Times

This one provides comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the international jazz scene. In addition to insightful profiles of emerging and established stars, every issue contains over 100 reviews of the latest CDs, books, videos and performances. Reviews and promotes jazz in all its varieties. Each subscription also includes their Annual Jazz Education Guide, which gives you listings of the top college jazz and music industry programs around the world
($24/year – 10 issues)

Have we left one out? Let us know!

Point of Departure: Great online journal and source for jazz

Mike — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:24:54 +0000

Point of Departure was the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Award Nominee for Best Website Concentrating on Jazz for 2006 and 2007. There are great articles, photo essays, round table discussions, and CD reviews in this online Jazz journal published by Bill Shoemaker.

The design is clean and the writing is intelligent. The emphasis is on Free Jazz and the Avant-Garde, rather than mainstream popular jazz. Actually, I think that anyone who is interested in Jazz as high-art rather than just cocktail enhancement will find Point of Departure interesting.

Issue 23 (June 9th, 2009) features excerpts from:

(1) Workout: The Music of Hank Mobley by Derek Ansell (Northway Publications; London)
and The Jazz Composer: Moving music off the paper by Graham Collier (Northway Publications; London).

(2) A new column: Kevin Patton’s Future Shock

(3) Photographs by Gérard Rouy, Laurence Svirchev and Michael Wilderman.

(4) Recently reviewed albums

No registration or subscription necessary. Just log on to www.pointofdeparture.org and enjoy. Interested to hear people’s thoughts about this journal.

Kurt Elling To Release New Album – Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman

jazzman — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:00:17 +0000

On June 23rd, 2009, Grammy nominated and critically-acclaimed vocalist Kurt Elling will release Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman, his eighth overall album and second release on Concord Jazz. The live collection was recorded in January 2009 in Manhattan as part of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. The 12-track release features an all-star cast of musicians including saxophonist Ernie Watts, the Laurence Hobgood Trio and the string quartet, Ethel.

All Your Jazz Review of This Album

Track List:

1. All Or Nothing At All
2. It’s Easy To Remember
3. Dedicated To You
4. What’s New (instrumental)
5. Lush Life
6. Autumn Serenade
7. Say It (Over And Over Again)
8. They Say It’s Wonderful
9. My One And Only Love
10. Nancy With The Laughing Face
11. Acknowledgements
12. You Are Too Beautiful

Streaming Tracks from Album:

(1) “Say It”
– Quicktime
– Windows Media

(2) “Dedicated To You”
– Quicktime
– Windows Media

Video:

Kurt Elling | Dedicated To You EPK from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Concord Music Group To Release Tonny Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings

jazzman — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 06:05:51 +0000

Artists: Tonny Bennett, Bill Evans
Album: The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings
Label: Concord Music Group
Release Date: April 14th, 2009

Popular music’s top song stylist Tony Bennett joined together with the legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans for two albums of sublime duets recorded in 1975 and 1976. Venerated as gorgeous gems of jazz grace, the two LPs along with numerous alternate takes and bonus tracks are combined on the 2-CD The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Recordings, released on the Concord Music Group Fantasy Records imprint on April 14.

Disc 1 combines the originally issued recordings, “The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album” & “Together Again,” with two bonus tracks; Disc 2 features alternate takes from both sessions.

The first meeting of the vocalist and pianist, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album , featured the pair performing standards, as well as am oving rendition of Evan’s classic tune, “Waltz For Debby.” Other standards include “But Beautiful,” “The Days Of Wine And Roses,” and “Young And Foolish.”

This established the Bennett-Evans chemistry, with the two having plenty of room to make their own personal statements. In 1976, the pair returned to the studio for Together Again, opening with Evan’s solo rendition of “The Bad And The Beautiful,” and continuing with moving renditions of “Lucky To Be Me” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

Reflecting back, Bennett remains especially proud of these sessions with Bill Evans, citing them as the most satisfying projects of his long career. Nick Phillips produced the remaster complication with new liner notes by Will Friedwald.

- More album information at On Target Media Group.
- For artist information, please visit Concord’s Site.

Cassandra Wilson To Release “Closer To You: The Pop Side”: Scheduled to come out April 7th

jazzman — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:13:10 +0000

Artist: Cassandra Wilson
Album: Closer To You: The Pop Side
Label: Blue Note / EMI
Release Date: April 7th, 2009

Grammy-award winning jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson will release Closer To You: The Pop Side on April 7th via Blue Note / EMI.

- 2 Grammy Awards, including a February 2009 win for Best Jazz Vocal Album
- New collection of Wilson’s best covers of pop / rock hits
- Artists include U2, Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, The Band, Sting, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Cyndi Lauper and The Wallflowers
- With an unmistakable honeyed husky voice, she has a fan base across jazz, blues, R&B, country and pop

With her unmistakably rich voice, Wilson has made intimate and personal statements with jazz, blues, R&B, country and pop. Her new release, Closer To You: The Pop Side, is a new collection of Wilson’s best covers of pop / rock hits. The tracks were originally recorded by a who’s-who of top musicians, including U2, Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, The Band, Sting, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Cyndi Lauper, and The Wallflowers. The Album celebrates the finest pop covers from Wilson’s seven albusm recorded wtih Blue NOte during her lengthy tenure with the legendary label.

Wilson won her second Grammy Award in February, earning the Best Jazz Vocal Album honors for Loverly, her critically acclaimed 2008 Blue NOte release. Blue Note Records is celebrating its 70th Anniversary as the world’s premier and longest-running jazz label with special commemorative releases and events throughout 2009.

Track List:

1. Love Is Blindness (U2)
2. Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)
3. Fragile (Sting)
4. Closer To You (The Wallflowers)
5. Last Train To Clarksville (The Monkees)
6. The Weight (The Band)
7. Tupelo Honey (Van Morrison)
8. Harvest Moon (Neil Young)
9. I Can’t Stand The Rain (Ann Peebles)
10. Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan)
11. Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell)

- For listening samples for her upcoming release, please visit On Target Media Group.
- For artist information, please visit Cassandra Wilson’s official site.
- During the week of the release, AOL will be streaming the album in its entirety. We will have a link for that soon, so be sure to follow up with us.