King of the blues

Through his agile fingers, still soft despite decades of making love to the taut strings of his guitar, B.B. King becomes immersed in his music.

[Click on the title bar to read the entire article at cnn.com]

Suspected file-swappers arrested in raid

Authorities raided several locations in The Netherlands on Wednesday as part of an operation initiated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and arrested three people on suspicion of computer file-sharing, the Finance Ministry said. More computers were seized on Wednesday in Australia, Israel, Germany, South-Korea, Norway, France, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Poland, Canada and Hungary, said a spokeswoman for the ministry, which is responsible for preventing economic crime.

[Click on the titlebar to read the entire story at cnn.com]

Upcoming Jazz Releases - 6/28/05

Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra - Una Noche Inolvidable (Palmetto)
Al Donahue & His Orchestra - Best Of (Collectables) - Reissue
Bill Charlap - Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul (Blue Note)
Bob Berg - Remembering Bob Berg (Savoy) - Reissue
Dave Valentin - World on a String (High Note)
David Fathead Newman - Fire! Live At The Village Vanguard (Collectables) - Reissue
Debbie Davies - All I Found (Telarc)
Duke Ellington - Essential (Legacy) - Reissue
Enrico Rava - Full of Life (CAM Jazz)
Ernest Ranglin - Surfin' (Telarc)
Fidel Morales - Salsa Son Timba (Fonosound)
Flora Purim - Flora's Song (Narada)
Frank Mantooth - Ladies Sing for Lovers (MCG Jazz)
Frank Morgan - Raising the Standard (High Note)
Gebhard Ullman - Bass x3 (The Orchard)
George Gershwin - George Gershwin (Pure Gold) - Reissue - Boxed Set
George Winston - Seasons Piano Solos (Windham Hill) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Glenn Miller - Essential (Bluebird RCA) - Reissue
Gradie Stone - Gradie Stone Live (The Orchard)
Hanne Hukkelberg - Little zThings (Leaf)
Hipnosis - Carrousel (Groove Attack)
James Carter - Out of Nowhere (Half Note)
Jesse Mcreynolds - A Tribute to Brother Duets (Pinecastle)
John Stevens - Red (Maverick)
John Tchicai/Garrison Fewell/Tino Tracanna Quintet - Big Chief Dreaming (Soul Note)
Kevin Lettau - Bye Bye Blackbird (MCG Jazz)
La Dolce Vita - Tommaso-Rava Quartet (CamJazz) - Reissue
Lee Ritenour - Overtime (Red) - DVD-Video
Leonard Bernstein - Leonard Bernstein (Pure Gold) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Lionel Hampton - Jazz Legend: King of the Vibes (Hudson Music) - DVD-Video
Niacin - Live in Tokyo (Red) - DVD-Video
Rachel Z - Grace (Chesky)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Return of the 5000 lb Man (Collectables) - Reissue
Rhoda Scott - Encore Encore Encore (Sunnyside)
Richard Elliott - Metro Blue (Artizen)
Rita Coolidge - And So Is Love (Concord)
Sean Jones - Gemini (Mack Avenue)
Seva - Seva (Mushroom)
Sonny Stitt - Just The Way It Really Was: Live At The Left Bank (Sin-Drome) - Reissue
Stuff - Live In New York/More Stuff (Collectables) - Reissue
Terry Gibbs - Fellin' Good: Live in the Studio (Mack Avenue)
Tommaso-Rava Quartet - La Dolce Vita (Sunnyside)
Various - Strings And Things: The Best In Bluegrass Vol 1 (Dualtone) - Reissue
Various Artists - Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse: A tribute to Mahavishnu Orchestra (Tone Center)
Will Calhoun - Native Lands (Half Note) - 2+ CDs
Yvonne Sanchez - Invitartion (Cube Bohemia)

Release information from allaboutjazz.com

File-sharing services can be liable for music theft

Internet file-sharing services will be held responsible if they intend for their customers to use software primarily to swap songs and movies illegally, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, rejecting warnings that the lawsuits will stunt growth of cool tech gadgets such as the next iPod. The unanimous decision sends the case back to lower court, which had ruled in favor of file-sharing services Grokster Ltd. and StreamCast Networks Inc. on the grounds that the companies couldn't be sued. The justices said there was enough evidence of unlawful intent for the case to go to trial. [Click on article title to read the entire story at CNN]

Smooth Jazz Top Ten

Nils “Pacific Coast Highway” (Baja/TSR)
Michael Lington “Two Of A Kind” (Rendezvous)
Steve Cole “Thursday” (Narada Jazz)
Paul Taylor “Nightlife” (Peak)
Richard Elliot “People Make The World Go Round” (Artizen)
Chuck Loeb “Tropical” (Shanachie)
Euge Groove “XXL” (Narada Jazz)
Kenny G. f/Earth, Wind & Fire “The Way You Move” (Arista/RMG)
Boney James f/Joe Sample “Stone Groove” (Warner Bros.)
Norman Brown “West Coast Coolin'” (Warner Bros.)

[Click title to view entire list at radioandrecords.com]

John Scofield - 'That's What I Say'

As soon as he died, Ray Charles was everywhere: Alicia Keys conjured him at the Super Bowl, his final recording pulled down a Grammy and Jamie Foxx portrayed him in an Academy-smooched biopic. This may be more Charles than anyone can reasonably be expected to handle, but guitarist John Scofield is betting that we want a little more, giving the famous singer a well-meaning if ungainly send-off with That's What I Say.
Scofield's last CD was the brainy, contoured live album EnRoute. That's What I Say aims to please, and it has none of its predecessor's focus. Instead, Scofield enlists a small army of special guests and tries out a new concept on nearly every song. "What'd I Say" sags under the weight of multiple guest vocalists. In contrast, Mavis Staples' vocal feature, "I Can't Stop Loving You," cuts out the flab and delivers a classic R&B sound. Then pop rocker John Mayer turns up for "I Don't Need No Doctor," making Ray Charles sound a lot like John Mayer (which was probably the point).

Scofield's kitchen-sink methodology extends even to the instrumentals. One moment it's the brassy big-band swing on "Hit the Road Jack," the next it's modernized electro-jazz on "Unchain My Heart (Part 1)." Quality varies wildly on this disc, but Scofield sounds out of place and constricted throughout. He may be having fun, but the material doesn't play to his considerable strengths.

-Aaron Steinberg jazztimes.com

Upcoming Jazz Releases - 6/21/05

13th Floor Elevators - Psychedelic World Of (Snapper) - Reissue - Boxed Set
21st Century Schizoid Band - Live in Japan (Dark Peak) - DVD-Video
Al Hirt - King of Bourbon Street (Tomato) - Reissue
Albert Ayler - Bells / Prophecy (ESP) - Reissue
Allman Brothers - Chronicles (Universal) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Andre Delano - Full Circle (33rd Street)
Anthony Braxton - Ninetet 1997 3 (Leo) - Reissue
BB King - Chronicles: Live At The Regal/Blues Is King/Live In Cook County Jail (MCA) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Ben Light & His Lightning Fingers - Speed of Light (Jasmine) - Reissue
Ben Light and his Lightning Fingers - Speed of Light (Jasmine)
Ben Webster - Blue Skies (Fruit Tree) - Reissue
Bessie Smith - Greatest Hits (Fabulous) - Reissue
Big Neighborhood - Neighbors (Origin)
Bill Bruford's Earthworks - Dig? (Summerfold)
Bill Hollman - Bill Hollman Band Live (Jazzed Media)
Billie Holiday - Jukebox Hits 1935-46 (Acrobat) - Reissue
Billy Eckstine - Jukebox Hits 1943-53 (Acrobat) - Reissue
Bob Brookmeyer - Bob Borrkmeyer Quartet (Passport)
Born 2Wice - Boss Playboy (Bigga Ent)
Brother Bones & His Shadows - Globetrottin' With Bones (Acrobat)
Cal Tjader - Solar Heat (Passport) - Reissue
Carmen McRae - Live at Montreux (Acrobat) - Reissue
Cato Salsa Experience with Joe McPhee - Sounds Like a Sandwich (Smalltowns)
Chicago Blues Reunion - Buried Alive in the Blues (Koch)
Cintron - Back in the Day (ARK 21)
Cinzia Spata - 93-03 (Azzurra Music)
Claude Bolling - Drum is a Woman by Ellington (Fremaux)
Cole / Jeffries - Cole Everybody Knows/The Best Year Of My Life (Audiophile) - Reissue
Count Basie - The Basie Boogie: Classic 'Live' Recordings From The Big Band Era (Sounds of Yesteryear) - Reissue
Cracow Klezmer Band - Plays John Zom Sanatorium (Koch)
Dave Stryker - Big City (Mel Bay)
David Pack - Secret of Moving (UMVD)
Denise Donatelli - In the Company of Friends (Jazzed Media)
Different Strokes - Different Strokes (Synergy)
Dizzy Gillespie - TTown Hall NYC June 22 1945 (Uptown Jazz) - Reissue
DJ Cam - Fillet of Soul (7-Live)
Django Pearl - Chasing Shadows (MDH)
Django Reinhardt - Very Best Of 1934-39 (Master Classics) - Reissue
Doug Markley - Connected (The Orchard)
Down to the Bone - Spread Love Like Wildfire (Narada)
Earl Klugh - Earl Klugh (Blue Note) - Reissue
Earl Klugh - Living Inside Your Love (Blue Note) - Reissue
Ella Fitzgerald - Best Of (Masters Classics) - Reissue
Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard/There's One In Every Crowd/E.C. Was Here (Polydor) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Ernesto - New Blues (Exceptional)
Frank Wright - The Complete ESP Disk Recordings (ESP) - Reissue - 2+ CDs
Glenn Miller - Mainly Melodies (Sounds of Yesteryear) - Reissue
Great Jazz Trio - At The Village Vanguard 2 (Test of Time) - Reissue
Harry James - Remember (Sounds of Yesteryear) - Reissue
Irazu Big Band - Soy La Mulata (Universal Music Latino)
J.P. Torres - Life in Music (Universal Latino)
Jay McShann - Solos & Duets (Sackville) - Reissue
Jelly Roll Morton - Wild Man Blues (Fruittree) - Reissue
John Lee Hooker - Bluesman (Fuel 2000) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Johnny Cash - His Sun Years (Snapper) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Justice on a Budget - Justice on a Budget (NCM East)
Kansas City Jazz - Kansas City Jazz (Fremaux)
Kevin Toney - 100 Degrees and Rising (Shanachie)
Lenny Breau - Swingin' on a Seven-String (Art of Life)
Louis Jordan & His Tympani Five - Jukebox HIts 1942-47 (Acrobat) - Reissue
Louis Jordan & His Tympani Five - Jukebox HIts 1947-51 (Acrobat) - Reissue
Luigi Archetti - Low Tide Digitals 2 (Rune Gramofon)
Manhattan Transfer - Live 1978 (Wounded Bird) - Reissue
Mark Weinstein - Algo Mas (Jazzheads)
Marty Grosz - Chasin the Spotds (Jump Records)
Marvin Gaye - Chronicles: What's Going On/Let's Get It On/I Want You (Motown) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Masada/John Zorn - Sanhedrin (Tzadik) - 2+ CDs
Maynard Ferguson - M.F. Horn (Wounded Bird) - Reissue
Maynard Ferguson - Maynard Ferguson (Wounded Bird) - Reissue
Me'Shell Ndegocello - Dance of the Infidels (Kich)
Meade Lux Lewis - Gliding from Glendale to Chicago (Jasmine) - Reissue
Michelle Shocked - Threesome (Mighty Sound) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Miles Davis - From Bop to Cool (Master Classics) - Reissue
New York Electric Piano - Citizen Zen (Artist One Stop)
Newton / Scheyder / Tarasov - Artesian Spirits (Leo) - Reissue
Paris Combo - Attraction (DRG) - Reissue - Book
Paris Combo - Live (DRG) - Reissue - Book
Patricia Barber - Verse (Mobile Fidelity)
Pearl Django - Chasing Shadows (Modern Hot) - Reissue
Perry Bradford - I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle (Frog UK)
Phil Ranelin - Close Encounter of the Very Best Kind (Rhombus)
Rebecca Kilgore - Music of Jimmy Van Heusen (Jump)
Rolling Stones - As It Happened (USD) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Roni Ben-Hur - Signature (Reservoir)
Ronnie Laws - Every Generation (Blue Note) - Reissue
Scott Joplin - Rags to Riches: The Essential Hits (Intersound) - Reissue
Skip James - Hardtime Killing Floor Blues (Yazoo) - Reissue
Socket - January 14-15, 2005 (Amulet)
Stephane Grappelli - Violin Jazz Master (Tomato) - Reissue
Steve Lacy - One More Time (Leo) - Reissue
Sun Ra - Nothing Is... (ESP) - Reissue
Sweeter Than the Day - Live Seattle Wa 12-04 (Kufala)
Tania Maria - Happiness (REC) - Reissue - 2+ CDs
Tania Marie - Happiness (Recall) - 2+ CDs
Tasset & Naturel - Fillet of Soul: Opus 2 (Seven Islands)
The Beatles - As It Happened (USD) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Tom McFarland - Travelin with the Blues (Koch)
Twelve 20 Six - Twelve 20 Six (NCM East)
Various - Blues with a Message (Arhoolie) - Reissue
Various - Phonograph Entertains (Peakland) - Reissue
Various - Tha' Hot Club: In The VIP Room (Shanachie) - Reissue
Various - Hamhocks and Cornbread (JSP) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Various - Kansas CIty Jazz (Fremeaux) - Reissue
Various - My Twilight Blues (Peng) - Reissue
Various - Heaven Must Have Sent You: The Holland/Dozier/Holland Story (Hip-O) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Yehudit - Different Strokes...Live (Synergy)

Information provided by allaboutjazz.com

The Rippingtons 'Wild Card'

...After maybe a dozen listens there still isn't anything that stands out. Trying to dig under the surface for some deeper musical thought process is also largely unsuccessful—and far more effort than most Rippingtons listeners will or should make. At best, it's inoffensive; at worst, like the vocal pop fluff of “Till You Come Back To Me,” the cloying is enough that even loyalists may skip ahead...
By Mark Sabbatini [allaboutjazz.com]
Ed. note: But Mark, how do you really feel about it ?

The Musical Genre That Will Save the World - Plus, you can fold laundry to it.

"What [chill] does is what the name is," Botti says. "It's chill music—it makes you relax like you've never been relaxed before. It puts you in, like, this transported, altered state of sensuality and coolness and hipness. ... I definitely think chill music is the next evolution for not only smooth jazz but for our society in general."
[slate.msn.com]

Ed. note: I guess Chris was in like an altered state when he said that :-)

Upcoming Jazz Releases - 6/7/05

Ahmad Jamal - After Fajr (Koch)
Anthony James Baker - Anthony James Baker (Indie)
Bill Bruford - Bruford Tapes (Winterfold) - Reissue
Bill Holman Band - Live (Jazzed Media)
Billy Martin & Socket - January 14-15 2005 (Amulet)
Bing Crosby - America's Favorite Entertainer (American Legends) - Reissue
Blind Blake - Wizard (Universe) - Reissue
Bob Brookmeyer - The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet (Koch)
Bob Marley - Soul Revolutionaries: The Early Jamaican Albums (Trojan) - Reissue - Boxed Set
Buck Clayton - From New York to Paris (EPM) - Reissue
Buckwheat Zydeco - Jackpoy (Tomorrow)
Buddy Greco - Big Band & Ballads/Buddy's In A Brand New Bag/Away We Go (Collectables) - Reissue - 2+ CDs
Cal Tjader - Solar Heat (Passport) - Reissue
Candye Kane - White Trash Girl (Ruf)
Cannonball Adderley - Cannonball in Europe (Blue Note) - Reissue
Charlie Mingus Big Band - I Am Three (Sunnyside)
Christian Wallumrod Ensemble - A Year From Easter (ECM)
Corey Harris - Daily Bread (Rounder)
Count Basie - Start of a Jazz Legend, vol 1 (EPM) - Reissue
Darren Rahn - Once in a Lifetime (Side 2)
Darren Rahn - Soulful (Side 2)
Denise Donatelli - In the Company of Friends (Jazz Media)
Denny Zeitlin - Solo Voyage (Maxjazz)
Dexter Gordon - Dexter Digs In (Savoy) - Reissue
Dizzy Gillespie - Gettin' Dizzy... (Savoy) - Reissue
Duke Ellington - The Sophisticated Genius (American Legends) - Reissue
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Ella & Louis for Lovers (Verve) - Reissue
George Shearing - As Requested (Koch) - Reissue
George Shearing Quartet No. 2 - Gas (Koch) - Reissue
Gerald Smith - You Play Like Chet (Hit Happens)
Gregg Kofi Brown/Sting - Together as One (Nicolosi)
Griffiths/Uitti - There Is Still Time (ECM)
Harry James - The Jazz Sides: 1937-74 (Jazz Legends) - Reissue
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Going Places (Shout! Factory) - Reissue
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - SRO (Shout! Factory) - Reissue
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - What Now My Love (Shout! Factory) - Reissue
Herb Miller Orchestra - Music of Glenn Miller (Prism)
Herbie Hancock - Herbie Hancock (Platnium) - Reissue
Irazu Big Band - Soy La Mulata (Universal Latino)
Jackson Browne - Running on Empty (Rhino) - Reissue
Jazz Crusaders - Festival Album (Blue Note) - Reissue
Jeri Southern - When I Fall in Love (ASV)
Jimmy Smith - Walk, Dont Run! (Blue Note) - Reissue
Jo Ann Daugherty - Range of Motion (Blujazz)
John Coltrane - More Coltrane for Lovers (Verve) - Reissue
John Goldman - In Walked Pierre (Blujazz)
John Kirby - Night Whispers: 1938-1946 (Jazz Legends) - Reissue
John Scofield - That's What I Say (Verve)
June Christy - Ballads for Night People (Blue Note) - Reissue
Lannie Garret - Under Paris Skies (Indie) - Reissue
Lee Ritenour - Overtime (Peak)
Les Paul - The Best Of The Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition (Capitol / EMI) - Reissue
Lightnin Hopkins - Bluesman: The Collectors Edition (Fuel 2000) - Reissue
Louis Armstrong - The Complete Hot Five & Seven Recordings (EPM) - Reissue
Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald - Ella & Louis for Lovers (Verve) - Reissue
Mark Dresser - Time Changes (Cryptogramophone)
Marlon Jordan - You Don't Know What Love Is (Lousiana Red Hot)
Mel Torme With The Chris Gunning Orchestra - Mel Torme With The Chris Gunning Orchestra (Passport) - Reissue
Melvin Sparks - This Is It! (Savant)
Michael Galasso - High Lines (ECM)
Miles Davis - Round About Midnight: Legacy Edition (Legacy) - Reissue
Mingus Big Band - I Am Three (Sunnyside)
Monty Alexander - Solo (Kingston) - Reissue
Moodorama - Mistery in a Cup of Tea (Steamhammer)
Mulgrew Miller - Live at Yoshi's, vol 2 (Max Jazz)
Pat Martino - The Incrdiable Pat Martino (Savoy) - Reissue
Paul Anka - Rock Swings (Verve)
Philip Chaffin - Warm Spring Night (PS Classics)
Ralph Stanley - Shine On (Rebel) - Reissue
Ray Brown - Moonlight Serenade (Kingston) - Reissue
Ray Brown - Summer Wind (Kingston) - Reissue
Ray Marchica - In the Ring (Sons of Sound)
Red Nichols - That's a Bargain (ASV)
Rosemary Clooney - Classic Clooney (Music Mill) - Reissue
Sammy Figueroa - And Sammy Walked In (Savant)
Scott Amendola Band - Believe (Cryptogramophone)
Son Volt - A Retrospective (Rhino) - Reissue
Soul Ballet - All the Pretty Lights (215)
Stan Kenton - Viva Kenton! (Blue Note) - Reissue
Stephane Grappelli - Olympia 88 (Collectables) - Reissue
Terence Blanchard - Flow (Blue Note)
Thad Jones - Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note) - Reissue
The Billy Gibson Band - The Billy Gibson Band (Inside)
Tinsley Ellis - Live! (Alligator)
Travis Shook - Plays Kurt Weill (Dead Horse)
Trilok Gurtu - Collection (Silva) - Reissue
Under Paris Skies - Lannie Garrett (Lannie Garrett)
Various - The Art Of The Motorcycle: Songs Of The Open Road (Inside) - Reissue
Various - Period's Jazz Digest (Visionary) - Reissue
Various - Playboy's Jazz After Dark II (Playboy Jazz) - Reissue
Various Artists - Mysterious Voyages - A Tribute to Weather Report (Tone Center) - 2+ CDs
Vera Lee - 83 and Still Playing with the Boys (SDEG)
Veronica Martell - The Art of Intimacy (Koch)
Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band (Water) - Reissue
Yes - Yesspeak: 35th Anniversary Collection (Classic Pictures) - DVD-Video

Information provided by allaboutjazz.com

Lee Ritenour - 'Overtime'

The prolific Lee Ritenour has established himself as one of the world's leading jazz guitarists with a series of accessible albums spanning three decades. OverTime is amongst Ritenour's most ambitious projects. This newly recorded CD captures the music from his entire career—starting with the '70's all the way through the present—and demonstrates the versatility of this remarkable guitarist. Featuring a “who's who” in the jazz music world, this album covers four distinct areas beginning with acoustic jazz, moving into Brazilian music with the great Ivan Lins, and then finishing with highlights from both his fusion days at the famed Baked Potato as well as some of his most popular contemporary hits. Also included is a new song, “Possibilities,” featuring an extraordinary vocal from Kenya Hathaway. OverTime will stand the test of time and is destined to become a classic.

Featuring:

Lee Ritenour- Acoustic & Electric Guitars
Alex Acuña- Percussion
Anthony Jackson- Electric Bass
Barnaby Finch- Keyboards
Chris Botti- Trumpet
Dave Carpenter- Acoustic Bass
Dave Grusin- Piano, Fender Rhodes
Ernie Watts- Tenor Saxophone
Eric Marienthal- Alto & Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Grady Harrell- Vocals
Harvey Mason- Drums
Ivan Lins- Vocals, Fender Rhodes
Kenya Hathaway- Vocals
Melvin Davis- Electric Bass
Oscar Seaton- Drums
Patrice Rushen- Piano, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizers
Steve Forman-Percussion