Over the course of a career spanning more than three decades, the two-time Oscar- and Grammy Award-winner has proven himself one of the world's most gifted vocal and songwriting talents. He joins us on the Second Cup Café.
Bryson's chart-topping hits include "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" and "Can You Stop The Rain," and celebrated duets with such artists as Celine Dion ("Beauty & The Beast"), Regina Belle ("A Whole New World"), and Melissa Manchester ("Lovers After All").
Born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1951, Bryson got his start in traveling revues, and released his debut LP, "Peabo," in 1976; most of its songs he composed himself.
For "Missing You" (Peak Records), his 20th soul album, Bryson showcases the broad palette of his skills.
The album's title track, "Missing You," written by Ledisi and Sundra Manning, is an emotional tour de force for Bryson.
"When you strip away everything and are left with just a piano and what God has given you, you tell a deeper story," Peabo said. " The words for this beautiful song made me think of the two women I love the most in this world, my mother and my sister, both of whom I lost. When I sing the line 'I can't wait to see you again this side of Heaven,' it's for them. This song is for anyone that you've ever loved in a real way."
Saxophonist back in the groove with February 26th album release
The fact that the album title comes from a line from an episode of Kojak proves that saxophonist Danny Lerman knows how to have fun. He also knows retro cool when he sees it. Lerman took a page from the 1970s when recording his second album, Meow Baby, which will be released February 26th on Sugar Whiskey Records, his label distributed by Lightyear Entertainment/EMI. He adopted old school sensibilities by utilizing live musicians and having a hand in writing all the new compositions for the disc. Tal Bergman, who worked on Lerman’s debut album, produced ten songs on Meow Baby and a few tracks were produced by urban-jazz icon Norman Connors. Radio programmers are already whetting their appetite for the CD with “Gotcha!,” a deep-pocketed groove that bursts into a chorus as sweet as one of Kojak’s Tootsie Pops.
Since his last album release, Lerman traveled and performed around the world, including Turkey, Israel, Holland, South Africa, Venezuela and Mexico. He brought influences and musicians from the countries he visited into the studio when recording Meow Baby. While the tracks swing towards contemporary jazz, urban and adult pop, there are also traces of World Music, Middle Eastern, Latin and South African rhythms. The South Bend, Indiana native, who plays alto and soprano sax, recorded the majority of the collection in Los Angeles where he was joined by Randy Brecker, Hubert Laws, Howard Hewett, Paul Jackson Jr., Bobby Lyle, and Munyungo Jackson. Bergman, who played drums on records by Rod Stewart, Billy Idol, Loreena McKennitt, Herb Alpert, and Chaka Khan, was behind the kit on most of the album.
“Tal brought infectious rhythms that were both exciting and exotic. His strong rhythmic influences made the tracks spicy,” explained Lerman. “I wanted this record to be a glimpse into my world, including some of the friends that I’ve made in my travels. I put both myself and the places I’ve been into the music. There’s definitely variety on this record; you don’t know what’s coming next. I’ve found some great players from all parts of the world and they brought their unique perspective to the album.”
To help launch the album, Lerman has lined up a few concert dates in the Los Angeles area in mid-January with additional tour dates now being booked for the West Coast, Midwest and East Coast. He’s an entertaining performer who has shared concert bills with Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes, Richard Elliot, David Benoit and Eric Marienthal. When he’s off the road, Lerman occasionally performs free concerts in South Bend nursing homes. He has a gig lined up next month at the Ronald McDonald House for seriously ill children and their parents.
Lerman recently inked a pact with Conn-Selmer for saxophones, which will include sponsorship, marketing and advertising support, clinics and special events.
Making his debut with the album Danny’s Island, Lerman climbed into the top 20 on Radio & Records’ contemporary jazz chart and had a #1 single at Chicago’s top urban radio station, WGCI-FM. The cut, “Take My Breath Away,” featuring R&B vocalist Danny Boy, appears on Meow Baby as a bonus track. Additional information is available at www.dannylerman.com.
Lerman’s Meow Baby is comprised of the following songs: “Meow Baby” “Snoopy’s Dance” “Summer In a Hummer” “Saxsultan” “No Ordinary Love” “Amadeus’ Kiss” “Imagine” “Don’t GoGo There” “The First Time” “Baby Goes to Market” “No Words” “If Only” “South Beach Serenata” “You Take My Breath Away” “Gotcha!”
Herbie Hancock admits he would get so wrapped up in the music itself that he never paid any attention to the lyrics when interpreting songs, even on his Grammy-winning album "Gershwin's World." But the jazz pianist's outlook changed when he recorded an album of songs by Joni Mitchell, his old friend who shares his penchant for genre-bending musical adventures.
Hancock spent months working with co-producer Larry Klein, Mitchell's ex-husband and longtime musical partner, analyzing the lyrics and choosing the songs for his new album, "River: The Joni Letters." He even typed out the texts and discussed them with his fellow musicians before recording each track — something he had never done before in the studio......
With a remarkable career that includes the near-perfect Asylum triptych of Court and Spark (1974), The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) and Hejira (1976), it’s almost beyond reasonable expectation for Joni Mitchell to produce an album that, more than three decades later, lives up to those early classics. Still, while Shine doesn’t quite have the magic of those three releases, it’s certainly one of her best since.
It’s also an album where Mitchell admits, in the liners, to having recaptured her muse for the first time in a decade, which better explains the lack of new material, as opposed to her anti-industry rant earlier in the decade, curious mostly because it came after she’d signed with Nonesuch—one of the more reputable and boundary-free American labels—which released one of the most compelling career retrospectives ever in Travelogue (2002), where Mitchell and orchestrator Vince Mendoza brought fresh perspective to some of her best songs.
However, unlike the broad-scoped Travelogue, Shine has an almost DIY (do it yourself) feel to it. While some of the usual suspects—pedal steel guitarist Greg Liesz, bassist Larry Klein and drummer Brian Blade—show up alongside relative newcomer/saxophonist Bob Sheppard and a couple of other guests, Mitchell creates most of the album’s orchestration on her own, on guitars, piano, keyboards and, in some cases, her near-signature lush and multilayered vocals. The album opens, in fact, with “One Week Last Summer,” an instrumental where Mitchell is joined only by Sheppard and demonstrates, one suspects, lessons learned collaborating with Mendoza on Travelogue and Both Sides Now (Reprise, 2000).
Lyrically speaking, Mitchell’s pen has become sharper in recent years and somewhat more direct. While a new version of her enduring “Big Yellow Taxi” draws a clear line between the Mitchell of 1970 and today, songs like “If I Had a Heart,” “Bad Dreams” and especially “Strong and Wrong” are amongst her most acerbic. Mitchell of old combined sociopolitical commentary with more personal, autobiographical songs, but Shine is almost exclusively about the sorry state of the world she sees today.
That said, the music on Shine sometimes feels at odds—but in the best possible way—with Mitchell’s world view. “Bad Dreams” may be a cautionary tale, but one delivered with elegance and dark beauty. And while the anti-war, anti-fundamentalist sentiment of “Strong and Wrong” is unmistakable, it’s a lyrical and undeniably attractive, albeit melancholy, piece of music.
Cynics may point out a certain disconnect between the strength of Mitchell’s prose and the fact that Shine is released on Hear Music, “The Sound of Starbucks.” Still, it’s a point that can easily be forgotten on an album that proves how, muse intact; Mitchell still has what it takes to deliver compelling, timely and meaningful music.
Track listing: One Week Last Summer; This Place; If I Had a Heart; Hana; Bad Dreams; Big Yellow Taxi (2007); Night of the Iguana; Strong and Wrong; Shine; If. Personnel: Joni Mitchell: vocals, piano, guitar, keyboards, all other instrumentation; Bob Sheppard: alto sax (1), soprano sax (2, 4); Greg Liesz: pedal steel (2, 3, 5, 8, 10); Brian Blade: drums (3, 7-10); :Larry Klein: bass (3, 7, 10); Paulinho Da Costa: percussion (4); James Taylor: acoustic guitar (9).
For years the Peter White Christmas Tour has packed fans into halls and arenas coast-to-coast and year after year the question has always gone begging, “Where’s the CD?” In the spirit of the season, from your friends at the ARTizen Music Group – here ‘tis!
Peter White is an extraordinary and fluent acoustic guitarist whose skills are world-renowned. Mindi Abair is a double-edged talent with her fluid saxophone and emotive vocals. Rick Braun is a masterful trumpet/flugelhorn player whose warm tones transform the simplest melody into a work of art. They have each separately sold millions of records and their combined fans will surely appreciate this special performance of Christmas chestnuts.
In Santa’s Bag:
Little Drummer Boy The Christmas Song I Can’t Wait for Christmas Greensleeves (What Child Is This?) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas River Jingle Jangle Blues Silent Night The Best Part of Christmas Santa Claus Is Coming to Town / Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Happy Christmas / O Holy Night White Christmas
Santa’s Little Helpers:
PETER WHITE – Guitar and Vocals RICK BRAUN – Trumpet, Flugelhorn and Vocals MINDI ABAIR – Alto Sax and Vocals with Rayford Griffin – drums Nate Phillips – bass Ron Reinhardt – keyboards
New Holiday CD from Two-Time Grammy Nominated Sax Star Features Duets with Anthony Hamilton, Angie Stone, Chante Moore and More
Urban Jazz sax icon Boney James follows his Top 10 R&B and #1 Contemporary Jazz album Shine with a stirring new collection of holiday classics. The album finds James teaming up with fellow Grammy nominees Anthony Hamilton (on the holiday standard "Silent Night") and Angie Stone (on an update of the Charles Brown chestnut "Merry Christmas, Baby").
Also featured on the album are soul songstress Chanté Moore on the Eartha Kitt hit "Santa Baby" and former James collaborator, contemporary jazz trumpet sensation, Rick Braun on "The First Noel." James and Braun previously teamed up in 2000 for the album Shake It Up that topped the Contemporary Jazz charts for twelve consecutive weeks.
Christmas Present highlights James' always soulful playing, as well as his continued evolution as a multi-faceted Producer and Arranger, tackling gritty funk to neo-soul grooves, straight-up pop to straight-ahead jazz, and gospel to art rock. Says James, "I'm really proud of the way everything came out. Each track evolved as a unique soundscape. Some songs wanted to be more funky, some more traditional, and some took a path that I couldn¹t have envisioned. Ultimately, even with some of the more profound deviations from the traditional versions, the songs retain their identity. I really think it is a testament to why these songs are classics, and why their spirit shines through every year."
The album's emotional centerpiece, "Silent Night," finds James and Anthony Hamilton testifying to the songs roots with a stirring gospel reading set against only James' tenor saxophone, a Hammond B3 organ, and handclaps. If you listen closely enough, you can almost hear the church pews creak.
Other album highlights include James' gliding soprano saxophone on Vince Guaraldi's "Skating" (first made famous in "A Charlie Brown Christmas") and his hauntingly spare arrangement of Joni Mitchell's "River" that echoes the melancholy longing of her original. "I was always curious how some of my favorite holiday songs like 'Skating' and 'River' would sound on the sax," says James. "So for me, it was all about creating unique moods and framing these great melodies so that they would hopefully amplify what I feel when I hear the originals."
Perhaps the most surprising song on the album is James' "Roxy Music meets Peter Gabriel" take on "Auld Lang Syne": "This was one of those great moments where, although I was completely immersed in the song¹s creation (playing both sax and keyboards, creating the arrangement and producing the track) when I was finished, even
I was surprised by the final outcome. This arrangement for me really captured the sadness and the hope that we can all feel as one year ends and another begins."
Christmas Present is James' second holiday recording. His first, Boney's Funky Christmas, was released in 1996 and remains a consistent holiday best seller to this day. The complete track listing for Christmas Present is as follows:
1. Skating (Vince Guaraldi cover) 2. Santa Baby (featuring Chanté Moore) 3. O Tannenbaum 4. River (Joni Mitchell cover) 5. The First Noel (featuring Rick Braun) 6. Merry Christmas Baby (featuring Angie Stone) 7. My Grown Up Christmas List (David Foster cover) 8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 9. Silent Night (featuring Anthony Hamilton) 10. Auld Lang Syne
Al Di Meola - Diabolic Inventions & Seduction For Solo Guitar 1 (Inakustic GMBH ) Al DiMeola - Diabolic Inventions And Seduction For Solo Guitar (Video Music, Inc. ) Al DiMeola - Diabolic Inventions & Seduction For Solo Guitar 1 (Inakustic GMBH ) Andy Bey - Ain't Necessarily So (12th Street Records ) Anton Karas - Third Man (King ) Atlantique - Atlantique (Universal ) Atsuo Shirai - Swingin' Daddy (3D ) Bebe Winans - Cherch (Koch ) Boilermaker Jazz Band - Don't Give Up The Ship (Collectables Records ) Boilermaker Jazz Band - Burgundy Street Blues (Collectables ) Brad Turner Quartet - Small Wonder (Maximum Jazz/EMI) Brad Turner Quartet - Small Wonder (Maximum ) Brad Turner Quartet - Small Wonder (Maximum Jazz) Build An Ark - Dawn (Shaman Works ) Carmen Leggio - Carmen Leggio Quartet (Mighty Quinn ) Charlie Palmieri - Impulsos (Musical Productions Inc./MP Online ) Chiara Civello - Space Between (Universal ) Claude Williamson - Round Midnight (JVC ) Claude Williamson (Trio) - Round Midnight (JVC Victor ) Daphne - Carmin (V2 ) David Bromberg - David Bromberg (Jpn LP Sleeve) (Remastered) (Sony ) David Bromberg - David Bromberg (Sony ) David Winogrond - Pictures At An Existentialism (Wondercap ) Derek Bailey - Improvisation (Remastered) (Universal ) Dinah Washington - Birdland Broadcasts 1951 - 1952 (Giant Steps Uk ) Frank Rosolino - I Play Trombone (JVC ) French Impressionists - Fete (LTM / Boutique NL ) Georgie Fame - 20 Beat Classics (Universal ) Grace Mahya - Just The Two Of Us (Sony ) Greg Fishman - Indian Summer (3D ) Hal Mckusick (Quartet) - Hal Mckusick Quartet (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Hal Mckusick (Quartet) - Hal Mckusick Quartet (JVC Victor ) Harlem Experiment - Harlem Experiment (Ropeadope Records (USA) ) Henning Sieverts - Symmertry (Pirouet Records ) Herman Rarebell - Live 2005 (MVD ) Hiram Bullock - Give It What U Want (Wounded Bird Records ) Hitomi Nishiyama - Many Seasons (Vivid ) Jack McDuff - Heatin System (Universal ) Jane O'Brien - Jane O'Brien (ZYX Music ) Jazz Crusaders - Global Warning (CBUJ Entertainment ) Jens Lindemann - Classic Trumpet (Marquis ) Jonathan Butler - Live In South Africa (Rendezvous Entertainment ) Josh Nelson - Let It Go (Native Language ) Jun Miyake - Stolen From Strangers (Columbia ) Kankawa - Reminiscence Miles (Columbia ) Keiko Lee - In Essence (Sony ) Laura Crema - Spring Is Here (Maximum ) Leni Stern - Africa (MRI Associated Labels ) Mario Schiano - And His All Stars (Universal ) Mario Schiano & His All Stars - Mario Schiano & His All Stars (Remastered) (Universal ) Mario Schiano & His All Stars - Mario Schiano & His All Stars (Universal ) Marsha Heydt - One Night (MRI Associated Labels ) Nao Takeuchi - Rapture (3D ) Neal Hefti - Jazz Pops (Collectors' Choice ) Neal Hefti - Themes From TV's Top 12 (Collectors' Choice ) Paquito D'Rivera - Este Camino Largo (Yemaya ) Peter Cincotti - East Of Angel Town (Sire / London/Rhino ) Ramsey Lewis Trio - In Person 1960-65 1 (Rev-Ola ) Ray Martinez - Sabor Criollo (Machete Music ) Roberto Fonseca - Afro-Cuban Jazz Project (Yemaya ) Roy Hamilton - Warm Soul... Plus! (Poker ) Ruben Gonzalez - Todo Sentimiento (Yemaya ) Sam Phipps - Animal Sounds (Wondercap ) Various Artists - Jazz It Up:Drinks Dinner & Dance (ZYX Music ) Will Downing - After Tonight (Peak Records ) Wynton Marsalis - Think Of One (Wounded Bird ) Yosuke Onuma - Beautiful Day (Sony ) Yuichi Inoue - Floating Moments (3D )
Al Cohn - We Three (With Zoot Sims) (Collectables Records ) Atlantique - Atlantique (JPN LP Sleeve) (Universal ) Barney Kessel - Blues For A Playboy (Fivefour ) Bill Evans / Jimmy Knepper - Swingin Introduction (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Bill Evans / Jimmy Knepper - Swingin Introduction (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Bill Evans / Jimmy Knepper - Swingin Introduction (JVC Victor ) Booker Ervin - Book Cooks (JVC ) Booker Ervin / Zoot Sims - Book Cooks (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Booker Ervin / Zoot Sims - Book Cooks (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Booker Ervin / Zoot Sims - Book Cooks (JVC Victor ) Buddy Rich - Monster (Fivefour ) Buddy Tate - Groovin' With Tate (Prestige ) Chet Baker - Platinum (EMI Int'L ) Claude Williamson (Trio) - Round Midnight (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Count Basie - Super Cheif (Wounded Bird ) Count Basie - Super Chief (Wounded Bird Records ) Count Basie - Blues By Basie/Dance Parade (Collectables Records ) Count Bassie - Super Chief (Wounded Bird Records ) David Bromberg - David Bromberg (Remastered) (Sony ) Derek Bailey - Improvisation (JPN LP Sleeve) (Remastered) (Universal ) Derek Bailey - Improvisation (Universal ) Dexter Gordon - Gettin' Around (Blue Note) Django Reinhardt - Best (King ) Donald Byrd & Pepper Adams - Motor City Scene (JVC ) Duke Ellington - Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (Verve (USA) ) Frank Sinatra - The Cole Porter Songbook (Acrobat (USA) ) Frank Sinatra - Cole Porter Songbook (Acrobat (USA) ) George Shearing - Early Years V.2 (King ) George Shearing - Vol. 2-Early Years (King ) Georgie Fame - 20 Beat Classics (JPN LP Sleeve) (Universal ) Greg Fishman - Indian Summer (JPN LP Sleeve) (3D ) Hal Mckusick - Hal Mckusick Quartet (Virgin) Hal Mckusick (Quartet) - Hal Mckusick Quartet (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Herbie Mann - With Sam Most Quintet (JVC ) Herbie Mann / Sam Most Quintet - Herbie Mann & Sam Most Quintet (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Herbie Mann / Sam Most Quintet - Herbie Mann & Sam Most Quintet (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Herbie Mann / Sam Most Quintet - Herbie Mann & Sam Most Quintet (JVC Victor ) Herbie Nichols - Love Groom Cash Love (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Herbie Nichols - Love Groom Cash Love (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Herbie Nichols - Love Groom Cash Love (JVC Victor ) Herbie Nichols - Love Gloom Cash Love (JVC ) Hiram Bullock - Give It What U Got (Wounded Bird ) Howard Mcghee - Return of (Virgin) Howard McGhee - Return Of (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Howard McGhee - Return Of (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) J.J.Johnson / Kai Winding - K & J.J. (+7 Bonus Tracks) (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) J.J.Johnson / Kai Winding - K & J.J. (+7 Bonus Tracks) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) J.J.Johnson / Kai Winding - K & J.J. (JVC Victor ) Jack McDuff - Heatin System (JPN LP Sleeve) (Universal ) Jack McDuff - Heatin' System (Universal ) Jimmy Knepper & Bill Evans - Swinging Itroduction (JVC ) John Coltrane - Ballads (Victor) John Coltrane - Coltrane (Universal) John Coltrane - The Impulse! Albums: Vol. 1 (Verve (USA) ) John Coltrane - Africa Brass (Verve (USA) ) John Coltrane - Live At The Village Vanguard (Verve (USA) ) John Coltrane - Impulse! Albums: Vol. 1 (Verve (USA) ) Jutta Hipp - Vol. 1-At The Hickory House (EMI ) Jutta Hipp - Vol. 2-At The Hickory House (EMI ) Kai Johnson / JJ Winding - K Plus JJ (JVC ) Larry Coryell - Twin House (Wounded Bird ) Larry Coryell - Splendid (Wounded Bird ) Lee Morgan - Delightfulee (Blue Note Records (USA) ) Lou Donaldson - Gravy Train (Blue Note) Mario Schiano & His All Stars - Mario Schiano & His All Stars (JPN LP Sleeve) (Remastered) (Universal ) Miles Davis - Milestones (Not Now) Miles Davis - In A Silent Way (Columbia/L ) Miles Davis - Someday My Prince Will Come (Sony ) - SACD Miles Davis - My Funny Valentine (Sony ) - SACD Miles Davis - Four & More (Sony ) - SACD Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (Sony ) - SACD Miles Davis - On The Corner (Sony ) - SACD Miles Davis - Platinum (EMI Int'L ) Pat Metheny - Parallel Universe (Columbia ) Paul Chambers - Whims Of Chambers (EMI ) Pepper Adams / Donald Byrd - Motor City Scene (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Pepper Adams / Donald Byrd - Motor City Scene (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Pepper Adams / Donald Byrd - Motor City Scene (JVC Victor ) Sidney Bechet / Lionel Hampton - Sidney Bechet & Lionel Hampton (King ) Sonny Clark / Frank Rosolino - I Play Tronbourne (Jpn LP Sleeve) (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Sonny Clark / Frank Rosolino - I Play Tronbourne (K2 Remastered) (JVC Victor ) Sonny Clark / Frank Rosolino - I Play Tronbourne (JVC Victor ) Steve Lacy - Straws (JPN LP Sleeve) (Remastered) (Universal ) Steve Lacy - Straws (Remastered) (Universal ) Steve Lacy - Straws (Universal ) Thad Jones - Magnificent (EMI ) Wynton Marsails - J Mood (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsails - Live At Blues Alley (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsails - Majesty Of The Blues (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsails - Wynton Marsails (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsails - Blue Interlude (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsails - The Majesty Of The Blues (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsails - Wynton Marsalis (Wounded Bird Records ) Wynton Marsalis - J Mood (Wounded Bird ) Wynton Marsalis - Live At Blues Alley (Wounded Bird ) Wynton Marsalis - Majesty Of The Blues (Wounded Bird ) Wynton Marsalis - Wynton Marsalis (Wounded Bird ) Wynton Marsalis - Blue Interlude (Wounded Bird )
The CD After a busy year filled with a world tour, an epic guitar festival and a highly-anticipated autobiography, comes the ultimate career CD retrospective for the artist known as Slowhand. Complete Clapton is a 2-disc career-spanning album released by Reprise Records in stores now, arriving at the same time as Clapton, The Autobiography in bookstores nationwide. This is the first time the full breadth of Clapton's musical works is contained in one set.
Clapton's career has endured for more than 40 years, resulting in 18 Grammy Awards and he has earned the distinct honor of being the only triple inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Considered one of the world's finest guitarists, Clapton was a member of such seminal rock bands as Cream and Blind Faith, both featured on the album. He also created countless hits as part of his solo career beginning in 1970 with the release of the self-titled Eric Clapton album following through to 2005's Back Home. Complete Clapton also features songs from two co-produced albums, Riding With the King, a collaboration with iconic blues man BB King, and The Road To Escondido, a partnership with long time friend and guitar great J.J. Cale. The Book Readers hoping for sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll won't be disappointed by the legendary guitarist's autobiography. As he retraces every step of his career, from the early stints with the Yardbirds and Cream to his solo successes, Clapton also devotes copious detail to his drug and alcohol addictions, particularly how they intersected with his romantic obsession with Pattie Boyd. His relationship with the woman for whom he wrote Layla culminated in a turbulent marriage he describes as drunken forays into the unknown. But he genuinely warms to the subject of his recovery, stressing its spiritual elements and eagerly discussing the fund-raising efforts for his Crossroads clinic in Antigua. His self-reckoning is filled with modesty, especially in the form of dissatisfaction with his early successes. He professes ambivalence about the famous Clapton is God graffiti, although he admits he was grateful for the recognition from fans. At times, he sounds more like landed gentry than a rock star: bragging about his collection of contemporary art, vigorously defending his hunting and fishing as leisure activities, and extolling the virtues of his quiet country living. But both the youthful excesses and the current calm state are narrated with an engaging tone that nudges Clapton's story ahead of other rock 'n' roll memoirs.
Trumpeter Chris Botti's interpretations are thoughtful and his original compositions impressive. He’s smooth without actually being in the Smooth Jazz category. He improvises, and has a touch of Miles, but doesn’t go on at great length. He’s in a genre all his own, and that’s what makes him so remarkable.
Italia is a formidable set of compositions, ranging from film music to classical opera, along with Botti’s title track. It captures the romance and sweeping atmosphere of Italy, and shows Botti’s strengths as composer and interpreter.
The opener, “Deborah’s Theme” (from 1984’s Once Upon A Time In America) and “Gabriel’s Oboe” (from 1986’s The Mission) are by accomplished Italian composer Ennio Morricone. While the original “Deborah’s Theme” is a classical piece with a full orchestra, Botti interprets it with very little accompaniment, letting his trumpet shine on this shorter version. The title track is a duet with one of Italy’s greatest tenors, Andrea Bocelli, and is a wonderful addition to Botti’s tribute to the country. The Tuscany-born singer’s passion for music and his homeland take “Italia” to a higher level.
Paula Cole, a frequent Botti collaborator, offers her sensual vocals to a new rendition of Ray Noble’s “The Very Thought of You.” Botti’s trumpet adds a touch of magic to the 1957 recording of “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” by singer Dean Martin. Were Dino alive to hear this, he would likely be as pleased as Botti with the result. Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” from the opera Turandot, receives a stunning interpretation, while “Ave Maria” is done beautifully, with a choir creating the religious and breathtaking characteristics of Schubert’s masterpiece.
Italia evokes the lushness and romance of Italy from the very first note. Botti brings new life to old standards, adding something extra to already perfect compositions. His work continues to improve with each successive release, with Italia being masterful and quite beautiful evidence that Botti is the premier trumpeter of his time.
Track Listing: Deborah's Theme; Italia; Venice; The Very Thought of You; Gabriel's Oboe; I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face; Caruso; The Way You Look Tonight; It Never Entered My Mind; Ave Maria; Nessun Dorma.
Personnel: Chris Botti: trumpet; Andrea Bocelli: vocals (2); Paula Cole: vocals (4); Dean Martin: vocals (6); Brian Bromberg: bass; Gil Goldstein: Fender Rhodes; Steve Kujala: flute; Tom Scott: soprano saxophone; Derek Watckins: trumpet; David Foster: piano; Richard Berry: French horn; John Barclay: trumpet; Guy Barker: trumpet; Mark Berrow: violin; John Bradbury: violin; Richard Bullock: trombone; Vinnie Colaiuta: drums; Richard Edwards: trombone.
Today he's primarily known as a smooth jazz artist, but during his early years in South Africa, Jonathan Butler was an R&B trailblazer. Farai Chideya talks with Butler about what it was like to be South African star by age 12. (npr.org)
Jonathan Butler - No Woman No Cry (Live In South Africa)
1. Afrika [Live] 2. If You're Ready [Live] 3. This Is Love [Live] 4. I'm on My Knees [Live] 5. No Woman No Cry [Live] 6. 7th Avenue [Live] 7. Medley [Live] 8. Do You Love Me? [Live] 9. Lies [Live] 10. Dance with Me [Live] 11. Song for Elizabeth [Live] 12. Wake Up [Live] 13. Sarah Sarah [Live][Instrumental] 14. Sarah Sarah [Mano Mix]
Hollywood’s Musicians’ Institute celebrates its 30th anniversary with announcement of the Stanley Clarke Scholarship, an exclusive opportunity for student performers.
Established by legendary bassist and composer Stanley Clarke, the scholarship is designed to assist outstanding students of guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or voice with their financial needs while attending the institute.
Clarke, a former member of seminal '70s jazz fusion group Return To Forever, is one of the most innovative bass players, composers and educators of the past three decades. Well known for his influential work on double bass and bass guitar, he has recorded over 25 albums, including “School Days,” considered by many one of the greatest albums by a bassist in jazz history. His current project “The Toys of Men” is a musical exploration of the emotional sweep of war.
Clarke says, “My foundation’s endowment to MI in support of the Stanley Clarke Scholarship came about because they not only teach music, but they were one of the first institutions that I came across that got into peripheral things like legal affairs, engineering, music-related technology and other skills that you need to round yourself out in order to go out into the world as a musician and be effective.”
To qualify for the Clarke scholarship, students must be currently enrolled full-time at Musicians’ Institute; have completed at least two quarters in a guitar, bass, drum, keyboard or voice certificate or degree program; have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA; and demonstrate exceptional performing ability on their instrument, as well as serious commitment to music education. Finalists will be required to perform two selections (solo or with a band) at a live concert at the institute on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Following the final performances, Clarke will personally select scholarship award winners. For further details, click on the following link: www.mi.edu
