AOL Music are streaming the entire new live CD from Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman.
The album was released last week (6.23.09) on Concord Jazz.
Dedicated to You is Kurt Elling's eighth overall album and second release on Concord Jazz. The 12-track live collection features an all-star cast of musicians including saxophonist Ernie Watts, The Laurence Hobgood Trio and string quartet, ETHEL.
When German emigrés Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff founded the Blue Note record label 70 years ago in New York City, jazz held most of the market for recorded music. Nowadays, it's decidedly a niche genre. So why do so many artists with mainstream success, from Norah Jones to Anita Baker, still want to record music for the legendary bastion of small-group instrumental jazz?
"The label has always stood for high quality," says its CEO, Bruce Lundvall, a former president of CBS Records and lifelong fan who helped resurrect Blue Note in 1985, after it petered out in the '70s. Even the fact it lay dormant in the heyday of airbrushed synth-pop feeds into Blue Note's matchless cachet - the label is synonymous with "cool."
So there will be no complaints on July 1, when Lund-vall becomes the first recipient of an award the Montreal Jazz Festival has named after him - the first of the festival's many prizes to be given to a businessperson rather than a musician. According to André Menard, the festival's artistic director, Lundvall "has taste and vision way beyond categorization."
Reached at his label's Manhattan headquarters, Lundvall comes across as a pragmatist who hasn't lost his ideals: "For me," he says, "music is what drives the business. If I sign the right artist, the business will follow. The ‘real thing' is what you're looking for always: the originals, the people who have the touch of God on their head."
Certainly his predecessor, Alfred Lion, found such artists - he helped launch the careers of icons such as Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, and Jimmy Smith, all of whom forged a bond over a number of years. Their albums, in turn, captivated younger generations of jazz cats. Pianist Bill Charlap, who has recorded for the label since 2000, recalls growing up with its music: "So often, you would get an album that you loved, and you would find that it was a Blue Note album. When my first album came out on Blue Note, it was a very good dream."
During the label's heyday in the '50s and '60s, engineer Rudy Van Gelder created a readily identifiable sound, with lively horn tones; crisp, ringing drums; and - somewhat controversially - a brittle, percussive piano attack. As well, Blue Note boasted arrestingly creative covers that form an indelible part of the iconography of the genre: Wolff's session photos were cropped and colour-filtered by designer Reid Miles.
Miles's Bauhaus-inspired efforts, apparently, created friction: "He and Frank Wolff used to fight all the time," says Lundvall, "because Frank hated the fact that he would cut off the top of an artist's head in the cropping of a photo: ‘What did you do? You cut off Jackie McLean's head!' And Reid Miles was a classical music buff. He never listened to any of the Blue Note records, apparently. Alfred and Frank talked him through each session."
Nonetheless, there was a synergy between the design and the feel of the records. According to saxophonist Joe Lovano, whose new album, Folk Art, is his 21st on the label since signing with Lundvall in 1990, "There was a vibe to just look at the record. You felt the personality of the players on the covers."
When Lundvall took the label's reins, he couldn't rehire Miles, who was too busy filming lucrative TV commercials; similarly, his desire to record every album with Van Gelder was thwarted, as the musicians he signed often had their own preferred studios.
Lundvall has intentionally strayed from Lion's lead in other ways: He records vocal music (to which Lion wasn't attuned) and has signed pop and soul artists. He used to divert such projects to sister label in Manhattan as a matter of course (e.g., Bobby McFerrin's breakthrough, Simple Pleasures), but he gave in to Norah Jones's insistence on releasing her 2002 debut, Come Away with Me, on Blue Note. Since then, a number of her peers have followed suit, from Van Morrison through new signing Kristina Train, a singer of blue-eyed southern soul who, Lundvall says, "doesn't sound like anyone but herself, which is what we always look for."
Branching out from jazz, the CEO admits, has been an economic necessity, not only to keep the label in the black, but also to help to fund the work of jazz musicians he considers to be ahead of their time. During his tenure, Blue Note has crossed over into Latin jazz, using its clout, for instance, to sign phenomenally proficient Cuban pianists Chucho Valdés (playing fests across Canada this year) and Gonzalo Rubalcaba (playing Toronto and Montreal). And despite his focus on acoustic music, when Lundvall first heard Us3's acid jazz, based on uncleared Blue Note samples, he decided to sign them rather than sue.
Lundvall's devotion to eclecticism has brought criticism from purists but has won unlikely converts: Even Wynton Marsalis, whom he signed to CBS in 1981 and then to Blue Note in 2003, is apparently "becoming a little more open-minded than he was a few years back, where if [music] didn't swing a certain way, it wasn't jazz, and so on."
Typical of the label, it's celebrating its 70th anniversary by simultaneously looking back and forward. Bill Charlap has helmed a septet called The Blue Note 7, devoted to playing new arrangements of important compositions from the label's history. "All of us love the music so much and have such high regard for the artists we're paying tribute to that we're aware of them looking over our shoulder," he says. Meanwhile, Joe Lovano has been touring with players of a younger generation, including his former students.
Prospective signings, says Lundvall, often tell him they "went to the university of Blue Note," having learned from its records. And as its dean, Lundvall is doing a laudable job, which the jazz fest award in his name attests to. "It's a survival award, maybe, for fighting for jazz all my life," he says. At Blue Note, "we believe in the music, and we do."
-The Montreal Jazz Festival, featuring an exhibition of Blue Note art and performances by Blue Note musicians such as Charlap, Lovano, and Marsalis begins Tuesday.
This article by Mike Doherty, reprinted from Weekend Post nationalpost.com
Imagine Elton John played by Herbie Hancock and sung by the Bangles. Then hear Younee, a Korean singer/songwriter/piano virtuoso. Jazz infused art-house pop Totally hip. Refreshingly unique.
Order "True To You" CD Baby Younee, from Seoul, Korea is ‘beyond category’ as a singer, songwriter and pianist. Her exquisitely vulnerable voice can also express raw power. An accomplished and virtuoso classical pianist, she plays rock as well as Rachmaninoff. She has performed piano concertos with symphony orchestras and jazz with Grammy-winning pianist Bob James. She is an award-winning singer/songwriter (VH-1’s AC Song of the Year, and the Brit Awards composition prize) who has also written music for film and TV. She has released two albums in Korea as “Keys Piano” (2006 & 2007 – EMI & Manworldang) and performed extensively on Korean television.
When Bob James heard her music he invited her to perform with him in Seoul – his brilliant composition for piano ‘four hands’. Knowing Younee wanted to break free of the creative restrictions of the Korean music business, James suggested she contact American producer/composer/arranger Richard Niles.
Niles has been a fixture of the London music scene for over 30 years with credits including work with Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Grace Jones, James Brown, Michael McDonald, Pet Shop Boys, Westlife, Boyzone, Take That, Ronan Keating and Kylie Minogue. Jazz credits include work with Pat Metheny, Bob James, Bill Cobham, John Patitucci and Bob Mintzer. He has been called “one of the most versatile men in modern music” (Sound on Sound) and “a truly exciting musical force” (Pat Metheny).
Younee and Niles began to write songs using Skype – Younee in her bedroom studio in Seoul and Niles in his studio in London. Niles’ lyrics bring a powerful message to Younee’s emotional melodies. His arrangements and production inspire Younee to express both her virtuosity and her passion. Together they have been able to integrate contrasting elements of popular music into a unified whole, balancing tradition with innovation - a dynamic and truly unique blend of genres.
Interest in Michael Jackson's music surges after his unexpected death
Singles and albums land in top 10 on both iTunes and Amazon.com
Fans express their admiration for his career and his music
On Friday morning, fans of Michael Jackson reached out to grab one of the largest parts of his legacy: his music.
Seven out of the top 10 albums on iTunes belonged to Jackson: "The Essential Michael Jackson," "Thriller," "Number Ones," "Off The Wall," "Thriller (25th Anniversary Edition)," "Bad" and "Michael Jackson: the Ultimate Collection."
The singles "Man in the Mirror" and "Thriller" were both listed in the top 10 iTunes singles.
At Amazon.com, five of the top 10 best-selling MP3 albums belonged to Jackson, and fans were invited to share their favorite Michael Jackson memories.
There was a tremendous outpouring of grief and admiration for the singer who many felt was, like the title of one of his hits, gone too soon. Jackson, 50, died Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest.
Mary Ann Nietz wrote, "I grew up with Michael Jackson, and I will never forget the incredible artist he was. He will live on in our hearts as the greatest pop star of all times."
Gwendolyn V. Schilling wrote on the site that "Michael Jackson will never be forgotten, he'll always be loved by all of us loyal fans."
As a companion to his music, Jackson was also known for ground-breaking music videos and performances.
On Friday, the five top-selling DVDs on Amazon.com were also related to Jackson: "Michael Jackson - Video Greatest Hits - HIStory"; "Michael Jackson - History on Film, Vol. 2"; "Michael Jackson: Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour"; "Michael Jackson - Dangerous: The Short Films"; and "Number Ones."
Jackson was viewed by many as the consummate artist, having found success in the music industry while still a child as part of a group with his brothers, the Jackson 5.
He first established himself as a successful solo artist in 1979 with the release of his album "Off the Wall," which went on to sell more than 7 million copies.
In 1982, he was elevated into superstar status after the release of "Thriller," which became the best-selling album of all time. Seven of nine original singles from the album became top 10 singles, the album was certified 20 times platinum, and it earned 11 Grammy nominations.
Later albums like "Bad" and "Dangerous" also enjoyed some success, though not as much as "Thriller." His 1995 release, "HIStory" -- a best-of collection with a few new cuts -- fell short in sales and is considered to be one of his least embraced albums.
[NY Times] For his legions of fans, he was the Peter Pan of pop music: the little boy who refused to grow up. But on the verge of another attempted comeback, he is suddenly gone, this time for good.
Michael Jackson, whose quintessentially American tale of celebrity and excess took him from musical boy wonder to global pop superstar to sad figure haunted by lawsuits, paparazzi and failed plastic surgery, was pronounced dead on Thursday afternoon at U.C.L.A. Medical Center after arriving in a coma, a city official said. Mr. Jackson was 50, having spent 40 of those years in the public eye he loved.
The singer was rushed to the hospital, a six-minute drive from the rented Bel-Air home in which he was living, shortly after noon by paramedics for the Los Angeles Fire Department. A hospital spokesman would not confirm reports of cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm.
Akira Miyazawa - My Piccolo (Universal Japan ) Alaoui / Balke - Siwan (Umgd/Ecm ) Albert Ayler - Witches & Devils-Remast'D (Phantom ) All-Star Big Band / Dizzy Gillespie - I'm Beboppin Too (Halfnote ) All-Star Big Band / Dizzy Gillespie - I'm Be Boppin Too (Halfnote ) Allen Toussaint - Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch ) Alvin Queen - Mighty Long Way (Justin Time ) Andre Previn - Previn At Sunset-Remastered (Phantom ) Anita O'Day - In A Mellow Tone (DRG ) Archie Shepp - Montreux Two-Remastered (Phantom ) Art Ensemble Of Chicago - Spiritual-Remastered (Phantom ) Art Pepper - Essential Standards (Umgd/Fantasy/Original Jazz Cla ) Art Tatum - V-Discs-Remastered (Phantom ) Art Tatum - Standards-Remastered (Phantom ) Astrud Gilberto - Pop Collection (Universal Records Asai/Zoom ) Barney Kessel - Yesterday-Remastered (Phantom ) Barney Kessel - Autumn Leaves-Remastered (Phantom ) Bebel Gilberto - Beble Gilberto (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Beegie Adair / David Davidson - Parisian Cafe (Green Hill ) Ben Webster - Webster,Ben Vol. 2-Live At The Jazzhus (Phantom ) Ben Webster - There Is No Greater-Remast (Phantom ) Ben Webster - Stormy Weather-Remastered (Phantom ) Ben Webster - Gone With The Wind-Remast'D (Phantom ) Benny Goodman - Bill Coleman With Ben (Phantom ) Benny Goodman - All Of Me (Phantom ) Benny Goodman - Swing King (Phantom ) Benny Goodman - Platinum Collection (Phantom ) Bill Evans - Essential Standards (Umgd/Fantasy/Original Jazz Cla ) Billie Holiday - At Storyville-Remastered (Phantom ) Billie Holiday - No Regrets (Parade ) Bud Freeman - Meet Me In San Juan (Phantom ) Bud Powell - Strictly Confidential-Remastered (Phantom ) Buddy Tate - Texas Twister (New World ) Carey Blyton - Sherlock Holmes Meets Carey Blyton (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Carey Blyton - Sunset Sand Bay (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Carol Kidd - Carol Kidd (Linn ) Cecil Taylor - Indent-Remastered (Phantom ) Cecil Taylor - Silent Tongues-Remastered (Phantom ) Charles Lloyd - Only The Best Of Charles Lloyd (COLLECTABLES ) Chet Baker - Essential Standards (Umgd/Fantasy/Original Jazz Cla ) Claire Martin - Devil May Care (Linn ) Claire Martin - Off Beat (Honest ) Count Basie - Class Of '54-Remastered (Phantom ) Count Basie - Platinum Collection (Phantom ) Count Basie / Duke Ellington - First Time Count Meets The Duke (Pure Pleasure ) Dave Brubeck - Essential Standards (Umgd/Fantasy/Original Jazz Cla ) Dave Douglas - In Our Lifetime (New World ) Donald Byrd - Groovin' For Nat-Remastered (Phantom ) Duke Ellington - Feeling Of Jazz-Remastered (Phantom ) Duke Ellington - Triple Gold (Phantom ) Earl Hines - Plays Duke Ellington (Newworld ) Earl Hines - Tour De Force-Remastered (Phantom ) Earl Hines - Blues In Thirds-Remast'D (Phantom ) Edward Simon - Poesia (Phantom ) Edward Simon Trio - Poesia (Camjazz ) Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Collection (Start ) Evan Parker - Moment's Energy (ECM ) Evan Parker - The Moment's Energy (ECM ) Five Corners Quintet - Chasin Jazz Gone By (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Four80East - Roll On (Native Language ) Fourplay - Fourplay (Phantom ) Fourplay - Between The Sheets (Phantom ) Freddie Hubbard - Only The Best Of Freddie Hubbard (COLLECTABLES ) Glenn Miller - Triple Gold (Phantom ) Glenn Miller - Platinum Collection (Phantom ) Grant Green - Reaching Out (Phantom ) Grover Washington Jr. - Winelight (Phantom ) Hank Crawford - Only The Best Of Hank Crawford (COLLECTABLES ) Harumi Kaneko - I Love New York (Universal Japan ) Helge Lien Trio - Hello Troll (Pid ) Hidehiko Matsumoto - Session: Sleepy Meets The Great Jazz Trio (Universal Japan ) Hozan Yamamoto - Eternal Echoes (Universal Japan ) Humphrey Lyttelton - Best Of British Jazz Vol. 8 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Humphrey Lyttelton - The Best of British Jazz From the Bbc Jazz Club, Vol. 8 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Humphrey Lyttelton - Best Of British Jazz From The BBC Jazz Club, Vol. 8 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Ici Ensemble - Composer In Dialogue: Who Am I?/No More (Neos Jazz ) Isao Suzuki - Hip Dancin (Universal Japan ) Jackie Cain & Roy Kral - Beautiful Sea (DRG ) Jen Chapin - Revisions: The Songs Of Stevie Wonder (Chesky ) - SACD Jen Chapin - ReVisions: The Songs Of Stevie (Chesky ) Jerome Harris - Hidden In Plain View (New World ) Jon Balke - Siwan (Universal Music Group ) Jonathan Cain - Bare Bones (Aao Music ) Joyce - Viva Joyce Finest Collection (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Julie London - Julie Is Her Name (Boxstar Records ) Julius Hemphill - At Dr. King's Table (New World Music ) Karrin Allyson - Very Best Of Karrin Allyson (Concord Jazz ) Karrin Allyson - By Request: the Best of Karrin Allyson (Concord Jazz ) Kazunori Takeda - Gentle November (Universal Japan ) Ken Colyer - Best Of British Jazz Vol. 7 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Ken Colyer - The Best of British Jazz From the Bbc Jazz Club Vol. 7 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Ken Colyer - Sunset Sand Bay (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Ken Colyer - Best Of British Jazz From The BBC Jazz Club Vol. 7 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Kenny Ball - At The BBC: The Airshots (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Kenny Ball - At the BBC 1957-1962: The Airshots (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Kenny Dorham - Soul Support (Phantom ) Laura Izibor - Let Truth Be Told (Warner Japan/Zoom ) Lavern Baker - Woke Up This Mornin' (DRG ) Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris - Conduction 11 (New World ) Lee Konitz - At Storyville-Remastered (Phantom ) Lee Konitz - Body & Soul-Remastered (Phantom ) Lee Ritenour - Captains Journey (Phantom ) Les Elgart - Only The Best Of Les Elgart (Collectables ) Les Mccann - Only The Best Of Les Mccann (COLLECTABLES ) Lionel Hampton - Platinum Collection (Start ) London Street Soul - 1988-09: 21 Years Of Acid Jazz Records (BGP (Beat Goes Public) ) Lori Mechem - Return To Ipanema (Green Hill ) Louis Jordan - Platinum Collection (Phantom ) Louis Sclavis - Lost On The Way (ECM ) Makoto Ozone - Breakout (Universal Japan ) Makoto Ozone - Nature Boys (Universal Japan ) Mario Pavone - Toulon Days (New World ) Martin Taylor - Portraits (Phantom ) Martin Taylor - Years Apart (Phantom ) Martin Taylor - Gold (Phantom ) Martin Taylor - Two's Company (Linn ) Martin Taylor - Celebrating Grappelli (Phantom ) Martin Taylor - Martin Taylor (Linn ) Marty Ehrlich - Emergency Peace (New World ) Maynard Ferguson - Ferguson,Maynard Vol. 2-Lost Tapes (Phantom ) Michael Franks - Randezvous In Rio (Phantom ) Mikio Masuda - Mickeys Mouth (Universal Japan ) Miles Davis - Doo Bop (Warner Japan/Zoom ) Miles Davis - Boppin' The Blues-Remast'D (Phantom ) Motek - The Best of Wonderland (Phantom ) Ned Rothenberg - Power Lines (New World ) Pat Metheny - Day Trip/Tokyo Day Trip (Nonesuch ) Paul Bley - Live In Haarlem (Phantom ) Paul Dresher - Opposites Attract (New World ) Peggy Lee - Oh La La Lee (Phantom ) Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Kirk,Rahsaan Roland Vol. 1-Only The Best Of Rahsaan Roland Kirk (COLLECTABLES ) Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Kirk,Rahsaan Roland Vol. 2-Only The Best Of Rahsaan Roland Kirk (COLLECTABLES ) Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Only The Best Of Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1 (Collectables ) Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Only The Best Of Rahsaan Roland Kirk 2 (Collectables ) Ray Bryant - Only The Best Of Ray Bryant (COLLECTABLES ) Ray Noble - Very Thought Of You (Parade ) Ray Parker Jr - I'm Free (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Refuge Trio - Refuge Trio (Winter & Winter ) Robert Dick - Third Stone From The Sun (New World ) Rosalia De Souza - Brasil Precisa Balancar (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Rosenberg Trio - Seresta (Hot Club ) Ruby Braff - Got Rhythm (Phantom ) Ruby Braff - Where's Freddie (Phantom ) Sadao Watanabe - I`m Old Fashioned (Universal Japan ) Sadao Watanabe - Recital (Universal Japan ) Sam Levine - Sax In The City (Green Hill ) Sarah Vaughan - Platinum Collection (Phantom ) Saxop / Andy Sheppard (British - Movements In Color (ECM ) Sidney Bechet - At Storyville-Remast'D (Phantom ) Sonny Stitt - Autumn In New York-Remast'D (Phantom ) Soulive - No Place Like Soul (Stax ) Stephane Grappelli - Live In Europe (Jazz Colours ) Stephane Grappelli - Tea For Two (Phantom ) Stephane Grappelli - Stardust-Remast'D (Phantom ) Stephane Grappelli - Grappelli Meets-Remast'D (Phantom ) Stephane Grappelli / Martin Taylor - Reunion (Linn ) Stuff - More Stuff (Warner Japan/Zoom ) Sun Ra - Outer Spaceways-Remast'D (Phantom ) Sun Ra - Janus-Remastered (Phantom ) Sun Ra - Standards-Remastered (Phantom ) Teddy Wilson - Piano Solo (Phantom ) Teddy Wilson - Cole Porter Classics-Remast'D (Phantom ) Teddy Wilson - Blues For Thomas-Remast'D (Phantom ) Terumasa Hino - Hogiuta (Universal Japan ) Teruo Nakamura - Rising Sun (Universal Japan ) Thelonious Monk - London Collection Vol.3-Rmstd (Phantom ) Thelonious Monk - Monk,Thelonious Vol. 3-London Collection (Phantom ) Thelonious Monk - London Collection Vol.1-Rmstd (Phantom ) Till Bronner - Midnight (Phantom ) Tom Postilio - Dream (DRG ) Tommy Smith - Misty Morning And No Time (Linn ) Vince Guaraldi - Essential Standards (Umgd/Fantasy/Original Jazz Cla ) Wardell Gray - Blue Lou (Phantom ) Wonderland - Best Of Wonderland (Revisited ) Workshy - Clear (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Workshy - Mood (Columbia Japan/Zoom ) Yoshiko Kishino - Fairy Tale (Universal Japan ) Yosuke Yamashita - Rhapsody In Blue (Universal Japan )
Reissues Archie Shepp - Steam (Enja ) Artie Shaw - Artie Shaw (Centurion) Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald (Masters Of) George Benson - Breezin (Warner Brothers) George Benson - Give Me The Night (Warner Brothers) Grover J Washington - Winelight (Phantom Sound & Vision ) Jaco Pastorius - Word Of Mouth (Phantom Sound & Vision ) Larry Carlton - Sleepwalk (Warner Brothers) Larry Carlton - Larry Carlton (Warner Brothers) Larry Carlton - Strikes Twice (Warner Brothers) Lee Ritenour - Rit (Warner Brothers) Lee Ritenour - Captain's Journey (Phantom Sound & Vision ) Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong (Madacy) Malene Mortensen - Date With a Dream (Stunt) Miles Davis - Live Around The World (Warner Music ) Miles Davis - Tutu (Warner Music ) Miles Davis - Doo-Bop (Warner Music ) Miles Davis - Amandla (Warner Music ) Steps Ahead - Magnetic (Wounded Bird Records ) Stuff - Stuff (Wounded Bird)
Marcus Johnson IS Poetically Justified. Award winning jazz pianist Marcus Johnson's latest album Poetically Justified has debuted at #5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts within fifteen days of the albums release. Known for his unparalleled success as a composer, producer, record-label founder and businessman, Johnson's eleventh solo jazz record was released on June 2, 2009. In a recent interview with the Washington Post Magazine, Johnson best describes his philosophy in his own words:
"In everything you do and dream, know it is possible. Know that you can and will be successful, keep the determination and persistence...and know that with all of this and faith, you will have a long Poetically Justified Journey."
Best described as a combination of urban jazz with a slice of funk, Poetically Justified features collaborations with industry greats such as R&B legend Miles Jaye, Maysa of Incognito and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee. No stranger to success, Johnson's previous albums FLO: Chill, FLO: Romance, FLO: Standards and The Phoenix also ranked on Billboard's Top 10 Jazz Contemporary Charts. Johnson's musical masterpiece was produced through his independent label Three Keys Music, a division of Marimelj Entertainment Group.
Johnson's educational background compliments his successful career as both an artist and entrepreneur. Upon graduation from Georgetown University where he completed a dual JD/MBA program, Johnson embarked on a mission to make a difference in the world through music.
Despite being only 14 years-old, Brandon Burrows is going places. The soulful pop crooner just released his debut disc, On The Move. The title track has been garnering radio spins across the nation and reviewers are beginning to notice the talented teen that possesses the poise and passion of an old soul.
The seventeen-song collection, produced by Amber & Rob Whitlock, is comprised of compositions by iconic singer-songwriters Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Bob Marley, Ray Charles, and Kenny Loggins along with a pair of originals, including one co-penned by Burrows (“Chase Your Dreams”).
On The Move was recorded in New York City where the city’s finest session players helped Burrows realize his dream including keyboardist Rob Whitlock (The Jazz Crusaders), guitarist Chuck Loeb (Kirk Whalum, Metro), bassist Will Lee (David Letterman’s Late Show Band, Sting), bassist Anthony Jackson (Steely Dan, Madonna), bassist Alex Al (Herbie Hancock), drummer Cliff Almond (Michel Camilo), trombonist Andy Martin (Natalie Cole, Pussycat Dolls), trumpeter Wayne Bergeron (Christina Aguilara, Ray Charles) and saxophonist John Rekevics (Checkfield, Big Mountain) along with vocalists Amber Whitlock (Max Bennett), Jim Gilstrap (Stevie Wonder) and Dorian Holley (American Idol vocal coach).
To launch the album, Burrows performed with a full band in a packed club Memorial Day weekend in San Diego, his hometown since moving from Guam at the age of four. He’s looking forward to taking the stage again for additional Southern California shows.
Meanwhile, some critics have hailed Burrows as a gifted artist to watch. “He's got depth, range and a lot of heart and soul…You will definitely hear more from Brandon, one of the best young talents we have heard in a long time!” (O’s Place Jazz Newsletter). “It takes major confidence to tackle some of the biggest pop, gospel and R&B songs…But Burrows gets the job done in fine fashion…On The Move is an impressive debut and now sets the stage for what should be more great music from this rising star.” (N2Entertainment.net) “This is timeless stuff…all delivered with gusto and an authority that belies Brandon’s age. Comparisons will be made to early Michael Jackson (Brandon’s cover of the Jackson Five’s ‘I Want You Back’ will definitely take you back and aback.), so get aboard the early fan-base. Believe me, this kid has talent to spare!” (SmoothJazz.com)
By Jeff Winbush allaboutjazz.com Back when he was pumping out power chords for Jefferson Starship (later trimmed down to simply Starship) guitarist Craig Chaquico performed on one of the band's biggest and last hits, “We Built This City.” That song would later top VH-1's The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever as the absolute worst rock song.
Chaquico didn't deserve the blame for that song's cheesiness. When he was playing rock n' roll he was a pretty formidable guitarist and when he went solo he surprised doubters with his debut, Acoustic Highway (Higher Octave, 1993), displaying his New Age and contemporary jazz skills.
On his first album in four years and on a new label, Chaquico moves further into the smooth jazz camp in search of greater commercial success, but without spurning his spiritual roots in both Latin and Native American music.
Which makes Behind the Sun something of a balancing act for Chaquico. Things start off fine with “Lua Da Mae” and “Azores Lisboa,” two sizzling hot slabs of the kind of Latin jazz-rock that once was the staple of Carlos Santana, but has been mostly abandoned in recent years. Things proceed nicely right up until “Lights Out San Francisco,” an updating of the original version from Once In A Blue Universe (Higher Octave, 1997) that squanders Peter White's Spanish guitar with corny lyrics and thin vocals from Rolf Hartley.
Chaquico is an interesting guitarist with a lot of ideas, but even he can't make a cover of Kenny G's “Songbird” intriguing. It's an overt tribute to the sax man's ability to move product, but “Songbird” is to jazz what “We Built This City” is to rock; a triumph of slick commercialism over creativity.
Things pick up nicely with “The Coast of Orion,” “Island Breeze” and the closer, “Solar Wind,” where Chaquico focuses on just playing instead of crafting radio-friendly fodder.
As an artist who plays with power, finesse and passion, Chaquico's recordings never fail to impress repeatedly, but those moments are scattered sporadically throughout Behind the Sun. Some curious choices in material make this a worthy addition for fans, but others may just wonder if this is the same rock n' roll dude from the '80s, only with no mustache and shorter hair.
Track Listing: Lua Da Mae; Azores Lisboa; Fantasy in Paradise; Circus Beach; Barefoot in the Sand; Lights Out San Francisco; Songbird; The Coast of Orion; Island Breeze; Solar Wind.
Personnel: Craig Chaquico: guitars; Ozzie Ahlers: keyboards, Bill Heller: keyboards; drum programming, additional instrument sequencing, loops and samples; Bill Slais: keyboards, sax; Wade Olson: drums; Jim Reitzel: bass; Marquinho Brasil: percussion; Rolf Hartley: vocals, rhythm guitar; Gentle Thunder: Native American flute, Grand Hammer dulcimer; Peter White: Spanish guitar (6); Lenny Castro: percussion (6); Larry Kimpel: bass (6); Carlos Vega: drums (6); Kevin Tokarz: keyboards (3); Lane Cameron: rhythm guitar (3).
Listening Address Change. City Sounds Radio has changed internet providers.
How does this effect your listening experience? If you listen through the website listening box at http://www.citysoundsradio.com, it will not affect you at all. The main reason is that when you hook up through the website, you are sent to Loudcity's Tune In page to connect. If, however, you have the IP address bookmarked in your favorite player you will need to enter new numbers. The new address will be http://72.8.159.118:8144. If you enter that url into your player you'll be up and running.
Technical issues with the previous provider caused this move again and City Sounds decided to relocate in hopes of better stability for you...their listeners. They know many of you have been with City Sounds Radio for a long time and they thank you for that. Hopefully, this will stablize the situation.
Remember ......you can always find the station through the website at citysoundsradio.com
And as always on this page you can scroll down on the right to the City Sounds Radio site, or the streaming link. They're both provided for your convenience.
A federal jury on Thursday found Jammie Thomas-Rasset liable in the nation’s only Recording Industry Association of America file-sharing case to go to trial, dinging her $1.92 million for infringing 24 songs.
Thomas-Rasset (then just Jammie Thomas) went to trial two years ago, and was ordered to pay $222,000 by a different jury for the same songs. The judge in the first case declared a mistrial. Thomas-Rasset opted for a new trial instead of settling like the 30,000-plus others the RIAA has sued or threatened to sue for copyright infringement.
Thomas-Rasset, fined $80,000 a track, told our sister publication, Ars Technica, she wouldn’t pay.
Clearly, the Minneapolis jury didn’t buy her latest version of events. This time, she testified that her children might have used her computer to file share on Kazaa. The previous trial, she testified a file-sharing hack or crack hijacked her WiFi connection, even though she didn’t have a WiFi router.
Under the Copyright Act, juries can award damages of up to $150,000 per pilfered track. About $3,500 was the average payment in the thousands of RIAA cases that settled out of court.
In December, the record labels announced they were winding down their 5-year-old litigation campaign and instead began lobbying ISPs to disconnect music file sharers. But the RIAA, the labels’ litigation arm, said it was continuing with the hundreds of cases already in the legal pipeline.
When German emigrés Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff founded the Blue Note record label 70 years ago in New York City, jazz held most of the market for recorded music. Nowadays, it's decidedly a niche genre. So why do so many artists with mainstream success, from Norah Jones to Anita Baker, still want to record music for the legendary bastion of small-group instrumental jazz?
Younee, from Seoul, Korea is ‘beyond category’ as a singer, songwriter and pianist. Her exquisitely vulnerable voice can also express raw power. An accomplished and virtuoso classical pianist, she plays rock as well as Rachmaninoff. She has performed piano concertos with symphony orchestras and jazz with Grammy-winning pianist Bob James. She is an award-winning singer/songwriter (VH-1’s AC Song of the Year, and the Brit Awards composition prize) who has also written music for film and TV. She has released two albums in Korea as “Keys Piano” (2006 & 2007 – EMI & Manworldang) and performed extensively on Korean television. 
[NY Times] For his legions of fans, he was the Peter Pan of pop music: the little boy who refused to grow up. But on the verge of another attempted comeback, he is suddenly gone, this time for good.
Listening Address Change. City Sounds Radio has changed internet providers.
A federal jury on Thursday found Jammie Thomas-Rasset liable in the nation’s only Recording Industry Association of America file-sharing case to go to trial, dinging her $1.92 million for infringing 24 songs.
