The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) are pleased to announce that bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding, in response to the Diversity and Innovation Fund Request for Proposals, has been asked to host Find The Beat, a progressive new television show on PBS.
Find The Beat, a new program that promotes diversity, features Spalding joining with a group, a band or solo musician to explore the roots of their music. Their journeys take them to see authentic performers, explore cultural connections and investigate musical history.
PBS and the CPB issued a request for proposals for a new television show to be sponsored by their Diversity and Innovation Fund. The DI Fund, “seeks to diversify the National Program Service by attracting younger and more racially and ethnically diverse viewers and visitors.” More than 200 submissions were received in response to the request for proposals, from which only 16 were chosen by their editorial staff to advance to panel review.
Esperanza Spalding combines the imaginative flights of a serious improviser with the musical accessibility of a pop star and within two years of her solo debut has beguiled success at nearly unimaginable heights. Esperanza, her 2008 release, spent over 70 weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and was the most successful internationally selling debut that year.
Spalding’s most recent release, Chamber Music Society, is a brilliant marriage of string and jazz trio, and a showcase for her eclectic sensibilities along with her vocal and compositional talents. Other career highlights include two televised performances at the White House, a Banana Republic ad campaign, features in Oprah Magazine and The New Yorker, numerous awards and high profile tour dates, capped by an invitation to perform at the 2010 Nobel Prize Ceremony in Oslo, Norway.
Archie Shepp - True Blue (Venus Jazz )
Ariel Ramirez - Misa Criolla ( )
Beady Belle - At Welding Bridge (Universal Distribution )
Big Joe Turner - Essential '40's Collection (Phantom )
Buddy Rich - Speak No Evil / Plays & Plays & Plays ( )
Christian Weidner - Inward Song ( )
Christina Sturmer - Nahaufnahme (Universal Distribution )
Claude Williamson - Song For My Father (Venus )
Clouds - Up Above Our Heads ( )
Clouds - Up Above Our Heads (Clouds 66-71) (Beat Goes On )
Dan Nimmer - Yours Is My Heart Alone (Venus )
Diana Krall - Girl In Other Room (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Diana Krall - When I Look In Your Eyes (Phantom Sound & Vision )
Dinah Washington - 1943-53 Fabulous Miss D! Keynote Decca & Mercury (Verve )
Dinah Washington - Fabulous Miss D The Keynote Decca & Mercury Single ( )
Dinah Washington - Fabulous Miss D! The Keynote, Decca And Mercury Singles 1943-1953 (Hip-o Select )
Duke Grand Erandole - Diamond Best:Classic Best (Universal Japan/Zoom )
Earl Klugh - Earl Klugh/Living Inside Your Love/Magic In Your Eyes (Beat Goes On )
East New York Ensemble De Music - At The Helm (Folkways Records )
Eddie Higgins - Standards By Request 1st Day Eddie Hi (Venus Jap/Zoom )
Eddie Higgins - Standards By Request 2nd Day Eddie Hi (Venus Jap/Zoom )
George Gruntz - Matterhorn Matters ( )
George Lewis & His Orchestra - Dr. Jazz & Blues From The Bayou (Phantom )
Halie Loren - After Dark ( )
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (Blue Note Records )
Jazz Chill - Chill Jazz (Phantom )
Kenny Werner - With A Song In My Heart (Venus Jazz Japan )
King Curtis - Music For Dancing / The Twist ( )
Klaus Ignatzek / Jean Rassinfosse / Claudio Roditi - Dedication ( )
Kristine W - Power Of Music (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Landau Orchestra - Janus Plays Telephone (Warner Uk/Zoom )
Lou Donaldson - Sunny Side Up (CLASSIC )
Lou Donaldson - Time Is Right (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Louis Jordan - Let The Good Times Roll (Phantom )
Marc Ford - Neptunes Blues (Provogue Uk/Zoom )
Maurice Jarre - Soundtracks (Indie Europe/Zoom )
Max Roach - Members Don't Get Weary (Warner )
Michael Henderson - Wide Receiver ( )
Mukta - Jade ( )
Orlando "Maraca" Valle - Tremenda Rumba ( )
Patricia Barber - Mythologies (Blue Note)
Patrick Moraz - Resonance (United States Of Distribution LTD. )
Pepe Lienhard - Best Of Swing (Phantom )
Quartett Escualo - Piazzolla Del Angel (Pid )
Ramsey Lewis - Upendo Ni Pamoja / Sun Goddess ( )
Right On ! 2 - Right On ! 2 ( )
Rupert Clemendore - Jazz Primitif From Trinidad (Phantom )
Russell Malone - Wholly Cats (Venus )
Santino - Nadie Es Como Tu (Warner Uk/Zoom )
Soel - Memento (Warner Brothers)
Uli Fiedler - Tre Pane ( )
Velvet Jazz II - Velvet Jazz II ( )
Velvet Love - Velvet Love ( )
Walter Bishop Jr. - Speak Low Again (Venus Jap/Zoom )
Word From Pulpit - Word From Pulpit ( )
Wynton Marsalis - Popular Songs: The Best Of Wynton Marsalis (BMG (distributor) )
Reissues
Diana Krall - Look Of Love (Universal )
Freddie Hubbard - Hub Cap (Blue Note)
Freddie Hubbard - Hub-Tones (Blue Note)
Joe Beck - Strangers in the Night (Venus)
Richard Galliano - Luz Negra (JVC)
Scott Joplin - Ragtime Piano Roll (Milan Records )
Sonny Stitt - Stitt Plays Bird (Atlantic)
As the former Tonight Show's music director for 18 years, guitarist Kevin Eubanks admirably performed the necessary duties of leading the house band, trading comedic barbs with host Jay Leno, and whatever else it took to get the job done. But before the glamor and glitz of Hollywood, most folks probably didn't know that Eubanks was and still is a superb jazz musician who has performed with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, bassist Dave Holland, and released a number of fine recordings.
Eubanks' new chapter begins with Zen Food, showcasing his continued guitar mastery with a new band and fresh material. The recording's dynamics mirror his talent: an intrepid player with the ability to play with deep feeling; and a robust writer, covering a range of hard hitting vamps (”The Dancing Sea”), stealthy grooves (”Spider Monkey Cafe”), and blue serenity (” The Dirty Monk”), and tender ballads (”I Remember Loving You”).
The band's symbiotic connection is crucial, beginning with the cornerstone of bassist Rene Camacho and veteran trap-master Marvin “Smitty” Smith who was also a member of the Tonight Show band. Moments such as the hymnal inspired “Adoration” are vivid, as Eubanks' acoustic chord-work is the perfect accompaniment to Gerry Etkins' ethereal keyboards. The set feels, at times, like a potpourri of styles, but the high level of musicianship elevates tracks such as the Wes Montgomery-like storm of “6/8,” and the infectiously hip “G G (Gerry's Groove),” where Bill Pierce's saxophone laments sweet blues and Eubanks' electric guitar echoes the sentiment with elongated and improvised notes.
Eubanks is a complete player, whether delivering jaw-dropping solos or flavorful comps. On top of that, he's not lost his superlative chops on acoustic guitar, as “Das It” attests. This short barn-burner displays a dexterity, intensity, and muscular finger picking reminiscent of his killer Shadow Prophets (GRP, 1998). What lies ahead for Eubanks is anyone's guess, but it is sure to be an interesting journey that begins with the welcome return of Zen Food.
Track Listing: The Dancing Sea; Spider Monkey Cafe; The Dirty Monk; Adoration; Los Angeles; I Remember Loving You; 6/8; G.G.; Offering; Das It.
By Mark F. Turner allaboutjazz.com
Personnel: Kevin Eubanks: guitars; Bill Pierce: saxophone; Gerry Etkins: keyboards; Rene Camacho: bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith.
Art Blakey - Three Classic Albums (Avid Jazz )
Arthur Verocai - Timeless (Mochilla )
Arve Henriksen - Cartography (ECM )
Bill Evans - Very Last Performance ( )
Buddy Cole - Hot And Cole ( )
Charles Mingus - Blues & Roots (Atlantic )
Chris Botti - Unforgettable:Best (Universal Japan/Zoom )
Chris Minh Doky - Scenes From A Dream (Video Arts Japan/Zoom )
Cyrille Aimee - Just Two Of Us (Venus Jap/Zoom )
Dale Hawkins - Oh! Suzy-Q (Ais )
Danilo Rea - Romantica (Venus Jap/Zoom )
Dave Brubeck - Definitive Dave Brubeck On Fantasy Co (Fantasy Records/Concord Jazz )
David Hazeltine - Pearls (Venus )
Dee Clark - Dee Clark ( )
Dee Clark - Dee Clark/How About That (Ais )
Dexter Gordon - Blows Hot & Cool (Disconforme )
Dexter Gordon - Dexter Blows Hot & Cool (Essential Jazz Classics )
Don Cherry - Copenhagen 1963 & Hilversum 1966 ( )
Don Cherry - Copenhagen 1963/Hilversum 1966 (Free Factory )
Donald Smith - Luv (Why Not )
Enrico Rava - Italian Ballads (Pid )
Eric Alexander - Lazy Afternoon (Venus )
Francesco Cariso - Seven Steps To Heaven (Venus )
Freddie Hubbard - Groovy ( )
Gideon Van Gelder - Perpetual ( )
Giovanni Mirabassi - Live At Blue Note Tokyo (Video Arts Japan/Zoom )
Halie Loren - Many Times Many Ways:Xmas Collection (JVC Japan/Zoom )
Hank Ballard - Hank Ballard & The Midnighthers / Singin & Swinin ( )
Hank Jones - Talented Touch (EMI Japan/Zoom )
Heatwave - Hot Property ( )
Ja - Balls And Kittens, Draught And Strangling Rain (Hubro )
Jack Parnell - Two Classic Albums Plus Two Eps (Phantom )
Jacky Terrasson - Lover Man (Venus )
JAE - Balls And Kittens Draught And Strangl (Hubro/Forced Exposure )
Janis Siegel - At Home ( )
Jazz Workshop All Stars - Complete 1961-1962 Birdland Broadcasts (Rare Live )
Jazz Workshop All Stars / Charles Mingus - Complete 1961-1962 Birdland Broadcasts ( )
John Carter - Mosaic Select: John Carter And Bobby Bradford (Mosaic Select )
John Scofield - New Morning: The Paris C (Inakustik )
John Zorn - Dreamers-The Gentle Side (Tzadik )
John Zorn - Dreamers: The Gentle Side (Tzadik )
Jon Hassell - Last Night The Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes In ( )
Keith Jarrett - My Song (Pid )
Keith Jarrett - Belonging ( )
L Almeida / Bud Shank - Holiday In Brazil ( )
Marion Brown - Offering (Pid )
Marty Paich - Rock-Jazz Incident (Tartare )
Mats Eilertsen - Elegy (Hubro )
Miles Davis - Live At Newport 1966-1967 ( )
One For All - No Problem (Venus Jap/Zoom )
Pat Metheny - American Garage (Pid )
Pat Metheny - 80 ( )
Quartetto Alborada - Ethos (Phantom )
Reine Gianoli - Menderus Zone ( )
Renato Sellani - My Foolish Heart (Pid )
Renato Sellani - O Sole Mio (Disconforme )
Richie Beirach - No Borders (Venus )
Romantic Jazz Trio - Music Of The Night (Venus )
Ronin - Llyria ( )
Ruffin & Kendrick - Ruffin & Kendrick ( )
Russ Lossing - Personal Tone ( )
Simone - Moonlight Serenade (Venus )
Sonny Rollins - Shadow Waltz ( )
Stefano Bollani - L'Orchestra Del Titanic (Phantom )
Suzanne Carrico - What Christmas Time Means To Me ( )
Three Sounds - Introducing The 3 Sounds (Analogue Prod. )
Tubby Hayes - Three Classic Albums Plus (Phantom )
Walter Wanderley - World Of Walter Wanderley ( )
Wolfgang Dauner - Knirsch (Promising Music )
Reissues
Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special (Blue Note Records (USA) )
Keith Jarrett - Facing You (ECM (Japan))
Tal Farlow - Tal (Universal Japan )
Albert Mangelsdorff - Folk Mond And Flower Dream (Tropical Music, Inc. )
Amato Jazz Trio - Well (Phantom )
Angle - Wrecks (Phantom )
Anita O'Day - Live In Tokyo 75 (Emily )
Anita O'Day - Let Me Off Uptown (Mr. Music )
Ann Malcolm - Crystal Paperweight (Phantom )
Anna Sini - Sound Of Night (Phantom )
Anthony Branker & Ascent - Dance Music (Origin )
Ascent - Dance Music (Origin )
Banjo Clan - Blues & Soda (Phantom )
Barbara Errico - Endrigo In Jazz (Phantom )
Basie Bandsmen - Basie 2 A Tee (Quicksilver )
Bauer 4 - Familiy Affairs (J+K )
Be Little Trio & Quartet - Sueno (Phantom )
Benny Goodman - Afrs Benny Goodman Show, Vol. 3 (Sounds of Yester Year )
Bernie Cummins - Original 20S-30S Hot Dance Music (Vintage Music Prod. )
Big Band Legend: The Hollywood Years - Big Band Legend: The Hollywood Years ( )
Bobby Darin - That's All (Boxstar )
Bobby Darin - Thats All ( )
Butch Thomspon & His Boys - In Chicago-Featuring Frank Chace (Jazzology )
Cafiso Francesco 4 Out - Same (Phantom )
Celesti Erika Quartet - Io Speriamo Che Me La Can (Phantom )
Charles Earland - Slammin' & Jammin' (Savant Records (Jazz))
Chet Baker - Sesjun Radio Shows (Pink )
Chico Freeman - Lord Riff & Me (Why Not )
Chie Ayado - Live (Boxstar )
Chie Ayado - Live! (Boxstar )
City Champs - The Set-Up (Electraphonic Recordings )
Conny Bauer - Der Gelbe Klang (J+K )
Conny Bauer / J Bauer / M. Bauer / Louis Rastig - Familiy Affairs ( )
D'Attoma Donatello - Logos (Phantom )
Damir Tanic Quartet - Tra Due Terre E Di Nessun (Phantom )
Daniel Erdmann / Samuel Rohrer / Jonas Westergaard - Sleeping With The Enemy ( )
Dave Brubeck - Navy Swings (Sounds of Yester Year )
Dave Brubeck - Time Further Out ( )
Dave Brubeck - Legacy Of A Legend ( )
David "Fathead" Newman - I Remember Brother Ray (Highnote Records, Inc. )
David Murray & Blac - In Berlin (Pid )
Dinah Washington - 1943-53 Fabulous Miss D. (Phantom )
Dynamic Quartet - Play Soft (Phantom )
Eero Koivistoinen - 3rd Version (PORTER )
Elvio Favilla - My Big Band (Phantom )
Erdmann / Rohrer / Westergaard - Sleeping With The Enemy (J+K )
Erskine / Galati / Patitucci / Sheppard - Jason Salad! (Phantom )
Esther Ofarim - Back On Stage (Tropical Music, Inc. )
Esther Ofarim - I'll See You In My Dreams (Tropical Music, Inc. )
Esther Ofarim - Ill See You In My Dreams - Li (Tropical Music )
Feliciati / Gwis / Smimmo - Wasabi Closer (Phantom )
Ferraiuolo Trio - Artnam/Mantra (Phantom )
Forecast - Forecast ( )
Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful (King Japan )
Gary Husband - Husband,Gary Vol. 1-Dirty & Beautiful (Abstract Logix )
Gary Husband - Dirty And Beautiful, Vol. 1 (Abstract Logix )
Gene Lake - Here & Now (PASSIN THRU )
George Black Diamond Jazz Band Knoblauch - Takes Off (Merry Makers Record Co. )
George Knoblauch's - Takes Off (Merrymakers )
Gil Evans - Tokyo Concert 1976 (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Glenn Miller - Glenn Miller Plays The Music Of Harold Arlen & Irving Berlin (Sounds of Yester Year )
Gordon Lee - This Path (OA2 )
Harry James - Performance ( )
Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (Blue Note Records )
Herbie Hancock - Complete Columbia Collection Box Set (Sony Music )
Houston Person - My Romance (Highnote Records, Inc. )
James Mosley - With Roger Williams And Members Of TH (Morada Music )
James Mosley - James Mosley With Roger Williams & Members Of The London Symphony ( )
Jazz Couriers - Featuring Ronnie Scott (Specialty )
Jennifer Warnes - Well (Cisco)
John Coltrane - John Coltrane Quartet Plays (Verve )
Johnny Hartman - Voice That Is! (Analogue Productions )
L.A. Jazz Trio - Piano Trio Christmas (Phantom )
L.Mannutza / Menconi A. / Romano - Adventures Trio (Phantom )
La Sonora Matancera - Azucar Y Candela (ANS )
Lauren Hooker - Life Of The Music (Miles High )
Leon Lerena Ricardo Trio - Fuego Uruguayo (Phantom )
Lou Band Grassi Po & Marshall Allen - Grassi Po,Lou Band & Marshall Allen Vol. 1-Live At The Knitting Factory (PORTER )
Lou Donaldson - Sunny Side Up (CLASSIC )
Lou Donaldson - Time Is Right (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Lou Grassi - Live At The Knitting Factory, Vol. 1 (Porter )
Louis Armstrong - French Love Affair (Phantom )
Luigi Campoccia - On The Way To Damascus (Phantom )
Luigi Ruberti - Dedicated To Bill Evans (Phantom )
Malaguti Trio Comparcini / Zemolin - Corde E Vocali (Phantom )
Maria Winther - Dreamsville (Opus 3 ) - SACD
Max De Aloe Quartet - Bradipo (Phantom )
Mildred Bailey - Original Ink Spots Live (Mr. Music )
Milena Paradisi & Tallini Arturo - Rainbow Inside (Phantom )
Miles Davis - Perfect Way: The Anthology -The Warner Bros. Years (Phantom )
Mitchellrobert Panacea - Cusp (Edition Records )
Nexus - Plays Nexus (Phantom )
Norah Jones - ...Featuring Norah Jones (Blue Note )
P4 - Contraire (Phantom )
Paolo Big Band Tomelleri - Any Old Time (Phantom )
Paul Brusger Quintet - Definitely ! (Phantom )
Planet Zu - In The Light Of Day (Blue Canoe )
Radici Ensemble - Radici (Phantom )
Ranjit Barot - Bada Boom (Abstract Logix )
Rick Frystak - Blue Light Vista (Intone Music )
Robert Mitchell Panacea - Cusp (Edition )
Robert Mitchell's Panacea - The Cusp (EDITION RECORDS )
Sabino De Bari - Pas De Chat (Phantom )
Santino Carcano Quintet - L'Albero E Il Fiume (Phantom )
Sonny Fortune - Invitation (Why Not )
Sonny Rollins - Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet (Prestige )
Sonny Rollins & Modern Jazz Quartet - Sonny Rollins With The Modern Jazz Quartet (Original Jazz Classics )
Stephane Grappelli - And Friends (Phantom )
Tamco - Don't Think Twice (Edition )
Tarace Tommaso Quartet - Blood & Champagne (Phantom )
Ted Shafer - Takes Off (Merrymakers )
Ted Shafer & Jelly Roll Jazz Band - Takes Off (Merry Makers Record Co. )
Tee Carson & The Basie Bandsmen - Basie 2 A Tee (Quicksilver )
Tentacion Tango - Hijos Ilegitimos De Astor (Phantom )
The Transgress - Oneirism op.1 (Ropeadope Records) - Download
The Transgress - Oneirism op.1 (Ropeadope Records) - Download
Thomas Marriott - Constraints & Liberations (Origin )
Thomas Marriott - Constraints And Liberations (Origin )
Tommy Dorsey - Land Of Dreams 1944-46 (Circle )
Tony Kinsey - Evening With Tony Kinsey 'Mr. Percussion' (Speciality )
Tony Kinsey - An Evening With Tony Kinsey (Specialty )
Tubby Hayes & The Jazz Couriers - Featuring Ronnie Scott (Speciality )
Vescovi Massimo Trio - Schiuma (Phantom )
Reissues
Albert Mangelsdorff Quintet - Folk Mond & Flower Dream (Tropical M )
Django Reinhardt - Swing from Paris (Chant du Monde)
Freddie Hubbard - Hub Cap (Blue Note)
Freddie Hubbard - Hub-Tones (Blue Note)
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat (Cisco )
Ray McKinley - Howdy Friends (Living Era)
Thelonious Monk / Gerry Mulligan - Mulligan Meets Monk (Universal Japan )
Herbie Hancock and his Imagine Project Band have been invited by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to perform at this year's Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, December 11th.
Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington will host the 17th annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert which will take place at the Oslo Spektrum arena and be televised worldwide.
In addition to Hancock, the show will feature performances by world-renowned artists including Florence + the Machine, Colbie Caillat and many others to be announced in coming weeks.
Saxophonist Paul “Shilts” Weimar knows a thing or two about living on the raw edge of contemporary jazz, R&B and funk through his associations with groove bands like Down to the Band, Brand New Heavies and Was (Not Was). Now, his unfiltered, energetic and high-octane energy reaches its apex with “Going Underground,” 52 minutes of richly textured instrumental music that’s leading the way for a new generation of musicians no longer tethered to the restrictive demands of major record labels.
“Going Underground,” available on ITunes, Amazon and CD Baby, is Shilts’ fourth solo CD and his first independent release, offered on his own Blanket Records. “I wanted to something a bit rawer, not too overproduced with too many instruments,” Shilts says. To achieve this, Shilts recorded much of the music live and with the same musicians. Breaking away from his past, Shilts also brought in other writers – Jay Rowe, John Gilutin, Randy Jacobs and Bill Steinway – to collaborate on a few songs. “Throwing a lot of ideas about just beefed up my sound. I’m really proud of it.”
The nine songs on “Going Underground” add up to 52 minutes of music that mixes in Shilts’ trademark blistering Yamaha tenor sax – he’s a signed Yamaha artist – with his dedication and unbridled joy of the groove. The CD’s title references both the train system of his native London and the yoke-freeing of his new independent career. “Lambeth Strut,” which features an robust Nick Colionne guitar solo, is a nod to the famous “Lambeth Walk” song in the 1937 musical “Me and My Girl.” “Lambeth is an area in south London,” says Shilts, who now lives in Los Angeles with his family and is firmly entrenched in the area’s high-profile smooth jazz scene. “I changed the song to ‘Strut’ since my version has a walking tempo to it.”
“Sneakin’ Up Behind You” is the CD’s only cover, and it’s among one of Shilts’ most energetic, jazziest tunes ever. Featuring the Hammond B3 of Ricky Peterson, the song boasts an old-school funk sound and daring, off-the-cuff solos from Shilts. The song is from the Brecker Brothers’ 1975 debut, which they dubbed “skunk funk.” Shilts himself gets filthy on the tune. “The Brecker Brothers and David Sanborn introduced me to the whole fusion, fun-rock thing. ‘Sneakin’ Up Behind You’ has always been one of my favorites. Instead of covering a vocal tune, I thought why not put my stamp on this great instrumental. I’m pleased how it turned out.”
Another track that will surprise and delight Shilts fans is “Hip Bop,” a traditional jazz tune with a modern sheen. It features smooth jazz superstar Rick Braun on trumpet. Another tune, “Five o’clock in Rio,” took its inspiration from Shilts’ fascination with music legend Sergio Mendes and his recent updating of cool and classic Brazilian music. “I gave it a Latin feel and threw in an underground hip-hop beat while still keeping an eye on tradition.” The song has contemporary jazz stars Marc Antoine on guitar and Brian Simpson on piano.
The funk and blues are well-represented on “Tunnel Vision,” “Uncontainable,” and “Standing Room Only,” while Shilts slows things down – but not too much – with “Seeing Things Clearly” and jam-band groove of “Eyes Down.”
“Going Underground” follows 2008’s “Jigsaw Life” and 2006’s “HeadBoppin’,” which features the hits “Back to the Hudson,” “Broken Silence” and “Look What’s Happened.” His solo debut came in 2001 with “See What Happens,” which received a glowing debut from JazzTimes magazine: “This here music’s party in a box, baby.” Fans will be glad to know that Shilts recently gained musical rights to the CD, which has been out of print for a long time. It will soon be available via digital outlets for the first time and one track, “Short Island Iced Tea,” is ready for downloading now on Shilts’ website, shiltsmusic.com. “I want to also re-record some of my older stuff, do some remixes,” he says. “It’s a benefit of having my own record label.”
A native of London who grew up about 20 miles outside of the city in Luton, Shilts took to the sax early and at 14 joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain, which backed such jazz greats as Nancy Wilson, Buddy Greco, Rosemary Clooney, George Shearing and Mel Torme. He scored his first pro gig at 16 working in a house band that backed up legends such as the Temptations, Tom Jones, Four Tops, The Drifters and Rose Royce. After gigs in Hong Kong, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean, Shilts became a popular presence on the London session scene via dates with David Bowie (on the “Absolute Beginners” soundtrack), Jimmy Page, Conner Reeves and Dina Carroll. In the 1980s, Shilts was a member of the U.K. pop band Breathe, which had Top 10 U.S. hits with “Hands to Heaven” and “How Can I Fall.”
After co-founding System X with other London session musicians, in 1994 Shilts joined the British acid jazz/funk band Brand New Heavies, an association which lasted six years and overlapped his work with Down To the Bone in the late 1990s. Shilts went on to front Down to the Bone for 11 productive years.
What about Shilts’ stage name? It came from this love of soccer. At a party with his band while watching England play during the 1999 World Cup, the atmosphere was rightly rowdy and festive. When English goalkeeper Peter Shilton allowed a goal to go through his legs, the saxophonist jumped up and screamed at the TV, “Shilts! What have you done?” Subsequently on tour, whenever Shilts had his solo feature, the band members would shout, “Shilts, what are you doing?” It soon became the saxophonist’s nickname.
Whatever you call him, Shilts is simply one of the most energetic fan favorites on the tour circuit. As part of his high status in the music industry, Shilts will be performing all four days in March at the Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards in San Diego. Fans are sure to see a lot of action. “I like to go out there with a lot of energy,” Shilts says. “I like to establish a rapport with the audience. It’s almost like a comedy jazz show – I mess around, try to engage the audience and just let the band members have fun, too. We just play music and have some fun. That’s what it’s all about.”
Marcus Miller captures a once in a lifetime evening on new live recording. Known For His Captivating Live Shows, Bassist/Producer/Composer Triumphs On A Night In Monte-Carlo - Features Special Guests Roy Hargrove and Raul Midón
Bassist, producer, composer, and all-around musician Marcus Miller has been a student and a leader, a creator and an interpreter, a master and a mentor in the art form of music – from his teen years to the present – with many more miles to go before he sleeps…a profound past paving the way to an as yet unfathomable future. Marcus continues this legacy with A Night in Monte-Carlo, a live audio document of an amazing concert he was commissioned to perform on November 29, 2008 in the “rich man’s playground” of Monaco – a performance of music of his choice, much of it from his pen, featuring his arrangements for symphony orchestra. A Night In Monte-Carlo (CJA-32660-02) will be released February 1, 2011 on Concord Jazz, a division of the Concord Music Group. It features Marcus leading both his quartet and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, with special guests: trumpeter Roy Hargrove as well as singer, songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón. “I was invited by Jean-René Palacio, the Artistic Director for the principality of Monaco to present some of my music with the orchestra on the French Riviera,” Marcus recalls. No stranger to the area, as he has performed there many times AND played there on his downtime as a race car buff during the Grand Prix, Marcus relished the opportunity of sharing his music in the breathtaking and intimate 600-seat Monte-Carlo Opera House.
“The ceiling and every wall beneath is adorned with the most unbelievable murals,” Marcus marvels. “The setting was gorgeous.” More amazing were the fabulous musicians of the symphony. “The Monte-Carlo Orchestra was very hip. They were enthusiastic about my music and understood right away the sound I was trying to get,” Marcus enthuses. “After the first day of rehearsal, they all lined up to shake my hand! That put me totally at ease and made this the most satisfying experience I’ve ever had with a symphony. My band and the orchestra became good friends over those three days of rehearsal.”
The repertoire for A Night in Monte-Carlo covers nearly a century of music – from two styles of opera to jazz, including a contemporized spiritual and a timeless ballad. The program opened with a BANG with “Blast!” the GRAMMYÒ-nominated Middle Eastern-tinged instrumental of futuristic world fusion funk that has been begging for a symphonic treatment since it was birthed on his ninth album, Marcus (2008). Not knowing what to expect, the audience was taken by surprise when the huge sounds of the orchestra and quartet filled the Opera House with this musical Molotov cocktail.
Next was a version of Miles Davis’ “So What,” the classic of cool from the master’s groundbreaking 1959 LP Kind of Blue. “The original recording has a beautiful Bill Evans solo piano introduction that most musicians never play when they cover the tune,” Miller states. “I took that intro and gave it a full orchestration that leads into some nice stretched out playing from Alex Han on alto sax and Federico Gonzalez Peña on piano. I loved the contrast between the orchestra and DJ Logic on turntables. The string players were looking at him like, ‘What’s that he’s doing?’ while Logic was glancing over his shoulder, blown away by what they were playing. That’s what this was all about.”
Next is a beautiful rendition of “I Loves You Porgy” from the Gershwin opera Porgy & Bess that features Miller playing the bittersweet melody on fretless bass – a tasty contrast as couched by the strings. Then the orchestra takes a break as Miller introduces one-man band Raul Midón to the stage to sing “State of Mind,” a song that the blind singer/songwriter/guitarist recorded as the title track of the 2005 CD that launched him into the mainstream. Midón often performs the song alone simulating drums on the body of his guitar and the sound of a trumpet with his lips. Here, Marcus accompanies him on bass with Peña adding udu (an African percussion instrument). “What Raul does is amazing and this tune has a great energy,” says Miller.
When the orchestra returns, it is to accompany one of the finest living jazz trumpet players, Roy Hargrove, on a song that Marcus composed for the great Miles Davis titled “Amandla,” the soaring title track of the acclaimed 1989 follow-up album to the first Miller/Davis collaboration, Tutu. “Roy is one of the baddest trumpet players out there,” Miller shares. “We’re always passing each other in airports and at festivals. When I hosted the North Sea Jazz Cruise, I made sure to invite him as one of my guests. I had to bring him back for this show. His sound is gorgeous on this tune and he really opens up on his solo.” Marcus additionally features Hargrove playing the warmer flugelhorn on a dreamy rendition of the 1941 chestnut “I’m Glad There Is You” – a song Hargrove recorded on his 2000 CD Moment to Moment: Roy Hargrove With Strings.
The second more traditional of the opera pieces follows with a lovely melodic statement from Giacomo Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro (Oh, my dear papa),” a highlight from his 1918 one-act opera Gianni Schicchi. Again, Marcus plays the melody - usually associated with a lyrical soprano voice - on the fretless bass, providing a haunting feeing of déjà vu for the audience within the Opera House. This leads into the grand finale of the festive Brazilian pop classic “Mas Que Nada.” Marcus arranged and produced a soulful version of the song for singer Al Jarreau’s 1994 CD/DVD project Tenderness. He reprises that here - propelled with aplomb by drummer Poogie Bell – as a vehicle for all to return to the stage, with Roy Hargrove trading trumpet lines with Raul Midón’s “voice trumpet.”
A Night in Monte-Carlo closes with two very special pieces. The first is Marcus’ reverent yet contemporary interpolation of the spiritual “Amazing Grace” which he calls “Your Amazing Grace” that features him on an instrument that has fast become his most singular voice, the bass clarinet. That is followed by an inspired 11th hour addition, “Strange Fruit,” recorded in his Los Angeles recording studio. The chilling portrait of racial hatred that Billie Holiday first performed in 1939 on the stage of Café Society, the title metaphorically conjures the bodies of black men, women and child lynch victims hanging from trees in the American south in the not so distant past. It is an image and meditation that Miller brings to highly emotive recall in his musical history lesson for orchestra, crying its blues through his mournful bass clarinet accompanied by the piano of his frequent friend and collaborator Herbie Hancock.
Reflecting on the Monte Carlo concert, Marcus states, “I loved that the audience was full of so many people who had never experienced anything like this. Some were jazz lovers who’d never been to a symphony or vice versa, or young people seeing their first jazz concert. Personally, I was very inspired by the collaboration with the orchestra…so much so that the sound lingered in my mind long afterward. When I returned to my studio in Los Angeles, I arranged and recorded “Strange Fruit” and added it as a bonus track to the Monte Carlo CD as a reflection of the impression this experience has left on me.”
Since this recording was made in 2008, Marcus has presented A Night In Monte-Carlo with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic featuring Lalah Hathaway and Raul Midón for the 50th Anniversary of Jazz a Juan in the summer of 2010, and more recently at the Tokyo Jazz Festival with the NHK Symphony Orchestra featuring Roberta Flack and young trumpeter, Christian Scott. He has tailored each program to include his special guests and plans to continue to do so with various artists for upcoming shows.
Affinity - Affinity ( )
Al Di Meola - Original Album Classics ( )
All Star Alumni / Bobby Byrne - Hits Of Glenn Miller And Tom (Sepia )
All Stars / Charles Davis - Tribute To Kenny Dorham, A (TCB Music )
Allan Vache - Look To The Sky (Arbors )
Alpha Blondy - Apartheid Is Nazism (VP )
Alpha Blondy - Cocody Rock!!! (VP )
Alpha Blondy - Jerusalem (VP )
Andy Middleton - Reinventing The World (Inu )
Art Blakey - Three Classic Albums Plus (Phantom )
Art Pepper - Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section ( )
Art Webb - Mr Flute (Wounded Bird/Ieg )
Art Webb - Mr. Flute (Wounded Bird )
Benjamin Schaefer - Beneath The Surface (Metropolitan Groove Merchants )
Bing Crosby - Through The Years Vol.6 1953 (Sepia )
Bing Crosby - Through The Years, Vol. 6: 1953-1954 (Sepia )
Birgitte Lyregaard - Blue Anemone (Challenge )
Bob Wilber - Bob Wilber Is Here! (Arbors )
Bobby Byrne - Hits Of Glenn Miller And Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey In Stereo (Sepia )
Buddy Miles - Booger Bear (Wounded Bird/Ieg )
Caca / Codswallop / John Koenig / Claude Zac - CK Theory (Phantom )
Canvas - Jazzy Red Scattered Colors (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Cassandra Wilson - Silver Pony (Blue Note )
Charles / Grydeland / Wallumrod / Zac - Dans Les Arbres (Umgd/Ecm )
Charles Davis - Tribute To Kenny Dorham (TCB )
Charlie Parker - Chasin' The Bird (Synergy Distribution )
Chet Baker - Cool Jazz (Phantom )
Chet Catallo & The Cats - First Take (101 Distribution )
Christian Natta - Searching For The Chronology In Time (101 Distribution )
Christian Wallumrod - Dans Les Arbres (Ecm )
Clarvis & Noble - Starry Starry Night (Phantom )
Count Basie - Big Band Leader (Membran )
CTI All-Stars - 2009 Montreux Live (King Japan )
Dave Frishberg - Live At Vine Street (Hi Horse )
David Braid - Spirit Dance (Opening Day Recordings )
David Braid / Canadian Brass - Spirit Dance ( )
David Braid and Canadian Brass - Spirit Dance (Opening Day Records)
Django Reinhardt - Musette To Maestro 1928-1937 (JSP )
Don Cornell - I'm Yours (United States of Distribution )
Dreamtime - Double Trouble (Reel Recordings )
Earl Klugh - Earl Klugh/Living Inside Your Love/Magic In Your Eyes (Beat Goes On )
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Best Of Eddie Lockjaw Davis (Hi Horse )
Eddie Roberts - Trenta (Salvos)
Enders Room - Random Guru (Inu )
Erik Truffaz - In Between (Phantom )
Esra Dalfidan's FIDAN - Counter Point (Challenge )
Fago Sepia - Resume (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Fast / Slow / Ken Thomson - It Would Be Easier If (Inu )
Fourscore - Add To Friends (Pid )
George Adams - Live At Montmartre (TJL )
Geri Allen - Flying Toward The Sound (MTM )
Gilles Torrent - World Jazz Sound ( )
Harry "Sweets" Edison - Best Of Harry "Sweets" Edison (Hi Horse )
Helio Alves - Musica (JLP )
Herb Albert - What Now My Love (Phantom )
Herb Albert - Lost Treasures (Phantom )
Hiro Yamanaka - Sorry I'm Late (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Holly Cole - Holly Cole (Alert)
Holly Cole - Shade (Phantom )
Ivo Neame Trio - Swirls & Eddies (Phantom )
Jack Parnell - Two Classic Albums Plus Two Eps (Phantom )
Jacqui Dankworth - Back To You (Phantom )
Jamaaladeen Tacuma - For The Love Of Ornette (P-Vine )
Janet Carroll - Lady Be Good (Arbors )
Jazz Club - Club Jazz (Phantom )
Jim Gemini Hart - Emergence (Phantom )
Jim Gemini Hart - Narrada (Phantom )
Joao Bosco - Senhoras Do Amazonas (Yellowbird )
Jonathan Lorentz - Borderlands (Metier (Uk) )
Joona Toivanen Trio - At My Side (Phantom )
Joseph Tawadros - Hour Of Separation, The (Enj )
Joseph Tawadros - Hour Of Separation (Enja )
K.J. Denhert - Album No. 9 (MTM )
Ken Nordine - Word Jazz: The Complete 1950S Recordings (United States Of Dist. (Uk) )
Ken Thomson - It Would Be Easier If (Intuition )
Kenny Werner - New York Love Songs (Otn )
Kylesa - Spiral Shadow (Season Of Mist )
Lauren Dalrymple - Copasetic (Phantom )
Linda Hoyle - Pieces Of Me ( )
Marcus Johnson - Flo Holiday (Three Keys Music )
Marcus Johnson - Flo Chill, Vol. 2 (Three Keys Music )
Mario Biondi - If (Phantom )
Mario Romano Quartet - Valentina (Alma )
Mark Weinstein - Jazz/Brasil (JZH )
Martin Kolbe - Waves (Inakustik )
Martin Kolbe - Waves/Colouring The Leaves (Inakustik )
Martin Kolbe & Ralf Illenberger - Waves/Colouring The Leaves (Inakustik )
Marty Ehrlich - Hear You Say (Intuition )
Marvin Peterson & T - In Concert (Jazzman/Forced Exposure )
Marvin Peterson & The Soulmaste - In Concert (Jazzman )
Matt Haimovitz - Meeting Of The Spirits (Oxingale )
Matt Haimovitz and Uccello - Meeting of the Spirits (Oxingale)
Mel Torme - Foggy Day (Synergy Distribution )
Metronome Quintet - Plays Swinging Mahagonny (Phantom )
Metronome Quintet - Plays Swinging Mahagony (Unique Germany )
Michael Kaeshammer - Lovelight (Phantom )
Miles Davis - Original Album Classics (Sony Uk/Zoom )
Minsarah - Blurring The Lines (Enj )
Monica Zetterlund - Waltz For Debby (Universal Japan )
Nat "King" Cole - Central Avenue Breakdown (Synergy )
Nicolas Meier Trios - Breeze (Phantom )
Ounaskari & Mikkonen - Kuara ( )
Patrick Cornelius - Fierce (Whirlwind )
Quasimode - Oneself Likeness (Phantom )
Quest - Re-Dial (Otn )
Quest - Re-Dial: Live In Hamburg (Outnote )
Randy Weston - Storyteller, The (MTM )
Randy Weston - Storyteller (Mot�ma Music )
Ray Anderson / M.Ehrlich Qrt - Hear You Say (Inu )
Roberto Fonseca - Live In Marciac CD+DVD (Enj )
Roberto Fonseca - Live In Marciac (Enja )
Robi Botos - One Take, Vol. 4 (Alma )
Robi Botos - One Take Volume Four (Alma )
Roger Davidson - Brazilian Love Song (Soundbrush )
Roger Davidson Quintet - Brazilian Love Song (SNB )
Roscoe Mitchell - Far Side (Ecm )
Saina - Rhythm & Sweet Life J Pop Covers (Media Factory Japan/Zoom )
Scott Feiner - Accents (Zoho Music )
Scott Feiner / Pandeiro Jazz - Accents (Zoho Music )
Shangri-Las - Leader Of The Pack (Synergy Distribution )
Solus 3 - Sky Above The Roof (Phantom )
Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus (Prestige )
Soo Cho Quartet - Little Prince (Challenge )
Speedometer - Four Flights Up (Phantom )
Stephan Micus - Bold As Light (Ecm )
Stephen Ros - ...For The Ghosts Within (Domino )
Sun Ra & The Intergalactic Research - Live In London 1970 (Cobra )
Supersilent - 10 (Rune Grammofon )
Supersilent - 11 (Rune Grammofon )
Susie Arioli - Christmas Dreaming (Phantom )
Svend Asmussen - Rhythm Is Our Business (Storyville )
Teddy Wilson - Solo 8CD+DVD (Storyville )
Teddy Wilson - Solo (Storyville )
Three Sounds - Introducing The 3 Sounds (Analogue Prod. )
Tom Bancroft - Ballad Of Linda & Crawford (Phantom )
Toots Thielemans - European Quartet Live (Challenge )
Trio Elf - Elfland (Metropolitan Groove Merchants )
Trygve Seim / Andreas Utnem - Purcor ( )
Tubby Hayes - Three Classic Albums Plus (Phantom )
United Jazz & Rock Ensemble - Break Even Point/United Live Opus Sechs (Inakustik )
United Jazz + Rock Ensemble - Break Even Point/The United Live Opus Sechs (Inakustik )
United Jazz + Rock Ensemble - Break Even Point/United Live Opus Sechs (Inakustik )
United Jazz + Rock Ensemble - Break Even Point/ United Live Opus Sechs (Inakustik )
Vince Mendoza - Fast City:Tribute To Joe Zawinul (Zyx )
Wild Bill Davison - In Copenhagen (Phantom )
Wolfgang & Mariano Dauner / Saluzzi - One Nightin 88/Pas De Trois (Inakustik )
Wolfgang Dauner - Knirsch (Promising Music )
Wolfgang Dauner - One Night In '88/Pas De Trois (Inakustik )
Yelena K. & The Love Trio - Yelena K. & The Love Trio (Challenge )
Reissues
Blossom Dearie - Adorable Blossom Dearie (El (USA) )
Duke Jordan - Flight To Jordan (EMI )
Grant Green - Grantstand (Blue Note)
Jimmy Smith - Midnight Special (Blue Note Records (USA) )
