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.
Singer + Songwriter, Amy Serrata creates music intended to heal and bring people together. Amy’s interest in singing arose at an early age listening to the sounds of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong to name a few. She sung in choir and started singing lessons at the age of 10 years old when she attended Nido De Aguilas, an international school in Santiago, Chile. As she got older she sung in several gospel choirs and through that experience continued to develop her vocal improvisational skills.
When she began creating her own music, she improvised by using poetry that she had previously written. The melodies started to naturally form and she then worked with producers Hyp, HMD & Nyambezi to round out the sound of her self -titled debut album, Amy Serrata.
Amy also collaborated with Willie Norwood, father of R&B star Brandy Norwood. He acted as Amy’s vocal coach and producer for the album. “The vibe between me and Willie is incredible, “ says Amy. “He helped me refine my harmonies and adlibs. The music was good before but it was even better after I worked with him! I look forward to working with him again.”
Amy Serrata features a seamless musical blend of soul, hip-hop and jazz, tied together with Amy’s signature vocals, and uplifting approach to songwriting. “I hope people can listen to my songs and relate to the messages or be touched by them. I wanted to give a message of confidence to others its ok to be scared by life sometimes. But to let fear stop you in life is not ok.”
Amy leads by her own fearless example, drawing on her own struggles to provide material for the album, but always with a positive and inspiring twist. Her universal message and passion, combined with diverse musical influences creates a rich experience for the listener. “My experience while making my album was amazing. It was rocky and bumpy but the overall journey was sweet. Nothing comes easily in life but I wanted this badly so I fought for it.”
Amy’s music is largely about personal growth and evolution. “My music is meant to heal and bring people together because the words are positive and they make us see that we are only human. We all go through similar things but we can all be better and inspire each other to be our best.” She also tackles serious subject matter such as child abductions on “My Baby My Child.” Look out for Amy performing various dates around California, including opening for Aloe Blacc, as well as collaborative performances with Bay Area MC Niamaj.
Alexander Zonjic - Doin' The D (Heads Up ) Allen Toussaint - The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch ) Allyn Ferguson - Borderland (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Andrew Hill - Grass Roots (Blue Note ) Andy Narell - University Of Calypso (Heads Up ) Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers - Moanin' (Disconforme ) Baden Powell & Vini - Os Afro:Samba De Baden E Vinicius (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Barbara Raimondi - Accoppiamenti Giudiziosi (Phantom ) Barney Wilen - Sanctuary (Ida Records (import - France) ) Barney Wilen - Talisman (Disconforme ) Billie Holiday - Her Finest Studio Recordings (Proper ) Billy Vaughn - Melody Of Love: Best Of (Jasmine Music ) Blkyn (Bastard Jazz Presents) - Blkyn (Bastard Jazz Presents) (Phantom ) Bob Baldwin - Lookin' Back (Warlock ) Bob Brookmeyer - Traditionalism Revisited (Disconforme ) Bob Brookmeyer - Street Swingers (Disconforme ) Bobby Selvaggio - Modern Times (Arabesque Jazz) Bossa Nova Mesmo - Bossa Nova Mesmo (Phantom ) Browne Hayw Stevens - Sudden In A Shaft Of Sunlight (Indies Aus/Zoom ) Buddy Collette - His West Coast Friends (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Buddy Collette - Calm Cool & Collette (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Buddy Collette - Original Westcoaster (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Caetano Veloso - Domingo (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Charles Mingus - Jazz Workshop 1957-1958 (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Charlie Parker - Jazz At Massey Hall (Disconforme ) Cindy Bradley - Bloom (Trippin & Rhyth ) Composer?s Wor / Warren Smith - Old News Borrowed Blues (Egr ) Count Basie - Plays Hefti (Disconforme ) Daryl Sherman - Johnny Mercer: Centennial Tribute (Arbors ) David Gibson - Litt'L Somethin (Positone Records ) Dizzy Gillespie - All Star Sessions:3 Classic Albums Wi (Avid Records/Tradition Alive ) Don Cherry / Sonny Rollins - New York 1962 Stockholm 1963 (Rare Live Recordings ) Duke Jordan - I Should Care (Disconforme ) Egyptian Lover - Electro Pharoah/ Keep It Hot Remixcolored Vinyl (Egyptian Empire ) Elis Regina - In London (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Elis Regina - Como & Porque (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Elis Regina - Elis & Tom (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Federica Zammarchi - Fires'N Pyres (Phantom ) Federico Casagrande - Spirit Of The Mountains (Phantom ) Francis Boland / Kenny Clarke - Now Hear Our Meanin: The Complete 1963 Recordings (Jazz Lips ) Franco Fabi - Fabi,Franco Vol. 1-Circus (Phantom ) Franco Fabi - Circus, Vol.1 (Phantom ) Fred Anderson - Staying In The Game (Egr ) Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay (Phantom ) Gato Barbieri - In Search Of The Mystery (Esp Disk LTD. ) J.J. Johnson - Complete Recordings (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Jennifer Warnes - Hunter (Cisco ) Johnny Hodges - Buenos Aires Blues (Disconforme ) Junior Mance - Junior Mance Touch (Disconforme ) Kenny Dorham - Una Mas (Blue Note ) Kurt Elling - Live Album (Concord ) Kurt Elling - Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman (Concord ) Larry Young - Into Something (Blue Note ) Larry Young - Unity (Blue Note ) Louis Armstrong - Live In Japan (Disconforme ) Manny Albam / Bill Russo - Something New Something Blue (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Matteo Negrin - Jouer Sans Frontieres (Phantom ) Matthew Halsall - Sending My Love (Gondwana ) Mike DiRubbo - Repercussion (Positone Records ) Miles Davis - Cookin (Disconforme ) Miles Davis - Relaxin (Disconforme ) Monday Nights At Birdland - Monday Nights At Birdland (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Monnette Sudler - Where Have All The Legends Gone? (Heavenly Sweetness Records ) Nara Leao - Meu Primeiro Amor (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Nat "King" Cole - Absolutely Essential Collection (Phantom Sound & Vision ) Nat Birchall - Akhenaten (Gondwana ) Ost - Garota De Ipanema (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Pierluigi Balducci - Stupor Mundi (Phantom ) Pizzarellis - Pizzarelli Party (Arbors ) Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans Preservation Vol. 1 (Preservation Hall ) Ralph Bowen - Dedicated (Positone Records ) Ray Baudec / Nappy Lamare - Dixieland Generation (Jasmine Music ) Scott Hamilton - Race Point (Disconforme ) Sean Nowell - Seeker (Positone Records ) Sonny Stitt - Burnin (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Thad Jones / Mel Lewis - Complete Live In Poland 1976 & 1978 (Gambit Spain ) Tom Abbs / Frequency Response - Lost & Found (Egr ) Tom Abbs Response & Frequency - Lost & Found (Engine Studios ) Tommy Flanagan / Coleman Hawkins - At The London House 1963 (Gambit Spain ) Tony Gould / Barry Tuckwell - Very Thought Of You (Phantom ) Ventures - Play Kayama Yuzo (Phantom ) Ventures - Play Southern All Stars (Phantom ) Warren Smith - Old News Borrowed Blues (Engine Studios )
Reissues Charles Mingus - Tijuana Moods (RCA Music Group) Freddie Hubbard - First Light (Sbme Special MKTS. ) Joao GIlberto - Brasil (Universal) Nara Leao - Dez Anos Depois (Universal) Wayne Shorter - Soothsayer (Blue Note Records (USA) )
Anne Walsh’s Brazilian jazz-pop confections turning heads
A celestial voice with a refreshing outlook arrives on the jazz-adult pop scene with today’s (June 16) release of Pretty World by Anne Walsh from A To Zink Music. Her classically-trained voice gracefully guides a dozen dreamy compositions brimful of hope, optimism and romance. Walsh’s classy collection of elegant standards, sensual Brazilian jazz rhythms and dramatic ballads enchants with warmly produced live instrumentation meticulously performed by noted musicians.
For her debut jazz outing - previous releases include concept albums of lullabies (the Parent’s Choice award-winning Baby Mine) and sacred music (Be Still My Soul) - Walsh made it a family affair by tapping husband Thomas Zink to produce and orchestrate Pretty World. While the record consists entirely of lovingly selected covers, Joe DeRenzo composed original lyrics to instrumentals by Pat Metheny (“So May It Secretly Begin”), Keith Jarrett (“My Song”) and Don Grolnick (“Pools”), which added a unique element. To maintain authenticity, Zink, who played piano, keyboards and synths, recruited gifted musicians who had performed together while backing Sergio Mendes, including guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, bassists Carlitos Del Puerto and Jerry Watts, percussionist Tiki Pasillas, and saxophonist-flautist Gary Meek, in addition to multidimensional bassist Brian Bromberg.
The first track from Pretty World gaining radio spins across the nation, “Chove Chuva” is a cool swinging version of the Mendes original, perfect for frolicking by the beach in the summer sun. To mark the album release, Walsh performed with her band Sunday night (June 14) in Sherman Oaks, California at Spazio and will take the stage backed by a quartet consisting of Bromberg, Pasillas, Zink and drummer Chris Wabich on Wednesday night (June 17) at Spaghettini’s in Seal Beach, California.
Reviewers have been lavishing praise upon Pretty World. Below are some of the highlights.
Urban Network: “With her latest release, Pretty World, she (Walsh) has padded pure and barefoot into a spellbinding universe of impeccably selected songs from the realms of Brazilian-kissed jazz. The result is the most impressive contemporary approach to balancing compositions deserving of wider recognition with standards as has been rendered in many a velvet moon. Most outstanding are three originally instrumental songs that were lyricized by Joe DeRenzo…Each song is impeccably arranged…This is simply the most refreshing contemporary jazz vocal album of the year.”
Smooth Jazz Therapy: “…Anne Walsh has sublimely captured the concept of this planet of ours as a beautiful place to be. Her voice is as clear as a bell and as she joyously interprets a range of songs that span the decades; the entire collection is blessed with a luscious string section and picture perfect production from husband Thomas Zink…Walsh navigates this wonderful amalgam of buoyant Brazilian jazz grooves and poignant heart tugging ballads with total aplomb yet the fact that three memorable instrumentals have been given original lyrics, written specially for Walsh by Joe DeRenzo, simply adds to the creativity of this refreshing piece of work…Anne Walsh is on a fast-track to stardom.”
Sounds of Timeless Jazz: “…the dynamic song stylist gives these tracks her best shot and wows listeners with versatile phrasing, poignant interpretive skills and multi-octave vocal prowess. Walsh is accompanied by some of the best musicians on the jazz scene today… The Portuguese version of ‘My Favorite Things’ is one of the best songs on this recording. Walsh sings with ease and emotion over beautiful orchestration and accomplished saxophone accompaniment by the great Gary Meek and brilliant bass work by Brian Bromberg. Overall, Pretty World surpasses the standards Walsh set for herself on her previous recording(s) and should delight her new and existing fans.”
Jazz Weekly: “Her voice is as sweet as sugar cane, yet with enough huskiness to give some push to the lyrics. An impressive debut for a lady who’s got excellent taste and knows how to flavor a tune.” O’s Place Jazz Newsletter: “The music is refreshing and engaging…Walsh has a voice that is as comforting as a good pillow!”
Versatile Singer/Pianist Recasts Contemporary Pop Tunes In Straightahead Jazz Arrangements
In the digitally-driven 21st century, the landscape of American popular music exists in a constant state of metamorphosis. At any given moment, the lines between jazz, R&B, soul, funk, pop, hip-hop and countless other styles can become indistinguishable, and sometimes disappear altogether. Singer/pianist Joe McBride, an innovator since his first recordings in the early ‘90s, understands this phenomenon on a first-hand level. And like any versatile artist who’s in it for the long haul, he’s learned to not only roll with the changes, but actively seek them out and explore their maximum artistic potential.
A longtime stalwart of the contemporary jazz scene, McBride takes a detour from his usual path for an intriguing new recording that reinterprets a dozen contemporary pop songs via straightahead jazz arrangements. His new CD, Lookin’ For A Change (HUCD 3144), is set for worldwide release on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group.
Fleshed out with the help of a live trio – guitarist Dan Wilson, bassist Roger Hines and drummer Elijah Gilmore – Lookin’ For A Change is a collection of songs originally written and recorded by a range of pop luminaries, including Gnarls Barkley, Coldplay, John Mayer, Seal, Jill Scott and several others. These reinterpretations, along with three original compositions from McBride’s own inspirational well, make for an engaging juxtaposition of the best elements of contemporary pop and traditional jazz.
“The majority of my releases in the past have been primarily electronic,” says McBride, “with an acoustic piano playing over the top of arrangements that were primarily put together with drum machines and other technology. I’ve loved contemporary jazz. It’s been a lot of fun playing that kind of music. But I wanted to move forward a little bit, demonstrate a little growth, try something new.”
The set opens with a buoyant take on Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” wherein McBride augments his energetic piano work with a vocal line reminiscent of Al Jarreau. The followup track, a syncopated reading of Vanessa Carlton’s yearning “1000 Miles,” is a bit more down to earth and pensive. “I like how easily the Vanessa Carlton tune translated to jazz,” says McBride. “It swings very easily. It was very easy to put into a straightahead bag.”
Further into the set, McBride injects Corrine Bailey Rae’s “Like a Star” with a Latin groove that’s full of energy without being overbearing. “I like the samba feel on that track,” says McBride. “There’s a really great acoustic guitar solo in there by Dan Wilson.”
In the home stretch, McBride’s rendition of Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” puts a gentler jazz spin on this passionate ode without sacrificing any of the emotional impact of the source material.
The set closes with the infectiously rhythmic title track, an appeal for greater tolerance and understanding in a rapidly evolving society. Written by McBride, the song is laced with subtle but unmistakable hints of R&B and funk amid the predominantly jazz-flavored arrangement. This is McBride at his best – sending a clear and positive message without delivering a heavy-handed sermon.
More than just pure musical entertainment, McBride sees Lookin’ for a Change as a learning experience for listeners from different generations – himself included. As is so often the case, creating something new required a reacquaintance with the old stuff.
“As the project came together, the process became very educational – for me as much as anyone else who heard some of the early tracks,” says McBride. “I had forgotten some of the jazz roots of my youth, the straightahead stuff that I had learned back in high school and college – the Miles and the Coltrane and the Charlie Parker. So this project kind of took me back a little bit too. I had to really do my homework on some of the theory in this music.”
But McBride has no reservations about digging in and doing the hard work for the sake of his craft. “I wouldn’t trade now for any of the other years of my life,” he says. “I feel very good about this record. I feel like I’m in a fresh spot. I’m ready to broaden my horizons, and maybe broaden the horizons of some of my listeners as well. It’s all about the love for the music, and the willingness to try something new. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m trying something new every day.”
Only trained musicians might understand exactly what gave the Paul Desmond-penned song its flow. It was all in the time signature: five beats to the measure, a departure from more traditional four-four time in jazz. It was cutting-edge and cool — a song millions would scoop up and savor. In an interview with Michele Norris, Brubeck explains what made the time signature so difficult.
"You were brought up playing in four-four," Brubeck says. "Everybody could walk to it and dance to it. Put an extra beat on it — everybody's tripping."
Fifty years ago, "Take Five" appeared on Time Out, a title that served as a double-entendre. Those in the know knew it referenced the mood and the music's meter.
At age 89, Brubeck has slowed down, but he's still playing and writing music.
"The more you get to play, the better it is — just play as you can while you can," Brubeck says. "I can't wait for the next job so we can play."
Smooth Jazz singing star Brian McKnight is putting the finishing touches on his next CD project, and he’s brought in a couple of special guests to make us anticipate the album even more.
Billboard.com quotes McKnight as saying the CD is ‘almost done’, although it doesn’t have a title yet. Whatever it’s called, the new disc will be his first release of all new material in three years, since ‘Ten’ came out in 2006.
McKnight says he’s ‘taken some different directions’ this time, ranging from ‘five to six Brian McKnight kind of songs that you’d expect’ , including the first single, ‘What I’ve Been Waiting For’, to a piece that has ‘a reggae feeling that I’ve never done before.’ McKnight says he’s also been influenced by his sons, who are recording their own album at the same time.
The unnamed CD features duets with Stevie Wonder on ‘Without You’ and with Jill Scott on ‘More Than Just a Thing.’
As if McKnight isn’t busy enough with the new recording and with his morning radio show on Smooth Jazz station The Wave in Los Angeles, he’s also getting ready to debut a weekly late night talk show on the CW network. That show will begin airing on September 26th.
Kyle Eastwood grew up in Carmel, California and is the eldest son of the Hollywood star Clint Eastwood. While doing his homework Kyle remembers listening to records of jazz stars such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Miles Davis playing in the house. Eastwood Senior had been attending the Monterey Jazz Festival since it began in 1958 and when his children were born it became a yearly family outing. Kyle's childhood had jazz as its soundtrack and he credits his father with introducing him to the joys of the bass line. Kyle's first memory of playing music was when Clint taught him how to play the left hand bass line of “Boogie Woogie” while he played the right hand solo over the top.
Studying film in the beginning, Kyle soon realized that jazz was his true passion. After years of paying his dues gigging around Los Angeles and New York, his debut album From Here to There was released on Sony in 1998.
Showing his ability as an accomplished composer, Kyle started to get into films with a contribution to the score for Mystic River. The film later went on to win two Academy Awards.
In 2004, Kyle signed to Candid Records, one of the leading independent jazz labels in the UK, and released his second album Paris Blue. It resonates with swing, groove, and funk overtones. Kyle says, “My roots remain in jazz but I like adding all kinds of different flavors.” The album climbed to No. 1 on the French Jazz charts.
Not being satisfied with just a critically acclaimed record, Kyle continued to work heavily within the movie industry by composing three pieces of music for the 2004 blockbuster Million Dollar Baby which went on to win four Academy Awards.
Kyle’s third album Now was released in 2006. It features songs written by Ben Cullum and collaborations with BBC Jazz Award winner pianist Andrew McCormack, as well as other musicians that make up the who’s who of the London jazz scene. With tracks ranging from the post-modern jazz modalities of the title track, through the flirtatious melodies of “Let’s Play” to the moody electronic groove of “September Nights,” Now captured listeners worldwide.
In 2007 and 2008, Kyle delivered Now to live audiences on 3 continents. His performances with his live band have sold out venues and received the highest critical acclaim. Kyle has also managed to fit in composing soundtracks for a number of popular films by Clint Eastwood’s including Flags Of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima and Gran Torino.
Co-produced by Erin Davis (son of Miles) and Kyle’s long term writing partner Michael Stevens, the new album is set to capture the attention of the jazz world with its forward thinking style and stars which represent the cream of today’s jazz musicians followed by a worldwide tour in late 2009.
Al DiMeola - Cielo E Terra/Soaring Through A Dream/Tirami Su (BGO - Beat Goes On ) Andrea Donati - Under Italian Skies (Kind Of Blue ) Barney Wilen - Sanctuary (Ida Records (import - France) ) Barney Wilen - Talisman (Disconforme ) Barney Wilen - Dreamtime (Disconforme ) Bill Heid - Air Mobile (Doodlin Records ) Bill Heid - Asian Persuasion (Doodlin Records ) Bob Brookmeyer - Traditionalism Revisited (Disconforme ) Bob Brookmeyer - Street Swingers (Disconforme ) Bobby Broom - Bobby Broom Plays For Monk (Origin ) Bobby Pierce - Long Road Back (Doodlin Records ) Bobby Pierce - The Long Road Back (Doodlin Records/City Hall ) Bourne - Lost Something (Edition ) Branford Marsalis - Citi Movement (Disconforme ) Brass Ecstasy - Spirit Moves (Gre ) Carl Riseley - Stillest Hour (Phantom ) Chad Mccullough - Dark Wood Dark Water (Origin ) Chad Mccullough - Dark Wood, Dark Water (Origin ) Charles Mingus - Jazz Workshop 1957-1958 (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Charlie Parker - Bird At St. Nick's (Original Jazz Classics ) Charlie Parker - Jazz At Massey Hall (Disconforme ) Christian McBride - Kind Of Brown (Mack Avenue ) Christian Mcbride & Inside Straight - Kind Of Brown (Mack Avenue ) Coleman Hawkins & Tommy Flanagan Quartet - At The London House 1963 (Disconforme ) Count Basie - Plays Hefti (Disconforme ) Dave Glenn - National Pastime (Origin ) Dave Quin Stapleton - House Always Wins (Red Eye Music/City Hall ) Dave Quin Stapleton - When Life Was In Black & White (Edition Records/City Hall ) Dave Quin Stapleton - The House Always Win (Edition Records/City Hall ) Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Nutcracker Suite (Pure Pleasure ) Duke Jordan - I Should Care (Disconforme ) Edward Simon - Poesia (Phantom ) Eileen Simon - The Visit (Tapestry ) Eileen Simon - Visit (Tapestry ) Fast Three - 3'S Company A Tribute To Grant Green (Doodlin Records ) Fast Three - 3'S Company:Tribute To Grant Green (Doodlin Records/City Hall ) Four80East - Roll On (Native Language ) Franck Avitabile - Paris Sketches (Dreyfus Jazz ) Geoff Eales Trio - Master Of The Game (Edition Records/City Hall ) Gilles Peterson - Shibuya Jazz Ishin (Phantom ) Glenn Miller Orchestra - Reunions In 1948, 1954, 1959 (Sounds Of Yesteryear ) Glenn Singer Miller - Reunions In 1948, 1954, 1959 (Sounds Of Yesteryear ) Gloria Coleman - Sweet Missy (Doodlin Records ) Grant Stewart - Plays Duke Ellington And Billy Strayh (Sharp Nine ) Grant Stewart - Plays the Music of Duke Ellington and Bill Strayhorn (Sharp Nine ) Hank Jones - Bop Redux (Muse Records ) Hoagy Carmichael - First Of The Singer Songwriters 1924-1946 (Jsp ) J.D. Allen - Shine (Sunny Side ) J.D. Allen - Shine! (Sunny Side ) J.J. Johnson - Complete Recordings (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Jack Wilkins - Until It's Time (Max Jazz ) Jalala - The Old Mercer Magic! (Dare Records/Ada ) Jalala - Old Mercer Magic! (Dare ) Jane Bunnett - Embracing Voices (Pid ) JD Allen Trio - Shine! (Sunny Side ) Jennifer Warnes - Hunter (Cisco ) Jerry Bergonzi - Simply Put (Ryko ) Joe Locke - Mutual Admiration Society 2 (Sharp Nine ) Joey Defrancesco - Finger Poppin' Celebrating The Music Of Horace Sil (Doodlin Records ) Joey Defrancesco - Finger Poppin Celebrating Music Horac (Doodlin Records/City Hall ) Joey Defrancesco - Finger Poppin': Celebrating the Music of Horace Silver (Doodlin Records/City Hall ) Johnny Mandel - I Want To Live (Disconforme ) Josef Locke - Mutual Admiration Society 2 (Sharp Nine ) Joshua Redman - Captured Live 1994 (Jazz Door ) Junior Mance - Junior Mance Touch (Disconforme ) Keali'I Reichel - Kamalei:Collection Two (JVC Japan/Zoom ) Keith Tapes Tippett - Live At Le Mans (Red Eye Music/City Hall ) Keith Tippett - Live At Le Mans (Edition ) Ken Colyer - Sunset At Sandbay (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Kenny Clarke & Francy Boland Big Band - Now Haer Our Meanin'. The Complete 1963 Recordings (Disconforme ) Kevin Deitz - Skylines (Origin ) Kevin Figes - Circular Motion (Edition Records/City Hall ) Lemongrass - Pearl Diver (Mole Listening Pearl ) Lonnie Gasperini - North Beach Blues (Doodlin Records ) Lonnie Gasperini Organ Trio - North Beach Blues (Doodlin ) Lonnie Or Gasperini - North Beach Blues (Doodlin Records/City Hall ) Louis Armstrong - Live In Japan (Disconforme ) Masada - Stolas: The Book Of Angels Vol. 12 (Tzadik ) Masada Quintet - Stolas: Book Of Angels Volume 12 (Tzadik ) Matthew Bourne - Lost Something (Edition Records/City Hall ) Matthew Bourne - Dismantling The Water Fall The Mill Sessions, Vol.1 (Edition ) Mauro Ottolini - Sousaphonix (Phantom ) Miles Davis - Cookin (Disconforme ) Miles Davis - Relaxin (Disconforme ) Monday Nights At Birdland - Monday Nights At Birdland (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - At The Jazz Band Ball Vol. 1 (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - At the Jazz Band Ball (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Nicola Conte - Rituals (Pid ) Norio Maeda - Enraku No Playboy Kouza 12shou (Phantom ) Nuttree Quartet - Something Sentimental (Kind Of Blue ) Oscar Peterson - Songbooks (Verve ) Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Fifteen Years On (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Paul Meyers - World On A String (Miles High Productions/City Ha ) Paula Atherton - Groove With Me (Dream On Records) Paula Gardner - Hot Lament (Edition ) Paula Gardner Trio - Hot Lament (Edition Records/City Hall ) Peter Big Band Hand - Wizard Of Jazz: A Tribute (Ryko ) Peter Hand / Houston Person - Wizard Of Jazz: Tribute To Harold Arlen (Savant ) Peter Hand / Houston Person - The Wizard Of Jazz: A Tribute To Harold Arlen (Savant ) Pretty Things 'n Mates - Rockin' the Garage (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Profound Sound Trio - Opus De Life (Porter Records/City Hall ) Ray Anthony & His O - Let's Go To Town (Sounds Of Yesteryear ) Ray Davies & Crouch End Festival Chorus - Kinks Choral Collection By Ray Davies (Uni Classics Jazz Uk ) Rene Lussier / Martin Tetreault / Otomo Yoshihide - Elektrik Toboggan (Victo ) Rhoda Scott - From C To Shining C (Doodlin Records ) Sam Charters - Sam Charters Washboard Jazz Band:New (Merry Makers ) Sam Charters - Sam Charter's Washboard Jazz Band-New Orleans Jazz (Merry Makers ) Sara Wasserman - Solid Ground (Video Music, Inc. ) Saya - Comme Une Femme (Phantom ) Scott Hamilton - Race Point (Disconforme ) Sebasti Cornelissen - U Turn (Abstract Logix/City Hall ) Sebasti Cornelissen - U-Turn (Abstract Logix/City Hall ) Sebastian Cornelissen - U-Turn (Abstract Logix ) Simakdialog - Demi Masa (Moonjune Records/City Hall ) Smoma - Unconventional Glam Music (Belmondo Ent. ) Sonny Rollins & Don Cherry Quartet - New York 1962. Stockholm 1963 (Disconforme ) Sonny Stitt - Last Stitt Sessions Vol.1 & 2 (Muse ) Sonny Stitt - Burnin (Fresh Sounds Spain ) Sounds Of Jazz FM 2009 - Sounds Of Jazz FM 2009 Vol. 1-Sounds Of Jazz FM 2009 (Phantom ) Stapleton Dave - Dismantling Waterfall:Mill Session V1 (Edition Records/City Hall ) Stapleton Dave - Catching Sunlight:Music For An Imagin (Edition Records/City Hall ) Stapleton Dave - Dismantling The Water Fall The Mill Sessions, Vol.1 (Edition Records/City Hall ) Stapleton Dave - Catching Sunlight-Music For An Imaginary Film (Edition Records/City Hall ) Stapleton Dave - When Life Was In Black & White (Edition ) Stapleton Dave - House Always Win (Edition ) Steve Lacy - Duets: Associates (Felmay ) Thad Jones & Mel Lewis - Complete Live In Poland 1976 & 1978 (Disconforme ) Tim Sparks - Little Princess - Tim Sparks Plays Naftule Brandwein (Tzadik ) Tommy - 4000 Years (Phantom ) Tommy - Tomorrow I Might Go (Phantom ) Trijntje Oosterhuis - Ken Je Mij? (Phantom ) Trio 3 With Geri Allen - At This Time (Phantom ) Trudy Pitts - Live At The Great American Music Hall (Doodlin Records ) Trudy Pitts Trio - Live At The Great American Music Hall (Doodlin Records/City Hall ) Twinset - Flavour Country (Phantom ) Una Mas Trio - Ritmo Del Futura (Phantom ) Very Best Of Prestige Records - Very Best Of Prestige Records (Prestige ) Vic Lewis' New York Jazzmen - Jam Session (United States Of Distribution LTD. ) Weekend Nu-Jazz - Weekend Nu-Jazz Vol. 3-Weekend Nu-Jazz (Phantom ) Wil Blades - Sketchy (Doodlin Records ) Will Downing - Classique (Concord ) Xu Fengxia - Black Lotos (Phantom ) Yalloppin' Hounds - Great Recession (Chambermusik ) Yearling - Yearling (Indies Japan/Zoom )
Reissues Charles Mingus - Tijuana Moods (RCA Music Group) Miles Davis - Cookin' (Universal)
Will Downing returns with his 14th tasteful & timeless offering, "Classique". His 20th Anniversary recording boldly features signature renditions of David Ruffin, Barry White and The Originals, plus 7 Self-Penned Songs.
Taking his inspiration from the French term Classique - an author, artist or work of art, of the highest excellence - Will Downing returns with his 14th collection of sensual grooves and true love primers. Classique is his second album for Peak Records (in stores June 16 via the Concord Music Group) and a triumphant encore presentation following the challenges he faced creating his Peak debut, After Tonight (recorded while battling the muscle disorder Polymyositis). Back in top form, Downing's sensitive touch is felt throughout the project - singing, writing, arranging and producing, the latter mostly in collaboration with his dear friend and much-in-demand ace Rex Rideout.
Highlights of Classique include the hypnotic tick-tock pulse of "More Time" (a recurring theme of Will's regarding finding more hours in the day for love), the feel-good summer groove "Something Special" and what will surely become this album's top contribution to his personal best canon "I Won't Stop," a passionate backbeat driven declaration of eternal love. He waxes especially spicy on the clever "Just Think About It" and in the sexy vocal he shares with singer Sherrida on the funky call and response breakdown of "Love Suggestions."
As always, Downing respectfully dips back into the timeless wax of old for three numbers. Interestingly, all three of them are songs originally made famous by three legendary gentlemen of Soul. The first is "Baby, I'm For Real," a monumental 5-weeks-at-#1 smash first penned, produced and arranged by Marvin Gaye in 1969 for his favorite Motown vocal quartet, The Originals. Will recaptures that group vibe by sharing the mic with Phil Perry, whose powerful tenor and trademark falsetto flights play dynamically against his own smooth baritone. Perry, who was a member of just such a singing group called The Montclairs, taps into that experience with overdubbed harmonies.
Next is a stroll through Barry White's very first hit from 1973, "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby," Will's version of which also recently graced the Rideout-produced compilation The Strength of a Woman (in support of breast cancer research for African American women). Finally there's Will's version of original Temptations lead tenor David Ruffin's 1976 solo masterpiece "Statue of a Fool" (a.k.a. "Name It After Me"), a cover of the 1969 Jack Greene country classic that is among Ruffin's most poignant recordings. Will tenderly delivers the evocative lyric as well as the heavenly backing harmonies for a rendition that goes straight to the heart.
Beyond the music, Downing is a conscientious humanitarian, proven by his role as a spokesperson for the American Stroke Association which has become even more important to him in the wake of prominent victims such as Luther Vandross, Ron Isley and Coretta Scott King. Whenever possible on tour, Downing conducts the charity bowling event "Strike Against Stroke" to raise funds towards greater stroke awareness and education in the African American community, which is disproportionately affected. The American Heart Association awarded Mr. Downing for his efforts, honoring him as a Celebrity Ambassador in their Power to End Stroke national campaign. Off the road, Will indulged his love for photography by self-publishing the 2005 coffee table book Unveiled Series I, and relishes his ultimate life roles of loving husband and father.
Classique is quintessential Will Downing from start to finish...a quiet but emphatic statement on the strength and confidence this Brooklyn native has garnered as he celebrates his 20th anniversary as "The Prince of Sophisticated Soul" - a career in which the man and his artistry have been recognized for excellence from NARAS to the NAACP.
1. Ride 2:31 2. More Time (Tic Toc) 5:33 3. Something Special 4:07 4. Just Think About It 4:21 5. I Won’t Stop 5:31 6. Love Suggestions 4:16 7. I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby 6:02 8. Let’s Make It Now 5:01 9. Baby I’m for Real 5:35 10. Statue of a Fool 5:28
For electric bassist Marcus Miller, his current tour with fellow bass giants Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten as the band S.M.V. means more than a chance to showcase his instrument’s creative possibilities.
It’s a way for Miller to do something he loves at a time when he’s feeling the loss of a close friend: former NBA star and fellow bassist Wayman Tisdale, who died May 15 at age 44 after a two-year battle with bone cancer.
Tisdale was a 6-foot-9-inch forward who followed hoop stardom at Oklahoma with an NBA career that spanned 12 seasons. In 1995, he recorded a smooth jazz album that became an instant hit. Two years later, he retired from basketball to concentrate on music.
Miller, who appears Thursday with S.M.V. (for Stanley, Marcus, Victor) at House of Blues, was among those who spoke and performed at Tisdale’s memorial service. A multiple Grammy Award winner and successful solo artist, Miller’s resume includes playing with Miles Davis and producing several of his later albums, as well as recordings by Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Speaking by phone from a tour stop in Washington, D.C., he traced how basketball and jazz intersected to cement a friendship.
“Around 1985, Wayman’s agent called me, said Wayman was a big fan of mine, and would like to meet me,” Miller recalled. “He was with the Indiana Pacers at the time. I told him next time he came to town to play the Knicks to give me a call. He did, and we immediately hit it off.
“Being a big fan, I had so many questions about basketball,” Miller said. “But I could never get to them because he had all these questions about music he wanted to ask me. When he’d come to town I folded him up into my little Porsche - it was a hilarious sight - and we’d drive all around New York just listening to music. We had a great time.”
But several years passed before Miller realized Tisdale was the real deal as a bass player.
“He said he played, but I assumed it was a hobby, like basketball is a hobby to me. Then, maybe five years later, he sent me a disc and asked me to play some support bass on it. I put it on and thought, ‘Man, this guy can really play.’
“Wayman had this really soulful sound. He was very influenced by the Gap Band, the r & b band. He had this great joy and feeling in his playing. I was really surprised.”
Clarke, Miller and Wooten play the House of Blues Thursday. (Story continues below)
Tisdale’s music fell squarely in commercial jazz territory; all eight of his albums landed in the Top 10 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts. Three, including his most recent, “Rebound,” went to No 1.
“Wayman had a beautiful joy in his sound,” said Miller, who asked Tisdale to be his son’s godfather. “He wasn’t playing John Coltrane, Miles Davis, 1966 kind of jazz. His stuff was more pop r & b instrumental music.
“He asked me once, ‘What do you think I can do, man? I can’t play all that crazy stuff like you do.’ I said, ‘Just put your personality into your music. Don’t worry about playing all the fancy stuff. If you can get your personality to come out of your bass, you’ll be fine.’
“What Wayman and I had in common is that we never took anything for granted. Every time you’re up on stage playing music for people who care about what you’re doing, that’s just a wonderful thing. We both shared that attitude.”
S.M.V., at House of Blues, Thursday at 8 p.m. Tickets: $35 and $45; 888-693-2583.
A spokesman for Kenny Rankin's record label says the veteran singer-songwriter has died of lung cancer. He was 67.
Mack Avenue Records spokesman Don Lucoff says Rankin died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The cause of death was lung cancer.
In a career spanning 50 years, Rankin worked with such artists as Bob Dylan, wrote songs for Peggy Lee and Mel Torme and released his own acclaimed recordings, including "The Kenny Rankin Album" in 1976.
Lucoff said Monday that funeral arrangements are pending.
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.
