Grammy- Award winning jazz vocal group, Manhattan Transfer, are currently in the studio finalizing their new release – The Chick Corea Songbook, a record inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea. The CD features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many popular and brilliant Chick Corea compositions, and also includes a new Corea original entitled "Free Samba" which was written specially for this album. The forthcoming release also features special guest appearances by some of the finest musicians in the industry (in addition to Corea), Airto, Alex Acuna, Christian McBride, Fred Hersch, Edsel Gomez and Lou Marini among others.
The Chick Corea Songbook is scheduled for digital release the third week of August and will be released nationally on September 29 on respected specialty label Four Quarters Entertainment. This marks the vocal quartets first new original work in five years - as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary in the entertainment industry.
Manhattan Transfer has been a major staple both within the jazz community and the mainstream music community for four decades, with their genre defying sound. The critically acclaimed vocal group has been able to enlighten listeners by bringing different genres of music to the forefront of the jazz.
Co-founder/keyboardist for Pieces of a Dream composed and produced track that’s dominated Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Songs chart for 28 weeks
Composer and producer James Lloyd’s “Steady As She Goes” has spent two weeks in a row at number one on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Songs chart. Lloyd, the co-founder and keyboardist for the enduring contemporary jazz collective Pieces of a Dream, penned and produced the chart-topping track for saxophonist/vocalist Walter Beasley ’s latest album, Free Your Mind, released on January 27, 2009 on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group.
“This is truly an exciting time for me,” says Lloyd. “Being recognized to such a high degree is an indescribable feeling. Over the past few years, Walter and I have established a musical chemistry that is purely spiritual and magical – as this is our second number one song together. Believe it or not, I still get as excited about such milestones as I did when I heard Pieces’ first single on the radio in 1981. Special thanks to Heads Up for their belief in me, the radio stations for their support, Walter for sharing his gifts, and the fans who make this all possible.”
“James is very clear about what he hears in a song and what he sees as the end result,” says Beasley, who previously enlisted Lloyd for a track on his 2005 release, For Her (“Coolness,” which shot to number 5 on the smooth jazz charts). “You just have to trust that the end result is going to be good, because with James, it always is. Sometimes you get too close to a project and you have to step back, and for those tracks I just stepped back, because I knew they were in good hands.”
Lloyd, a resident of Canfield, Ohio (a suburb of Youngstown)for over 10 years, has recorded all of his recent hits at his home studio. Soul Intent, his latest CD with Pieces of a Dream, was released on Heads Up International on February 24, 2009. While there’s no denying the consistently high caliber of music generated by the veteran jazz combo, Soul Intent may be the group’s most direct, back-to-basics experience in many years.
Also this week, Lloyd’s “Sway On,” the second single from Soul Intent, debuted as New & Active and number one most increased spins (+35) on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Monitored Chart and number 16 on the Smoothjazz.com Chart.
National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master and 10X Grammy-winning, legendary musician George Benson will release his new album on August 25th entitled Songs and Stories, his second for Concord Records / Monster Music. The album is a collection of tunes penned by some of the most prolific and enduring songwriters of the last half-century. Some were written specifically for this new recording, such as Bill Withers' (who came out of retirement to write "A Telephone Call Away" for George), Rod Temperton's "Family Reunion" and Lamont Dozier's "Living in High Definition"; while others, including James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" were hand-picked by Benson for their ability to convey simple but universal truths about the human experience.
Songs and Stories was produced by Concord's Grammy winning, creative head John Burk and renowned bassist /composer / producer Marcus Miller. Benson, Miller, keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, guitarist Jubu and drummer John Robinson make up the core unit for the project. They were joined by special guests: guitarists Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, Wah Wah Watson and Norman Brown, vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Patti Austin, keyboardist David Paich, saxophonists Tom Scott and Gerald Albright along with several others. "Brother, with that team, you can do just about anything," said Benson. "We recorded in the studio for three days straight, and everything we touched had something on it that made us all glad we were there. It was just the right mix of people and material."
And yet, for all of the high-caliber musicians on hand, the most important guests are the songwriters, says co-producer Miller. "Smokey Robinson doesn't perform on this record, but he's still a guest," he says. "Lamont Dozier is a guest. Bill Withers, Rod Temperton and James Taylor are guests. If you take great songs from writers like these, and you put them in the hands of George Benson and a great band, you'd better just get out of the way and let things happen, because the result is going to be something great."
Indeed, the record captures the somewhat underappreciated essential brilliance of his storied career; the ability to simply touch people through authentic lyrics and beautiful melody. On Songs and Stories, George Benson's musical artistry has perhaps never been on sharper display.
To celebrate the release of Songs And Stories, fans can visit the official Benson website, georgebenson.com and receive a free mp3 download of "Living In High Definition", the new song written by legendary composer Lamont Dozier. Additionally on the website, fans can view "The George Benson Sessions: The Making Of Songs And Stories", a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new record. The series will be updated with a new video each week leading up to and through the August 25 release.
Concord Records is proud to once again partner with Monster Music® on presenting the newest George Benson album Songs and Stories on High Definition SurroundTM Sound SuperDiscTM. The Monster® version, also available August 25th, is a specially priced two-disc package that consists of Songs and Stories on compact disc mixed in traditional stereo and a bonus DVD, containing Monster's High Definition Stereo and Surround mixes. In addition, the bonus DVD features behind-the-scenes video footage of the making of the record including an in-depth interview with George Benson. With its innovative High Definition Surround technology Monster Music is revolutionizing the listening experience. Mastered in the highest resolution possible, HDS SuperDiscs are specially engineered to capture the true harmonic depth and tonal richness of the music. THX certified HDS SuperDiscs deliver the music through a 5.1 speaker system just the way the artist heard it in the studio when it was recorded, the way they intended you to hear it.
1. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 3:48 2. Family Reunion 4:18 3. Show Me the Love 4:16 4. A Telephone Call Away 5:54 5. Someday We’ll All Be Free 6:19 6. Nuthin’ But a Party 5:28 7. Come in From the Cold 4:31 8. Exotica 5:28 9. Rainy Night in Georgia 4:49 10. One Like You 4:41 11. Living in High Definition 7:14 12. Sailing 5:15
Artist Celebrates Release of New Jazz-Flavored Album, Love Is The Answer, With Rare Club Show
In what promises to be a once-in-a lifetime thrill for a hundred of her luckiest fans, Barbra Streisand will celebrate the release of Love Is The Answer---her new album of jazz standards and classics--- by singing a selection of these songs at New York’s legendary Village Vanguard on Saturday, September 26, where she last performed in 1961 as the opening act for Miles Davis.
Free tickets to this history-making experience will be made available only to fans who either pre-order the new CD or register an entry blank free of charge. Full details and rules can be found on barbrastreisand.com.
Soon after her performance at the Vanguard some 48 years ago, Streisand began to build a reputation in Greenwich Village as an extraordinary newcomer on the scene, a not-to-be-missed star on the rise singing in clubs like The Lion and The Bon Soir. With its astounding acoustics and intimate vibe, The Village Vanguard--an epicenter of the New York jazz scene since an all-jazz policy was implemented in 1957-- was, and is one of the most renowned musical venues throughout the world.
According to the RIAA, Barbra Streisand is the #1 best selling female recording artist in history and the only woman to make the Top 10 all time best selling artists list, which includes Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Over the course of her career, Streisand has recorded 50 gold, 30 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums. An artist of unparalleled accomplishments in multiple entertainment fields, Streisand has made her mark as an award winning actress of stage and screen, recording artist, concert performer, movie producer, film director, screenwriter and songwriter. Having earned two Oscars (Best Actress and Best Song), five Emmys, 11 Golden Globes, 10 Grammys including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement and Grammy Legend Awards, a special Tony Award (in 1970 as "Star of the Decade"), two Cable Ace and three Peabody awards, she is the only performer to hold honors from all of those institutions. In addition, Streisand is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, America 's National Medal of Arts and France 's Legion of Honor. In December 2008 she became the first female director to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor.
1959 Jazz's Greatest Year (Indie Europe/Zoom ) Alex Welsh - Bones For The King (United States Of Dist. (Uk) ) Ayelet Rose Gottlieb - Upto Here From Here (Obliqsound ) Babatunde Lea - Umbo Weti: A Tribute To Leon (MTM ) Ben Dowling - World Rising (Visionsound) Ben Dowling - World Rising (Visionsound) Bill Easley - Hearing Voices (18V ) Blue Note 70th Anniversary At Tokyo J (EMI Japan/Zoom ) Brian Harnetty - Silent City (Atavistic ) Cab Calloway - Hi-De-Ho Man: 1930-1933 (Rev-Ola ) Carlos Franzetti - Mambo Tango (Sunny Side ) Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um-Legacy Edition (Phantom ) Charlie Haden - None But The Lonely Heart (Naim Audio ) Charlie Haden / John Taylor - Nightfall (Nai ) Chill N Jazz - Chill N Jazz (Warner ) Chuck Owen - Comet's Tail: Peforming The Compositions Of Michael Brecker (MAMA ) Cyrus Chestnut - Spirit (JLP ) Dave Brubeck - 1975: The Duets (Verve ) Dave Liebman / Manhattan Scho - Sketches Of Spain Live (JZH ) David Liebman - Sketches Of Spain Live (Jazzheads ) David Pastorius - Sense Of Urgency (P-Vine Japan/Zoom ) Dick Heckstall Smith - Story Ended (Phantom ) Dick Heckstall Smith - A Story Ended (Esoteric ) Donny McCasslin - Declaration (Cam Jazz ) Earl Klugh - Just Between Friends (Wounded Bird ) Elling / Haden / L. Hobgood - When The Heart Dances (Nai ) Eric Ineke - Xpressions In Time (Double Moon ) Eric Ineke / Jazzxpress - Xpressions In Time (Challenge ) ESO ES - Illuminate (Blue Flame Records (Blues) ) Full Monty - Full Monty (United States Of Dist. (Uk) ) Gato Barbieri - Tropico: Originals (A&M ) Gato Barbieri - Tropico (A & M ) George Duke - From Me To You/Reach For It (BGO - Beat Goes On ) Gerry Mulligan - Lonesome Boulevard: Originals (A&M ) Gerry Mulligan - Lonesome Boulevard (A & M ) Grover Washington Jr. - Reed Seed: Originals (Verve ) Hank Mobley - Caddy For Daddy (Analogue Prod. ) Heath Brothers - Endurance (JLP ) Imelda May - Love Tattoo (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Jazz Surge / Chuck Owen - Comet's Tail:� Performing TH (Maa ) Jeff Majors - Sacred Eight (Music One ) Jim Turner - Jelly Roll Blues (Arbors ) Jim Turner - Jelly Roll Blues: A Tribute To Jelly Roll Morton (Arbors ) Jim Turner - Jim Turner's Jelly Roll Blues: A Tribute To Jelly Roll Morton (Arbors ) Jimmy Raney - Two Jims & Zoot (Blu-Spec) (Phantom ) Jimmy Raney - Two Jims & Zoot (Phantom ) Joe Beck - Golden Earrings (Whaling City Sound ) Joe Beck / Laura Theodore - Golden Earrings (Whaling City Sound ) Joe Henderson - Page One (Emm/Blue Note ) Joe Henderson - Porgy And Bess (Verve ) John Brent / Del Close - How To Speak Hip (Wisecrack ) John Taylor - Nightfall (Naim Jazz ) Julie London - Julie Is Her Name (Boxstar Records ) Junior Wells - Hoodoo Man Blues (Apo ) Ken Colyer - Sunny Side (United States Of Dist. (Uk) ) Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orch - Flying Home (Sea Breeze ) Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchest - Flying Home (Sea Breeze Jazz ) La Nueva Banda De Sa - Sabor A Fresa (Vampi Soul/Lita ) La Nueva Banda De Santisteban - Sabor A Fresa (Vampi Soul ) Laurence Hobgood - When The Heart Dances (Naim Jazz ) Lenny Mac Dowell - Get Ready (Black Flame ) Lew Green - Together (Arbors ) Mark Buselli - Old Soul, An (Owl ) Mark Buselli - An Old Soul (OWL Studios ) Mauro Ottolini - Sousaphonix (Phantom ) Mccoy Tyner - Today & Tomorrow: Originals (Impulse ) Mccoy Tyner - Today And Tomorrow (Impulse ) Mike Stern - Upcoming Release (Heads Up ) Mike Stern - Big Neighborhood (Heads Up ) Mike Westbrook - Marching Song 1 & 2 (Righteous ) Miles Davis & Gil Evans - George Gershwin/Porgy & Bess (Membran ) Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation - Succubus (Ad Noiseam ) Oliver Nelson - Kennedy Dream: Originals (Impulse ) Oliver Nelson - The Kennedy Dream (Impulse ) Paul Motian Trio 2000 + Two - On Broadway Vol.5 (Winter & Winter ) Paul Motian Trio 2000+Two - On Broadway Vol. 5 (Winter & Winter ) Quincy Jones - Smackwater Jack: Originals (A&M ) Quincy Jones - Smackwater Jack (A & M ) Ray Jessel - Naughty Or Nice (LML Music ) Reuben Wilson - Azure Te (18V ) Richard Galliano - French Touch (Phantom ) Roy Ayers / Ubiquity - Tear To A Smile: Originals (Verve ) Roy Ayers / Ubiquity - A Tear To A Smile (Verve ) Sergio Mendes - Best Of Sergio Mendes (Phantom ) Stan Getz - Apasionado: Originals (A&M ) Stax The Sample (Universal Japan/Zoom ) Steve Zegree - Steve Zegree & Friends (Sea Breeze ) Steve Zegree - Steve Zegree and Friends (Sea Breeze Jazz ) Tal Farlow - Guitar Genius: The Gibson Boy (MSI Music ) Tatsuo Sunaga - World Standard 08/A Tatsuo Sunaga Liv (Pioneer Japan/Zoom ) Ted Kooshian / Standard Orbit - Underdog And Other Stories (Summit ) Ted Kooshian's Standard Orbit Q - Underdog And Other Stories... (Summit ) Tessa Souter - Obsession (MTM ) Yitzhak Yedid - Since My Soul Loved (Between The Lines (Challenge sub) )
Reissues Attila Zoller - Common Cause (Enja) John Patton - Along Came John (Blue Note) Miles Davis - Walkin (Universal Japan ) Stan Getz - Apasionado (Universal)
Herbie Hancock has grand plans for his new position as the Los Angeles Philharmonic's creative chair for jazz.
The two-year stint, which begins in 2010, includes overseeing jazz programming for the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, helping to hire musicians and mentoring young artists. The 69-year-old Los Angeles resident will take over from bassist Christian McBride.
"I'm interested in cross-pollination of music of various cultures," Hancock said Monday. "And I would like to see more interaction between visuals and music. Ballet or some sort of pop-oriented kind of dance interacting with jazz, visuals done with computer graphics or film segments with jazz, or a mixture of jazz and other genres."
Hancock — who won Grammys in 2008 for album of the year and best contemporary jazz album for "River: The Joni Letters," a tribute to his longtime friend Joni Mitchell — has been known for pulling from different musical and art forms.
He is working on a new album, which also takes from different cultures. He describes it as capturing "peace through global collaboration."
The album pairs artists such as Chaka Khan with Ravi Shankar's daughter Anoushka Shankar and Tracy Chapman with West African singer Oumou Sangare.
Other musicians he's tapped for the album — due out in 2010 — include Jeff Beck and Dave Matthews.
"Our same language is our commonality as human beings," Hancock said. "What I think about now is purpose. I didn't think about purpose years ago. It was `write this tune.' Now I think about what do people need, what does humanity need, what can I do to help in my way."
Hancock attributes his outlook to chanting three hours a day and practicing Buddhism. It helps him to discover himself, he said, and reach out to others. "I don't want to lock myself into a box, a comfort zone," Hancock said. "I want to spread this out throughout the globe, and make a record not just for American audiences."
But sometimes the process is much more intuitive and effortless. Sometimes the planets line up and the right groove emerges on its own, and all anyone needs to do – musicians and listeners alike – is get on board and ride into a realm of limitless possibilities.
The album title, says Najee, is inspired by Miles Davis’ approach to songwriting, especially in the latter part of his career. “In his later years, he took a very loose and improvisational approach,” he says. “He would start with nothing more than a groove that Marcus Miller or some other member of his band would lay down. And from there he would just develop these melodies that were very simple but at the same time very compelling and very memorable. It was a creative process that bypassed the nuts and bolts of the song and just got right to the essence of it.”
Whatever the groove – be it R&B, neo-soul, contemporary jazz or an intriguing blend of all these styles and more – Mind Over Matter adds another layer of sophistication and polish to Najee’s substantial and diverse body of work. “Whenever I go into the studio, I try to make a record that’s a little different from the last one,” he says. “I want people to get the same Najee that they’re familiar and comfortable with, but at the same time, I want them to hear something fresh, something interesting, something unpredictable – with a couple extra voices in the mix that they haven’t heard on my records in the past.”
Dig into the groove that is uniquely Najee’s. Experience Mind Over Matter.
1. Love You A Lifetime 3:39 2. Sweet Summer Nights 4:09 3. Mind Over Matter 4:37 4. Forever and A Day After 4:51 5. We Gone Ride 5:24 6. The Journey 6:56 7. Stolen Glances 4:33 8. Needless to Say 5:31 9. One More Thing 5:01 10. Moon Over Carolina 6:00
Concord Jazz presents the release of vibraphonist-composer Stefon Harris's 7th album as a bandleader and Concord debut, Urbanus. The new release picks up where 2004's Evolution left off in that it features Blackout, his scintillating ensemble that's as versed in modern jazz as it is with rhythms, melodies and soundscapes associated with R&B, pop, hip-hop and funk. The 10-track-album will be available August 25, 2009.
The GRAMMY-nominated musician has been hailed as "one of the most important young artists in jazz" (Los Angeles Times), and is widely recognized by both peers and critics alike for his innovative compositions, blazing new paths on the vibraphone and marimba. On Urbanus, Stefon Harris and Blackout display a deeper group rapport as well as a more expansive sonic palette as Marc Cary complements the acoustic piano with Fender Rhodes, alto saxophonist Casey Benjamin lends his captivating vocoder work to the proceeding and there's Terreon Gully on drums and Ben Williams on bass. Harris' brilliance at broadening textures and colors comes to play with his sensational woodwind and string arrangements on a few of the compositions as well.
"One of the biggest indicators of our growth as a band is the level of contribution from all the members of the ensemble," Harris enthuses. "The music not only incorporates all of our writing but everyone's cultural backgrounds as well."
To illustrate this point, he points to the disc's opening track, "Gone," which bounces to the pulsating polyrhythm of go-go, a sound indicative to Washington, D.C.'s urban
landscape. Both Williams and Cary hail from Washington, D.C. It doesn't hurt also that Harris is a big go-go fan. "How can you not like go-go? It's so funky," Harris says.
The delicate "For You" provides the perfect example of how Blackout balances the worlds of the acoustic with the electric co-written by Benjamin and Sameer Gupta. Before Harris recorded it, "For You" was a favorite on Benjamin's Myspace page and has since undergone several incarnations. Harris first heard the tune when the band was rehearsing in San Francisco. Cary had just recorded the song for another date and shared it with the band. "We checked it out then decided to play the tune," Harris recalls. "That evening we went over it and actually played "For You" in the concert. It was a perfect vehicle for the chemistry in our band. Casey later added a bridge and we continued to expand on the composition."
The album also includes a fantastic makeover of Stevie Wonder's early-'70s song "They Won't Go (When I Go)" from Wonder's 1974 LP, Fullfillingness' First Finale. Urbanus closes with the spellbinding ballad "Langston's Lullaby," which is dedicated to Harris' newborn infant, Langston.
Recorded just a few days before the historic presidential inauguration of Barack Obama, Urbanus sparkles with optimism, ingenuity and emotional immediacy. "How could it not?" Harris says when asked if the anticipating for the inauguration had an impact on the sessions. "Being in the studio, knowing that we were getting ready for the inauguration of the first African-American president - how could that not change my life? I was extremely inspired and that created a great feeling of audacity and some fantastic energy."
1. Gone 6:06 2. Christina 6:38 3. Tanktified 6:59 4. Shake It For Me 3:01 5. Minor March 3:35 6. They Won’t Go (When I Go) 7:37 7. The Afterthought 4:58 8. For You 6:06 9. Blues for Denial 2:15 10. Langston’s Lullaby 7:56
True Love. With these two perfectly chosen words, Jessy J has, in unveiling the title of her second release, captured the blazing emotions of her legions of fans across the U.S. and Latin America who made her the breakout genre star of 2008.
With her sizzling mix of hot beats, Latin and samba rhythms, instantly captivating melodies and model looks, this Mexican American saxophonist/singer proved quite the sensation with her debut CD “Tequila Moon” - earning her such accolades as Radio and Records “Debut Artist of The Year” and contemporary jazz song of the year by R&R and Billboard for the title track, which stayed perched at #1 for an incredible eight weeks.
Set for release this Tuesday, August 4th, on Peak Records, “True Love” is produced by mega contemporary and urban jazz hit maker, musician/guitarist and label mate Paul Brown (who also produced “Tequila Moon”.) Backed on most tracks by Brown, keyboardist Gregg Karukas, bassist Roberto Vally, drummer Sergio Gonzalez and percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia, Jessy puts her unique, multi-cultural stamp on an 10 track mix of vocals and instrumentals that draws from her rich Latin heritage and love for both traditional and contemporary jazz.
“True Love” opens with the sensual and exotic, soundscape kissed “Tropical Rain” to be followed by the laid back funk vibe of “Forever.” The title track is a balmy bolero where the Saxophonist shows her swinging jazz charms. Influenced by Prince, the late Michael Jackson, and Santana, “Mr Prince” is true to form with a retro soul and rebellious side.
Originally the title track for the 1959 Portuguese language film “Orfeu Negro”, and later popularized in English by Frank Sinatra as “A Day In the Life Of A Fool,” “Morning of the Carnival” from “Black Orpheus” (aka “Manha De Carnival”) not only finds Jessy capturing the cool essence of Astrud Gilberto but also paints an exciting, bustling scene.
“Somewhere in A Dream,” a balmy, ethereal tune whose melody goes round and round is followed by Jessy’s soaring sax melody and straight ahead meets old school soul jazz rhythms of “Jessy’s Blues.”
“Llegaste Tu” is an anthemic, richly percussive Spanish pop-folk anthem composed by Jessy with top Latin producer Pablo Aguirre and Paulina Aguirre. The elegant “Brazilian Dance” features a lush, soulful sax-voice duet between Jessy and the tune’s composer Sergio Aranda. No Jessy J project would be complete without a track that celebrates her Mexican-American roots. With its swirl of flute, guitar, piano and fiery vocal textures, “Baila!” makes it easy to respond to its command to get up and dance.
“My favorite part of playing live is connecting with the audience, as if everyone listening is my friend who I’ve invited over for a barbecue at my house or an intimate show in my living room,” says Jessy. “Sharing music is a way to create long term relationships with people, and by playing my songs from the heart, I feel like I’m opening a window to my soul and there’s nothing to hide. It’s always been a very special experience as a side person, but the bonds are even greater now that I’m a solo artist performing my own songs. The true joy of playing with Guitars and Saxes is learning from all these great artists and rising to the challenges that come from working with musicians of this caliber.”
“After the success of “Tequila Moon”, it was inevitable that many fans would ask me, OK, so what’s next? My goal was to convey my True Love by putting 100 percent of my heart and soul into every note, every session and every song. As the journey of this new album unfolded, I discovered something amazing, a little secret I will now share: after all this romantic searching, I realize now that my “True Love” is actually my lifelong passion for music. It’s a joy and an honor to have the opportunity to share more and more of this with the world as the years unfold.”
Whaling City Sound is excited to bring you this very special collection of music from the late, great guitarist Joe Beck and jazz vocalist Laura Theodore. This intimate and inspired series of duets effectively pays twin tributes. Initially conceived by Theodore as a tribute to the revered vocalist and popular music icon Peggy Lee, whose alluring, "cool" style captivated listeners through the '40s, '50s & '60s, it also stands as a tribute to the late guitar great Joe Beck, who passed away on July 22, 2008 at age 62 due to complications from lung cancer.
While Theodore may have sparked the notion of interpreting tunes written by the songwriting partnership of Peggy Lee and her guitarist-husband Dave Barbour, it was Beck who came up with the intriguing arrangements and reharmonizations that underscore this winning collaboration. Their chemistry together is apparent on these 16 gems, from million-sellers like "Why Don't You Do Right?" (Lee's 1943 hit with Benny Goodman), "Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me)" (the most popular song of 1948) and her smash hit from 1958, "Fever," to more obscure but no less engaging offerings like "Take A Little Time To Smile" and "My Small Senor."
There's an easy, organic flow to their give-and-take together. Everything is strictly in the moment with these two first-take daredevils, yet artfully executed.
1. Johnny Guitar 2. Why Don't You Do Right? 3. Take A Little Time To Smile 4. Fever 5. My Small Senor 6. Don't Smoke In Bed 7. I Get Along Without You Very Well 8. You Was Right Baby 9. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 10. Solitude 11. Everything Is Moving Too Fast 12. When You Speak With Your Eyes 13. Golden Earrings 14. Don't Know Enough About You 15. What More Can A Woman Do? 16. Manana
Grammy- Award winning jazz vocal group, Manhattan Transfer, are currently in the studio finalizing their new release – The Chick Corea Songbook, a record inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea. The CD features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many popular and brilliant Chick Corea compositions, and also includes a new Corea original entitled "Free Samba" which was written specially for this album. The forthcoming release also features special guest appearances by some of the finest musicians in the industry (in addition to Corea), Airto, Alex Acuna, Christian McBride, Fred Hersch, Edsel Gomez and Lou Marini among others.
