Pianist/Composer Dave Bass Follows Up His Critically Acclaimed Trio Albums With 'The Trio-Vol. 3' #jazz

The Trio – Vol. 3, the newest recording by pianist and composer Dave Bass, is a lyrical, freewheeling buffet of solid originals together with an eclectic assortment of compositions ranging from the American Songbook to the jazz songbook to a Piazzolla tango. This is Bass’ sixth CD as a leader and follows The Trio – Vol. 2 (2022), The Trio – Vol. 1 (2021), No Boundaries (2019), NYC Sessions (2015), and Gone (2012). Glide Magazine calls Vol. 2, “an unending exposition on imagination, with consummate grace and alacrity."

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R&B-jazz guitarist Gregory Goodloe springs into "Love" #jazz

He reteams with producer Jeff Canady for the new single arriving Monday.

 

It’s a fragrant love affair and on the eve of Jazz Appreciation Month, R&B-jazz guitarist Gregory Goodloe composed a fervent song of love and appreciation that drops as a single on Monday from Hip Jazz Records. Goodloe wrote “In This Love” with producer Jeff Canady to covey his ardor and affection as well as his gratitude for the gift of music.

 

“For as long as I can remember, you have been a great part of my life. As long as you stay with me, I know that I will love you all of my life. Unspeakable melodies, harmonies, tones, major and minor keys have given me inspiration every day. ‘In This Love’ is dedicated with devotion to a way of life, and a deep love of music. Let me pass it on,” said Goodloe, who topped the Billboard singles chart for the first time in 2019 with “Stylin’,” receiving more than four million Spotify streams.

 

Poetically lyrical guitar verses and impassioned improvised solos drive the funky rhythm track, soulful groove and vibrantly cascading choruses on “In This Love.”  With Goodloe’s classic cool jazz electric guitar in the fore, Canady’s sturdy drum beats, Robert Skinner’s rubbery basslines, Demetrius Nabors’s keyboard melodies and Gary Johnson’s rhythm guitar decorate the track with lush sound.         

 

“I have loved music for as long as I can remember. It’s always been a part of me and my soul. I’ve learned one thing in life and that is music can bring us through our ups and downs, through our good times and bad. My love, devotion and dedication to music has brought me to respect music and the love that it brings to the world. I feel so blessed to be able to share my expression of music,” said Goodloe, a Denver native.

 

“In This Love” is Goodloe’s second consecutive single with Canady. They teamed on “In Paradise” in 2021. Earlier releases include collaborations with multiple Grammy nominated saxophonist Darren Rahn (“Stylin’”), seminal urban-jazz keyboardist Bob Baldwin (“Cool Like That”), Billboard chart-topping guitarist Adam Hawley (“Somewhere Out There”), and Barbadian saxophonist Elan Trotman (“Step’N Out”).

 

Growing up strumming the guitar to Wes Montgomery and George Benson records, their presence is heard and felt in Goodloe’s recordings. He played drums and guitar through high school and while attending Bishop College, an HBCU in Dallas. After serving in the United States Army, Goodloe embarked on a recording career, debuting in 2016 with the single “All The Way.” Goodloe has performed at premier jazz festivals and has shared the stage with Howard Hewett, Tank, Ben Tankard, Norman Brown, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Michael McDonald, James Ingram, Roy Ayers, Shirley Caesar, Angela Spivey, John P. Key, The Rance Allen Group and Larry Dunn of Earth, Wind & Fire fame, a fellow Denverite. Goodloe hosts his own radio show, “Mile High Smooth Jazz,” which airs on World Wide Jazz Radio.

 

For more information, please visit https://gregorygoodloe.com.

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - March 27, 2023 #jazz

Smooth Jazz Chart 

This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday. 

When it updates, this post will be repeated with the most recent link. 

Click here to view the smoothjazz.com chart for this week

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Marie Mørck - Song to Comfort (female vocal jazz) #jazz

Marie Mørck

"Song to Comfort"

The 2nd album from Danish jazz singer Marie Mørck was released this Friday, 24 March, and the title has already been added to a handful of Spotify playlists, including Spotify editorial playlists "Cozy Jazz" and "Relaxing Vocal Jazz".   The two first singles from the album have been in A-rotation on national Danish radio P8 Jazz.   Danish upcoming jazz singer Marie Mørck attracted lots of attention on her debut album from 2019. She had lots of airplay on Danish national radio and was nominated for "Best Vocal Jazz Release" at the Danish Music Awards in 2020. During 2019, she toured with her band in China, France and Scandinavia until the pandemic lockdown.   In late April, she will perform a live showcase at the big European jazz fair - jazzahead! - as one of three selected jazz artists by the Danish jazz export organisation.   "Song to Comfort" shows clearly what a great singer she is. Enjoy this silk smooth voice of hers.. and by the way - she also excels being a natural and playful composer and songwriter. This single was co-written with Marie's boyfriend, Jonathan Strøm.   If you want to receive the full album for review, please let me know. I also have a press release and press photos available.   Marie Mørck is available for interviews via Zoom, email or telephone. Let me know if this is of interest.   Musicians: Marie Mørck - vocals, composition Britta Virves - piano Jon Henriksson - double bass Jonas Bäckman - drums Agnes Darelid - Trombone   ---------------   Single info: Artist: Marie Mørck Single title: Song to Comfort Composer: Marie Mørck, Jonathan Strøm Label: Zack's MUSIC - www.zacks.dk   ---------------   Artist info: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mariemoerckmusic Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mariemoerckmusic/

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BILLY PORTER RELEASES ANTICIPATED NEW SINGLE “BABY WAS A DANCER” OUT NOW

BILLY PORTER RELEASES ANTICIPATED NEW SINGLE

“BABY WAS A DANCER” OUT NOW

 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW FOR

THE BLACK MONA LISA TOUR: VOLUME 1

 

LISTEN HERE: https://billyporter.lnk.to/BWAD

 

Today, GRAMMY®, EMMY®, and twice Tony® Award-winning singer, composer, director, author, actor, and playwright Billy Porter releases anticipated new single “Baby Was A Dancer”, listen HERE via Republic Records / Island UK.

“Baby Was a Dancer” is me, in the third person, telling the story of the trajectory of leaning into my authenticity.” says Billy, “Growing up queer, growing up black, growing up in the church, there was a lot of push back in terms of my authenticity. To talk about yourself, to have the language and the audacity to know one's place and intention on this planet.”
 
Billy continues, “I want people to feel encouraged and inspired and motivated to step out into the world free from all the chains that bind - from all the stuff that comes at us from other people, other directions, other organizations, whatever it is - whatever the things are that bring us down. I want this song to set folks free. There's a joy in it. There's a celebratory nature in it that I love. And I'm just excited to spread that kind of message.”
 
For six weeks this spring, Billy will grace stages in 25 U.S. cities, kicking off on April 29 in Seattle, WA at Paramount Theatre, visiting major markets such as New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA as well as his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, and concluding in Mashantucket, CT at Foxwoods Resort Casino on June 3. Get your tickets now!
 
Canvasing the nation, Billy brings passion and joy to cities across the nation with his first-ever career-spanning pop music concert tour: THE BLACK MONA LISA TOUR: VOLUME 1. Expect a full band, backed by a video installation, fronted by Billy telling his life story through song. This 90-minute powerhouse event will feature his chart-topping hits “Love Is on the Way” and “Love Yourself,” a tinge of Broadway, a nod to Pose, and stunning performances of future pop classics from his forthcoming new album, Black Mona Lisa. This is an experience not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
 
Stay tuned for more music from Billy Porter in 2023.
 
BLACK MONA LISA TOUR: VOLUME ONE DATES
 
4/29     Seattle, WA                  Paramount Theatre
5/1       Salt Lake City, UT        Eccles Theater
5/2       Denver, CO                  Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
5/4       San Jose, CA               San Jose Center For The Performing Arts
5/5       San Francisco, CA       Golden Gate Theatre
5/6       Los Angeles, CA          Hollywood Pantages Theatre
5/7       Tempe, AZ                    ASU Gammage
5/9       Austin, TX                    The Paramount Theatre
5/10     Dallas, TX                    AT&T Performing Arts Center
5/12     San Antonio, TX           HEB Performing Hall - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
5/13     Houston, TX                 Bayou Music Center
5/14     New Orleans, LA          Saenger Theatre
5/16     Indianapolis, IN            Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
5/18     Detroit, MI                    Fisher Theatre
5/20     Milwaukee, WI             Bradley Symphony Center
5/21     Madison, WI                Orpheum Theater
5/23     Minneapolis, MN          State Theatre
5/24     Omaha, NE                  Orpheum Theater
5/26     Chicago, IL                  The Chicago Theatre
5/27     Louisville, KY               Louisville Palace Theatre
5/28     Pittsburgh, PA              Heinz Hall
5/31     New York, NY              Beacon Theatre
6/1       Philadelphia, PA          The Met Philadelphia
6/2       Washington, DC          Warner Theatre
6/3       Mashantucket, CT       Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
 
 
ABOUT BILLY PORTER: 

Billy Porter is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award winner. Porter began his music career in 1997 with the release of his self-titled (aka Untitled) debut album which spawned the Top 10 "Bubbling Under" single, "Show Me," and the monster ballad, "Love Is On The Way," which also appeared at the pivotal moment in the film, "First Wives Club." He went on to release "At the Corner of Broadway + Soul" (2005), "Billy's Back on Broadway" (2014), and "The Soul of Richard Rodgers" (2017) featuring Pentatonix, India.Arie, Leslie Odom Jr. and Cynthia Erivo, among others. Porter scored his first #1 with "Love Yourself" in 2019 on the US Dance Club Songs Chart. He followed that up with his 2020 reimagining of the legendary Buffalo Springfield anthem, "For What It's Worth," and a fierce collab with The Shapeshifters on "Finally Ready." 2021 saw Porter covering Juliet Roberts club classic "Caught in The Middle" for Red Hot + Free, which supports underserved communities afflicted with HIV/AIDS. He was also enlisted by multiplatinum international superstar Jessie J for "I Want Love." And he delivered a magical turn on Earth, Wind, and Fire's iconic "Shining Star" as Fab G, the Fairy Godmuva, in the 2021 remake of "Cinderella." Porter is a veteran of the theater (Miss Saigon, Angels in America, Grease), and a two time Tony(r) winner, including "Best Leading Actor in a Musical" for Kinky Boots in 2013 and "Best Musical" as a producer for A Strange Loop in 2022.  He has also received a GRAMMY(r) for the Kinky Boots Official Soundtrack in the category of "Best Musical Theater Album" in 2014. Porter took home the EMMY(r) Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" in 2019 for his work as Pray Tell on Pose, making history as being the first openly gay man to do so. Time Magazine named him one of the "100 Most Influential People" of 2020. Billy released his highly anticipated memoir, "Unprotected," in October 2021. His directorial film debut, "Anything's Possible," dropped Summer 2022 to much acclaim. Now, Billy kicks off his next chapter in music, his first love, with new single “Baby Was A Dancer” arriving March 24th 

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CHART-TOPPING MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST & ONE-MAN BAND VINCENT INGALA SIZZLES ON NEW CD FIRE & DESIRE (OUT 9/17) #jazz

To live a life of filled with passion and purpose is one of the greatest gifts of all. The wise, young and chart-topping multi-instrumental genius Vincent Ingala, seems to have mastered this feat.  A Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist Of The Year, Ingala has garnered 18 Top 10 Smooth Jazz radio singles and ten #1 radio hits.  “I believe it is our job as musicians to simply make music that people enjoy, and hopefully along the way, bring some happiness and inspiration into their lives,” shares the Prospect, CT native. “That is certainly my hope for when Fire & Desire is heard.” September 17, 2021 Shanachie Entertainment will release the multi-instrumentalist’s third recording for the label and seventh as a leader. The charismatic and handsome Ingala has endeared fans, contemporaries and critics alike with his consummate musicianship, fun-loving stage presence, energized and inspired performances and all-around passion. Ingala has collaborated with and or opened for such artists as Chris Botti, Jonathan Butler, Peter White and Kim Waters, among others. “My earliest memories are of banging on pots and pans until my parents had to buy me a drum kit and from there it was like a domino effect.” From banging on pots to churning out hits, Ingala is a chameleon in the recording studio. Like an alchemist, he concocts the perfect elixir of his broad musical influences spanning the worlds of Jazz, R&B, Disco, Pop and beyond.  On the exhilarating Fire & Desire, Ingala confidently dons multiple hats. A one-man band, he plays every instrument heard on the new album from saxophones and keyboards to drums, guitar and bass. He also produced, recorded and mixed the album, as well as composed all of the songs with the exception of Jimmy Roach’s Disco Sax,” recorded in tribute to Houston Person.  Due to the nature of the past year, Ingala was able to hone in and devote his undivided attention to Fire & Desire. “If anything, the most positive result of recording during the pandemic was the amount of time I had to dedicate to this project alone without any other distractions that could affect the flow.”

Fire & Desire opens with the multi-layered and soul-drenched original “Shadow Dancer.”  The finger-snapping and funky ditty promises a joyous affair ahead and Ingala delivers. “My compositions are a result of the many music influences that have surrounded me since an early age,” shares the saxophonist.  As far back as I can trace, I’ve been listening, absorbing, analyzing, recording and replicating music, so I call upon those tools and skills when I compose and record.” The breezy and melodically pleasing  “Could This Be Real” follows and the album’s first single “On The Move,” is sure to elevate your mood. The track’s four-on-the-floor’s pulsating groove is reminiscent of the fabled glory days of Studio 54. “This Or That” shines a spotlight on Ingala’s gorgeous tone and effortless phrasing and Ingala pulls out all of the stops for his unforgettable rendition of “Disco Sax,” which has the polish and shimmer of Philly International and the deep groove of Salsoul. The saxophonist shares, "’Disco Sax” was a song that my father played for me many years ago. It was in fact one of the first ever Disco 45’s he bought right before the whole Disco scene really took off - it was still ‘early’ disco. I remember that I couldn’t believe that there was this disco track with a gorgeous and full string/horn arrangement, but with a saxophone on lead at the forefront. And to top it all off, it was sax legend Houston Person who normally is heard in a more traditional/straight ahead setting. So you really don’t expect for it to work, but it DOES - and it’s a great song that makes you smile, dance and feel good!” 

On Fire & Desire Vincent Ingala takes us cruising with his rock-steady and smooth sailing “Riding The Wave” and he creates the perfect mood for the scintillating “Hypnotic Flow.”   Kicking it up a notch, he shows off his penchant for ear-catching melodies and undeniable swing on the ebullient and delectable “Turkey Strut.” Ingala shifts gears with the ethereal and meditative “Aftermath.” Following a year and a half of changes during the pandemic, Vincent Ingala shares, “If Covid has taught me anything, it’s to never take for granted the fact that I get to make music for a living. The sad reality for most human beings is that we never truly realize or appreciate what we have until it’s gone. For most, 2020 was a wake up call to bring attention all the things that we have and are grateful for in our lives. Now that things are slowly returning to normal again, we can resume our lives with a fresh and renewed perspective.”  Fire & Desire closes with the electrifying and high-octane title track, reminding us to keep the fire burning and to rekindle our passions.

For Vincent Ingala music and cooking are both sustenance for the mind, body and soul.  “I’m definitely a huge foodie and enjoy going out to eat (something we can finally resume coming out of the pandemic age), but with that I very much enjoy cooking! I cook a lot at home, love trying new recipes out, and I’m not afraid to experiment either. I see so much correlation between cooking and creating music - that must be a reason why I connect to it so well.  Ingala was drawn to the saxophone as a kid. He recalls hearing Sam Butera on the radio and was instantly taken. “I remember hearing his saxophone solo on ‘Oh Marie’ in the car one day while my cousin was driving us around, and immediately knowing that I wanted to play tenor sax.  He is one of the most underrated saxophonists of all time. What inspires me most about his playing is his use of the melody and his phrasing. Coming from a musically rich New Orleans background and playing with Louis Prima taught Sam that it's not necessarily about how many notes you can cram in, or how fast you can play, but rather playing for your audience and giving them a beautiful melody that everyone can relate to.” Ingala has taken lessons from Butera both on and off the stage. He shares,  I have always valued what Sam Butera once said: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”  Ingala has lives by this motto.

Vincent Ingala burst on the Contemporary Jazz scene in 2010 with the release of his critically heralded debut North End Soul. Two years later he was crowned Billboard “Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year” and Sirius XM Watercolors “Breakthrough Artist Of The Year” in 2013. Ingala’s sophomore recording, Can’t Stop Now, was released in 2012 and Coast To Coast followed in 2015, featuring two singles that hit number one on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. Vincent Ingala featured his vocal driven Christmas in 2016, showcasing holiday classics.  Ingala is a DJ on Smooth Jazz 24/7 where he can be heard weekly. “It's a completely different dynamic being a radio host because you're now sitting on the other side!,” he exclaims.  “You get used to hearing your music being played on the radio, but then suddenly the roles reverse and you're now the one introducing and spinning the songs. I enjoy being a mascot for the genre and supporting the artists, many of them my friends who I have collaborated with or shared the stage with over the years.” In 2018 he made his Shanachie debut with Personal Touch, which featured the #1 hit “Snap, Crackle, Pop.”  Ingala’s Echoes Of the Heart followed in 2020 with special guests and Shanachie label mates  David Benoit and Steve Oliver. The album featured the Top Five single “Caught Me By Surprise”and the  Top Ten single “Maybe You Think.”

With the release of Fire & Desire and tour dates in the works, Vincent Ingala is excited to reconnect with his fans.” Most of us have had to get creative and use the internet to our advantage to broadcast live streams and artist collaborations. While it was a great way to stay in touch and remain connected with our music family in a time of crisis, it can still never replace the interaction of a live audience and physically being there in person.  This time away has given me a greater appreciation for performing and interacting with my colleagues and live audiences. I am ready and can’t wait to be back at it again!”

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#PEOPLE - COMING SPRING 2023 FROM SAXOPHONIST RAY BLUE #jazz

TENOR SAXOPHONIST RAY BLUE SOUNDS NOTES OF HOPE AND HUMAN CONNECTION, ON HIS NEW RELEASE

#PEOPLE

Ray Blue/ Tenor Saxophone

Essiet Okon Essiet/ Bass

Sharp Radway/ Pianist

Jeff Barone/ Guitar

Alvester Garnett/ Drums

Steve Johns/Drums

Featuring Kenny Barron, piano

(on four tracks, incl. duet with Ray Blue)

Special Guests: Eddie Allen, trumpet

Bobby Sanabria, percussion

Available from Jazzheads: Summer 2023

First single “PEOPLE” release May 15, 2023

Possessed of a broad, seasoned, vastly expressive tenor saxophone sound, Ray Blue is deeply rooted in his New York community, yet equally a world traveler and jazz ambassador, finding musical connection across the globe. #PEOPLE, his latest release from Jazzheads, is all about “Love of Life, Love of People, Love of Humanity,” the saxophonist declares in an album note. “Each song was chosen because it touched one of those universal feelings.” Randy Klein, co-producing with Ray, acted as his second set of ears, keeping the integrity and vision of the album whole. “It’s all about listening,” says Klein, “to the music and to each other.” And the title track? Naturally, “People,” by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, made famous by Barbra Streisand in the ’60s in Funny Girl. Blue takes it at a medium tempo, citing Eddie Harris as a model. With him is the modern master Kenny Barron on piano, playing on this and three more tracks, including a marvelous duet with Blue on Duke Ellington’s classic “In a Sentimental Mood.” Bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Steve Johns, esteemed veterans, complete the rhythm section and cook on steady simmering heat as Blue and Barron go to work. “The song is about people who need one another, who don’t isolate or remove themselves,” Blue remarks. “They’re the lucky ones, even if it doesn’t work out. That’s an important part of it to me. Disappointment is a part of growth.” Barron also appears, along with trumpeter Eddie Allen, on Blue’s driving minor-key swinger “Dark Berries,” one of four tracks to feature expert percussion work by renowned drummer and walking encyclopedia of Latin music Bobby Sanabria. With his multi-textured, deep-in-the-pocket approach, Sanabria enlivens Blue’s South African Guouma-tinged “Cross-Continental Spirit” and straight groover “Always With A Purpose,” as well as Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Dreamer,” augmenting Blue’s tight and inventive working band with pianist Sharp Radway, guitarist Jeff Barone and drummer Alvester Garnett. “I’ve played ‘Cross-Continental Spirit’ with rhythm sections in several African countries,” Blue recalls. “Each one has a different twist — the Tanzanians had another way, the Gabonese had another way, the South Africans had their way. Essiet with his Nigerian roots, he has a groove with that as well.” “Hard Times” is a Paul Mitchell tune from David “Fathead” Newman’s 1960 Atlantic debut (with none other than Ray Charles on piano). On #PEOPLE we hear Blue take the lead, dealing on tenor as the core quintet maintains an effortless shuffle feel. Paring down to trio, the program turns to trumpet legend Blue Mitchell’s “Fungii Mama,” which like “Cross-Continental Spirit” is “global in musical scope,” Blue observes. He, Johns and Essiet delight in the song’s telltale rhythmic hiccup and effortless good-time vibe. Having captivated listeners with Barron in the duo format, Blue shares one more in that vein, a substantial exchange with Essiet on the beautiful “We’ll Be Together Again.” It’s in keeping with the #PEOPLE theme, and a title that captures Blue’s warm regard for the musicians and others he has met in his travels as a performer and educator. Blue lived in Berlin with his wife from 2002 to 2012, so playing and growing contacts around the world has come with the territory. Now back in his hometown of Peekskill, New York, he shares fond memories of Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Athens, Istanbul, Ankara, Dar Es Salaam, Libreville and more. He speaks of his tenor heroes — #PEOPLE as well — Hank Mobley, Gene Ammons, Stan Getz and John Gilmore among them. A fine bari and soprano player as well, Blue played alongside “big brother” Gilmore in the Sun Ra Arkestra once upon a time. With regard to education, Blue cites Barry Harris, George Coleman and Paul Jeffrey as “people with their feet on the ground,” authentic creators of this music who found inspired ways to teach it. “I don’t call it teaching,” Blue clarifies, “I like to call it sharing. You gotta pass the information along, and be supportive of the people you’re sharing with, because they need that. It’s about more than just music, it’s the value of our lives as individuals and as part of society. You should work very hard at being a good person. It all goes together.”

About Ray Blue: Ray Blue is a soulful and tender saxophonist, composer and music educator. He is part of the New York scene and tours internationally. He has a big warm sound that captures you and holds you tight. He has 7 releases with his most recent projects on Jazzheads. His latest release Work remained on the Jazz Week Chart for more than two months, peaking at #7, and his holiday single, soon to be a classic, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas topped off at #2. Ray is earning considerable attention in the U.S. and Europe with his stellar band and his heartfelt soloing. A new recording featuring Kenny Barron on piano is scheduled to be released this fall 2021. Ray was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Peekskill, New York. He was drawn to the music of Miles Davis and others but specifically to the tenor saxophone sounds of Stanley Turrentine, Gene Ammons, Ben Webster, John Coltrane, Jr. Walker and King Curtis. As a teenager he played in the school jazz band and an R&B/soul band where he learned a deep appreciation for the blues form. Ray earned a Bachelor’s degree from William Penn University and a Masters from the University of Iowa in Clinical Social Work, where he developed a deep interest in society and social psychology. Ray joined the New York jazz scene. He has built many meaningful relationships over the years. He studied at the Jazz Mobile and mentored with several jazz luminaries where he contributed as a leader, sideman and band member with some of the most notable names in jazz: Charles Davis, Paul Jeffries, Houston Person, Barry Harris, Ornette Coleman, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Kenny Barron, Kirk Lightsey, John Gilmore, Dr. Art Davis, John Patton, Benny Powell, Eddie Henderson, Charlie Persip, Wycliff Gordon, Bernard Purdie, Ted Curson, Joe Lee Wilson, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Cotton Club All Stars and many others. Balancing his performances, composing, arranging and teaching, Ray was an adjunct professor at CUNY, Borough of Manhattan Community College and Mercy College from 1990 to 1996. In 2000, Ray moved to Europe, fulfilling his youthful ambition living in Germany until 2012. While there he performed and toured as a leader, sideman and featured artist at festivals, concerts and clubs in Europe, Africa and Asia. He was a cast member of the Ray Charles Show touring company in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy 2008 to 2010.  Ray recorded and released his first CD as a leader, Always With A Purpose in 2001. Further releases include; Live at Liars Theater I and Live at Liars Theater 2, Transvision, Berries and Blues and Work in 2018. In 2005, he founded Cross-Cultural Connection, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes jazz culture, performance, education and hosts an annual jazz festival. Ray consults and presents and conducts workshops, master classes at schools, colleges, universities and community institutions worldwide.

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BT ALC Big Band “Hearing The Truth” through the noise #jazz

The new soul-jazz funk album featuring G. Love, John Medeski, Adam Deitch, Karl Denson, Eric Krasno, Nigel Hall and Eric “Benny’ Bloom drops on April 14.

 

The might and muscle of a big band is in all those horns. And that magical power became a serious challenge when COVID restriction prevented BT ALC Big Band from being in the same room to record together. That scene was the inception of the fifth album by the Boston-based soul-jazz funksters, “Hearing The Truth,” which drops April 14 on the Vintage League Music label.

 

Band leaders Brian Thomas (trombone) and Alex Lee-Clark (trumpet) produced and arranged the collection of nine original compositions featuring special guest performances by G. Love (G. Love & Special Sauce), John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood), Adam Deitch (Lettuce), Karl Denson, two-time Grammy winner Eric Krasno, Nigel Hall (Lettuce) and Eric "Benny" Bloom. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s go back to that first recording date in 2020 and how they made it work.

 

As the pandemic spread fear, and civil unrest sparked disharmony, tension and anger, and the looming presidential election fanned the flames of division, Thomas penned “Bring Forth Change” for the band to record.

 

“This was the first tune we remotely recorded after the pandemic hit, and it really set the tone for what this album became. Brian (Thomas) is one of the most positive forces I’ve ever come across, and the way he willed this whole thing into existence was amazing, and definitely gave all of us musicians a spirit boost as the reality of the pandemic set in,” recalled Lee-Clark.

 

Recorded remotely and later pieced together, “Bring Forth Change” became the ethos of the album on the super funky track bolstered by an anthemic affirmation captured in this imaginative cartoon strip-like video (https://bit.ly/3mUFGnG).

 

Teaming with Soulive’s Alan Evans, BT ALC Big Band recorded and released the joint as a single followed by two more singles that year. The groovy “What Will You Do” spotlights Medeski on trippy keyboards and the retro hip “The Iguana” boasts Krasno’s guitar and Denson’s saxophone.

 

A couple years later, finally the horn sections were able to safely gather in person to finish the final six tracks. “Dimples” opens the album.

 

“There’s something on the melody on this one that feels like it could be on the ‘Superfly’ soundtrack. It’s upbeat, but there’s a lot of emotional depth to it, too. This tune was written for Brian’s wife, Annette, who has the warmest smile complete with eye-popping dimples that can be seen from across the room. This tune and the trombone solo to me are quintessential Brian Thomas - in the pocket, relentless but calm and full of character. Guitarist Steve Fell is also the perfect Swiss army knife of a soloist and elevates the entire band to an epic climax,” explained Lee-Clark.

 

The album’s tentpole is the title track. It’s a blues-based, storming organ number written by Lee-Clark that he says references James Brown & The J.B.’s classic sound. Amidst the chaos of instrumental voices vying for attention, the trombones burst forth to lay the foundation for guitarist Jeff Lockhart to shred. Recorded during a surge in the virus, the band was masked up during the studio session, but you can almost hear the joy in being able to play together live, which they’ll do on stage at an album release concert on the release date at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, Mass.

 

Lee-Clark wrote the tension filled “Here In This Cave” about the little room in his apartment where he “musically survived the worst of the pandemic.” Deitch’s “Egyptian Secrets” gets a big band makeover, taking on new dimensions in the hands of BT ALC Big Band. G. Love flows and rhymes on the Wu-Tang Clan-inspired “That Sound.”

 

Lee-Clark said, “We tried a more hip-hop process recording this than straight up big band while still being us. Dean (Johnston) played that drum groove for about two minutes straight, and we took the funkiest grouping we could find and made a loop out of it, building everything else off of that sound. (Jeff) Lockhart’s guitars were actually recorded at my house with the intention of chopping them up and making similar loops, but when I listened back, amazingly, the two independently recorded takes totally lined up into this really original, intertwining texture. I’ve never heard anybody with a more unique and impeccable musical understanding of what sounds right than Lock(hart).”

 

Sensing something was missing, Thomas and Lee-Clark decided to up the funk quotient by writing a Go-Go song for the disc. “Pound For Pound” is a party in which the solo spotlight is shared equitably while erupting into a “Soul Train”-line dance-off.

 

BT ALC Big Band’s previous outing, “The Search For Peace,” hit the year before the lockdown. The outfit debuted ten years ago with the “Superhero Dance Party” album. In addition to recording and playing gigs at clubs, theaters and festivals, Thomas and Lee-Clark are committed educators throughout the New England region where they teach clinics and workshops and perform with college and high school students throughout the East Coast. On a mission to create new potentialities for big bands in the modern era, Thomas and Lee-Clark acknowledge the influence of Duke Ellington and Count Basie in their crafty big band arrangements. They take the traditions of the past and fortify them with explosive soul power, Afrobeat culture, festive New Orleans nuance, and deft hip-hop beats and biting political commentary.

 

There’s so much soul and swagger throughout “Hearing The Truth,” but the most important element is BT ALC Big Band’s message. Lee-Clark delivers it.     

 

“This whole record was really written in the teeth of COVID, the 2020 presidential election, and the dizzying experience all of us Americans are feeling as we reckon with our past and decide as a country what we want to be in the future. Through all those growing pains, there is a lot of noise. Everywhere you turn, you're being inundated with new information, and it only seems to be getting faster. The music on this album is all about slowing down just enough to hear the truth in the noise. Plus, more plainly, ‘Hearing The Truth’ was written about Fox News, and all the charlatans on that network telling us not to believe the thing we're seeing with our own eyes.” 

 

BT ALC Big Band’s “Hearing The Truth” album contains the following songs:

 

“Dimples”

“Hearing The Truth”

“Here In This Cave”

“What Will You Do?”

“Egyptian Secrets”

“The Iguana”

“That Sound”

“Pound for Pound”

“Bring Forth Change”

 

 

For more information, please visit https://www.btalc.com.

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