Monday, June 26, 2017
Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 20 - June 26, 2017 #jazz
TW - LW - Artist - Album - (Label)
1 - 1 - Nathan East - "Reverence" - (Yamaha Entertainment Group)
2 - 3 - Norman Brown - "Let It Go" - (Shanachie Entertainment)
3 - 4 - Maysa - "Love Is A Battlefield" - (Shanachie Entertainment)
4 - 2 - Rick Braun - "Around The Horn" - (Shanachie Entertainment)
5 - 7 - Peter White - "Groovin'" - (Heads Up/Concord)
6 - 9 - Brendan Rothwell - "Time On My Hands" - (Brendan Rothwell)
7 - 5 - Lawson Rollins - "3 Minutes To Midnight" - (Infinita Records)
8 - 13 - Keiko Matsui - "Journey To The Heart" - (Shanachie Records)
9 - 6 - Lindsey Webster - "Back To Your Heart" - (Shanachie Entertainment)
10 - 8 - Richard Elliot - "Summer Madness" - (Heads Up/Concord)
11 - 12 - Althea Rene - "Gypsy Soul" - (Independent)
12 - 17 - Eric Darius - "Breakin' Thru" - (SagiDarius Music)
13 - 22 - Ragan Whiteside - "Treblemaker" - (Randis Music)
14 - 14 - Nick Colionne - "The Journey" - (Trippin 'N' Rhythm")
15 - 10 - Jeff Lorber Fusion - "Prototype" - (Shanachie Entertainment)
16 - 21 - Marc Antoine - "Laguna Beach" - (Woodward Avenue)
17 - 23 - Adam Hawley - "Just The Beginning" - (Kalimba)
18 - 28 - Vincent Ingala - "Coast To Coast" - (Independent)
19 - 11 - Paul Brown - "One Way Back" - (Woodward Avenue)
20 - 18 - Chris Standring - "Ten" - (Ultimate Vibe Recordings)
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Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Soulful Pop Songstress Haley Reinhart Announces New Album "What's That Sound?" #jazz
September 22 Debut for Concord Records
Updates Iconic ’60s Anthems for a New Era
“Jazz, soul, rock, pop, steampunk — when she steps up to the mic, anything is possible.” – Popdose
On September 22, 2017, singer/songwriter Haley Reinhart will release What’s That Sound?, her debut release for Concord Records, where she recently signed as a recording artist. The album finds Reinhart digging into her rich musical heritage and reimagining some of rock-and-roll’s most legendary songs.
Hailing from the Chicago area, Reinhart has previously shown her rare gift as a song interpreter with her certified-gold remake of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (a 2015 release whose video has amassed over 20 million YouTube views). The L.A.-based 26-year-old has also emerged as the leading artist on Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, with her jazzed-up versions of tracks like Radiohead’s “Creep” earning more than 112 million views to date.
What’s That Sound? features 11 renditions of classic songs from the 1960s, as well as three original tracks from Reinhart. A captivating vocalist who started singing in her parents’ rock band when she was just seven, Reinhart purposely honed in on songs originally released between 1966 and 1969.
"There is an undeniable connection between the late ’60s and now,” says Reinhart. “They're both turbulent, yet hopeful times. As I thought of what songs I'd like to reinterpret, I wanted to bring these similarities to the forefront. I also feel the urge to spread the revolutionary idea of people coming together through love and music.”
In co-producing What’s That Sound? with GRAMMY Award-winner John Burk, Reinhart stayed remarkably authentic to the sonic landscape of the ’60s. Made at the historic Sunset Sound, the album was recorded to tape in order to achieve a warm, vibrant feel true to the era. According to Reinhart, the thrill and challenge of analog recording brought a potent energy to the production of What’s That Sound?.
"We recorded each song live as a band and there’s something special that happens when everyone’s all grooving together like that,” says Reinhart. “There’s no way to replicate the feeling—so even though I thought I’d go back and re-cut the vocals later on, I ended up keeping most of the raw takes. I think it really fits this record and reflects my roots.”
Mixed by Bill Schnee (a GRAMMY winner known for his work with Marvin Gaye, Rod Stewart, and Steely Dan), What’s That Sound? was also recorded using solely vintage instruments. Much of that gear was personally supplied by Reinhart’s lineup of veteran musicians, a cadre that includes her father (Harry Reinhart) on guitar and her mother (Patti Miller-Reinhart) on backup vocals.
Also joining Reinhart on What’s That Sound? is her Postmodern Jukebox collaborator Scott Bradlee, who plays piano on her masterful covers of The Beatles’ “Oh! Darling,” The Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon,” and The Mamas & The Papas’ “Words of Love.” In addition, Reinhart’s longtime musical cohort Casey Abrams appears as a vocalist and bassist on her glorious update of The Zombies’ “Time of the Season,” Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” and her anthemic original “Bring the Love Back Home.”
Right from its first featured cover, What’s That Sound? shows the full force of Reinhart’s formidable vocal work. A longtime staple of her live set, “Baby It’s You” proves her knack for powerful belting. Although the song was originally recorded by The Shirelles, Reinhart’s horn-backed and sweetly gritty version draws inspiration from a rendition by blues/psych-rock band Smith—a track that, in a serendipitous twist, was mixed by Bill Schnee back in 1969.
Another song spotlighting Reinhart’s stunning vocal range, her fiery cover of The Box Tops’ “The Letter” finds her brilliantly matching Alex Chilton’s moody growl. “He has such a guttural, raspy tone to his voice, and I wanted to try to create the girl version of that,” says Reinhart. “It ended up coming way more naturally to me than I even thought it would.”
The era-defining track that gave What’s That Sound? its title, “For What It’s Worth” opens with a quietly haunting intro before unfolding into a full-fledged anthem. With its stirring string accompaniment (courtesy of esteemed composer Tom Scott), the song reveals Reinhart’s supreme vocal command as she lends new weight to Buffalo Springfield’s ever-poignant lyrics.
In each of the original tracks featured on What’s That Sound?, Reinhart’s timeless sensibilities are found to closely inform her own songcraft. Those gracefully arranged pieces include the album-opening “Let’s Start,” which gives a breezy nod to Brazilian music with its bright harmonies and tropicalia-inspired rhythms.
From her sorrowful howl on “Oh! Darling” to the steely intonation of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” What’s That Sound? exudes a vocal confidence that Reinhart’s honed through a lifetime of singing. Thanks to her parents’ long-running band Midnight, she grew up on rock-and-roll, jazz, funk, and blues and began mastering each genre in early childhood. Along with joining Midnight onstage throughout her youth, Reinhart studied jazz in college and played in jazz festivals across Europe while still a teenager. After finishing in third place on season 10 of American Idol at age 20, she released her acclaimed 2012 debut Listen Up! via Interscope Records. Arriving in 2016, Reinhart sophomore album Better featured “Can’t Help Falling in Love”—a spirited remake that’s garnered over 56 million streams on Spotify.
In addition to collaborating and touring with Postmodern Jukebox since 2015, Reinhart recently ventured into voice-acting by starring alongside Bill Burr, Laura Dern and Justin Long in F Is for Family (a Netflix original animated series whose second season premieres May 30). Also known for her impassioned live performance, she had her first solo headlining tour of the U.S. last summer and recently completed her first solo headlining European tour.
For Reinhart, creating What’s That Sound? ultimately deepened her connection to the music that’s long colored her world. "The beauty in the simplicity of these songs hit me more than ever while recording,” she says. “Most of the original versions aren’t even three minutes long, but there’s so much power in their words and melodies — they leave you wanting more.”
In introducing each song to a new generation, Reinhart hopes that power will have a lasting impact on listeners. “I’d love for people to hear this album and think about how it relates to our modern world,” she says of What’s That Sound?. “Even though we’re all faced with challenges, it’s also a chance for us to become more aware and more in tune with each other. Hopefully these songs will move people in a positive way and help them realize that good things will happen when we stick together.”
What’s That Sound? tracklist
1. Let’s Start (Original)
2. Baby It’s You (Smith)
3. For What It’s Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
4. The Letter (The Box Tops)
5. Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith)
6. White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)
7. Somewhere In Between (Original)
8. Oh! Darling ft. Scott Bradlee (The Beatles)
9. Sunny Afternoon ft. Scott Bradlee (The Kinks)
10. You Showed Me (The Turtles)
11. Words of Love ft. Scott Bradlee (The Mamas & The Papas)
12. Bring the Love Back Home ft. Casey Abrams (Original)
13. Time of the Season ft. Casey Abrams (The Zombies)
14. These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (Nancy Sinatra)
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Thursday, June 15, 2017
Award-winning jazz guitarist Frank Piombo follows his dream to “Keep It Movin’” #jazz
Passion and optimism permeate the songs he wrote for his fourth album, coming August 4.
It’s been a steady upward trajectory for jazz guitarist Frank Piombo ever since he issued his debut album, “Smooth Reminiscence,” independently in 2010. The New Jersey-based musician sold enough units to be ReverbNation’s No. 1 jazz artist in the Garden State for three straight years while cultivating a growing fan base in the New York Metropolitan area via his live performances. This past April, he hit the red carpet in Hollywood and went home with three statues from the Indie Music Channel Awards for three tracks from his upcoming fourth album, “Keep It Movin’,” providing the perfect launch pad for the new set. Piombo wrote six songs for the disc arriving August 4, and produced and arranged the record with Joe Arminio and Tom Jacobsen.
Perhaps it’s inherent in the culture from which he was spawned, but the Rome, Italy-reared Piombo imbues a sense of quixotic romance and passion into his spirited melodies and sultry grooves on “Keep It Movin’.” The title track, which won him the Best Male Jazz Artist title at the IMC Awards, is as optimistic and chirpy as they come. Illuminated by Michael Mahadeen’s whimsical flute and sax flourishes, the record opens with the instrumental version garnering international airplay and closes with a vocal rendition featuring empowering lyrics sung by Arminio. The placid “Al Dente (Tino’s Theme)” earned Piombo the Best Easy Listening Song award, a cut on which his cool electric jazz guitar humbly yields the fore to snappy flute, sax and keyboard solos. Piombo & Company ratchet up the tension on “Sunset Beach,” a steamy nocturnal number. That theme continues on “Middle Of The Night,” a track bolstered by Sam Hankins’ heated trumpet explorations that scored the Best Easy Listening Artist victory from the IMC Awards. Nominated for Best Jazz Recording, saxophonist Tony Exum Jr. trades soulful jabs with Piombo on “Rush Hour Funk.” Rich authentic Italian sensibilities mesh with improvisational jazz riffing and a robust R&B beat on the charming “Sogno D’Amore.” Piombo’s crisp guitar etchings thrive in the straight-ahead jazz setting of “Easin’ Up.”
“The music I wrote for ‘Keep It Movin’” represents an appreciation for the journey of life – the distant past and present as well as everything in between and the unknown possibilities ahead. The powerful message is remain focused, do what makes your heart smile and inspire others to follow their dream,” said the positive-minded Piombo, who was born in Tripoli, Libya.
Piombo hopes the pre-release accolades earned by his first album since 2013’s “The Night Speaks” will help expose his music to a larger audience. To further his mission, he has a pair of New Jersey concert dates booked in August in support of the album release. Two days prior to “Keep It Movin’’s” arrival, he will take the outdoor stage as part of the Essex County Summer Music Concert Series in Verona on August 2. A couple weeks after the album streets, Piombo will play Trumpets Jazz Club in nearby Montclair on August 19. An outdoor show in Viterbo, Italy is in the planning stages for October. For more information, please visit www.FrankPiombo.com.
“Keep It Movin’” contains the following songs:
“Keep It Movin’” featuring Michael Mahadeen
“Al Dente (Tino’s Theme)” featuring Rod Williams and Michael Mahadeen
“Sunset Beach” featuring Rod Williams
“Middle Of The Night” featuring Sam Hankins
“Rush Hour Funk” featuring Tony Exum Jr.
“Sogno D’Amore” featuring Joe Arminio
“Easin’ Up (Remix)”
“Keep It Movin’ (Vocal)” featuring Joe Arminio
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Thursday, June 08, 2017
Jackiem Joyner "Main Street Beat" - Release June 30 on Artistry Music
The spirited first single from the “Main Street Beat” album is named for his daughter, Trinity.
Joyner approached crafting “Main Street Beat” with a three-pronged purpose. “I wanted to create something upbeat, fun to listen to and something to dance to. ‘Main Street Beat’ originally started off as a straight funk record that eventually became some of that, but a whole lot more as I allowed the creative process to have its way with me,” said Joyner, a Billboard chart-topper who plays tenor, alto, soprano and baritone saxophone on the date, often enriching the tracks by laying layer upon layer of horns to form a powerhouse sax section.
The exuberant album opener, “Main Street,” exemplifies the mighty wall-of-horns approach with Joyner playing lead harmonies on alto reinforced by his sax section. Instead of tracking individually, Joyner brought the band – drummer Raymond Johnson, bassist Darryl Williams, electric guitarist Kyle Bolden and piano player Carnell Harrell – into the studio to record six tracks old-school style, including “Back To Motown.” Nick Colionne guests on “When You Smile” to flash his cool electric jazz guitar on the infectious mid-tempo R&B cut. Taking his alto sax chops out for a strut, Joyner cranks up the band for a fiery funk romp down “Southside Boulevard,” one of three tunes that adds Nikolai Egorov’s trombone muscle to the horn section. On a pair of urban joints – “That Good Thing” and “Don’t Make Her Wait” – Joyner plays soprano sax. He takes full command on the stormy “Addicted,” playing every instrument heard on the moody number. “Think James Brown on tenor sax” is how Joyner describes the super funky “Get Down Street.” A pair of high-energy pop-R&B covers – Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop The Feeling” and Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” – complete the outing, songs Joyner elected to record based upon their buoyant, positive nature, which he says mirrors his young offspring’s personality.
“My little girl played a huge role in inspiring this album. Having Trinity around during the writing process sparked an enormous font of creativity and really kicked my writing into high gear. The first single, named after her, really captures the excitement and joy of being a dad as well as the exciting little girl that she is. Trinity was right there in the studio during a lot of the writing process. Her jumpy and bouncy upbeat little self is really reflected on this album,” said Joyner, who will launch the record with June concerts in Cincinnati (June 9 at A Celebration of Black Music), Birmingham (June 11 at Jazz in the Park), San Diego (June 25 at Mediterranean’s Jazz and Supper Club) and Philadelphia (June 29 at South).
The release of “Main Street Beat,” Joyner’s sixth album, coincides with his tenth anniversary as a recording artist. His 2007 debut “Babysoul” earned Debut Artist of the Year honors from Smooth Jazz News. Two years later, his sophomore set, “Lil Man Soul,” spawned two No. 1 singles on the Billboard chart and won the Song of the Year trophy for “I’m Waiting For You” from the American Smooth Jazz Awards. His self-titled 2010 album solidified his position as a consistent hit-maker. Revisiting his non-secular roots, Joyner issued the gospel-jazz “Church Boy” in 2012. “Evolve” placed his infectious melodies amidst futuristic electronic sonicscapes. Joyner’s music isn’t his only creative effort that ventured into extraterrestrial territory. Last year, the Norfolk, Virginia native who resides near Los Angeles authored his first book, the science fiction novel “Zarya: Cydnus Final Hope (Book 1). For more information, please visit www.JackiemJoyner.com.
“Main Street Beat” contains the following songs:
“Main Street”
“Back To Motown”
“Can’t Stop The Feeling”
“Trinity”
“When You Smile”
“Southside Boulevard”
“That Good Thing”
“Treasure”
“Addicted”
“Don’t Make Her Wait”
“Get Down Street”
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