Singer/Guitarist Raul Midón to Release New Album “Lost & Found” on July 19th, 2024 | WATCH NEW VIDEO! #jazz #music

                   

Blind Singer-Songwriter Guitarist Raul Midón to Release New Album “Lost & Found”

Blind Singer-Songwriter Guitarist Raul Midón is nothing if not prolific. His 14th and latest album, Lost & Found is a blend of what he calls “smooth folk,” “alt-pop” and “jazz.” Midón recently debuted the album’s first single, the uplifting bluesy pop song Keep On Keeping On on the The Jennifer Hudson Show (December 2023).

Joining him on this body of work are his friends, industry veterans, Andres Forero (Hamilton, Phish, U2) Drums & Percussion, Richard Hammond (Hamilton) bass, Federico Pena (Black Lives) keyboards & piano. The anthemic Next Time, a “galloping rock waltz” is a co-write with New York songwriter & author Mike Errico, who plays on it as well. String arrangements were provided by Andrew Sherman. Lost & Found, the album’s moniker which Midón calls “smooth folk” or folk with harmonic surprises is a celebration of redemption. The lyrics were inspired by his listening to Bob Dylan’s reading of his poem, Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie.

When We Remember is a country-tinged song that includes a stint of Raul playing banjo. He might have reached out to Bela Fleck but he’s held his own here and he does it from the comfort of his basement studio. To do this Midón has had to learn the art of engineering. The technology for the blind is not consistent and it’s a constant struggle, one he continues to confront on a daily basis. He’s been assisted here by New York recording engineer, Michael O’Reilly, whom he met while making his major label debut State of Mind under the careful eye of legendary producer, Arif Mardin. Raul has worked with “Mike” extensively on many albums since those early days including the Grammy Nominated Bad Ass and Blind.

A Condition of Love co-written with Ethiopian R&B artist Wayna is a smoldering philosophical love song. The Ganga Song is a bouncy ska-ish take on the latest cannabis craze.

This compilation of ten original songs will be released in April 2024. Physical copies of the album will only be available at his shows on the upcoming U.S. tour beginning in early March.

This marks Midón’s 2nd album released on his own imprint ReKondite ReKords (ReKo ReKo). Eclectic Adventurist was his first, released in November 2022. During the lockdown Raul fulfilled a long-time dream of recording a guitar duets album with some of his favorite guitarists including Lionel Loueke, Romero Lubambo & Mike Stern. From popular Letterman bass guitarist Will Lee, “Eclectic Adventurist is a great surprise at every turn- a beautifully performed, meticulously-recorded collection of gorgeous interplayfulness.” Eclectic Adventurist is now available on vinyl in limited quantities.

He has worked with countless legends in the industry including Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock, & Sting. In 2022 he paid tribute to Joni Mitchell with the National Symphony Orchestra arranged and conducted by Vince Mendoza at The Kennedy Center alongside Lalah Hathaway, Jimmie Herrod & Renee Fleming (PBS Next at the Kennedy Center). He received two Grammy nominations back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 for his albums Bad Ass and Blind and If You Really Want in the Best Jazz Vocal Category. In 2019 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, University of Miami. In 2021 he was given the Disability Rights Ambassador of the Year award, presented to him by his colleague Jason Mraz.

Raul embarks on the U.S. portion of the Lost & Found tour in March 2024.

The Bloom Effect

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Counting down to the release of R&B-Jazz singer-songwriter Kat Hawley's debut album #jazz #music

 

“X-IX-VIII,” featuring Billboard chart-toppers Adam Hawley, Steve Cole, Greg Manning and Judah Sealy, drops on Friday; the single “Rather Be” goes for playlist adds on Monday. 

                      

Ready to capitalize on the opportunity to step into her own spotlight and make her own musical statement after years of flanking 16-time Billboard No. 1 hitmaker Adam Hawley, R&B-jazz singer-songwriter Kat Hawley will release her debut album, “X-IX-VIII” on Friday (June 21). She wrote eight of the set’s ten songs with her guitarist husband, Adam, who produced the MBF Entertainment album.

It's been a year since Kat Hawley released her empowering debut single, “Keep On, Keepin’ On,” a churning R&B groove bolstered by guest star Steve Cole’s soul-powered tenor sax affirmations. The single began the yearlong process of recording “X-IX-VIII,” and it served notice that Kat Hawley was more than merely a background singer.

 

“I wanted my debut single to be a stamp on the scene that left no doubt about my abilities as a vocalist and songwriter. The track sounds very edgy and modern, but I wanted to give my vocals a contrast by making them have a late 80s/early 90s sound,” said Kat Hawley, who performs this weekend with Adam Hawley at the Elkhart Jazz Festival in Indiana on Friday followed by a Saturday night gig at BLU Jazz+ in Akron, Ohio.

 

Love and romance are frequent muses for Kat Hawley’s songs on “X-IX-VIII.” Sensual vibes permeate “No Chill,” an R&B joint augmented by Judah Sealy’s sultry sax, a tune “about being completely head over heels when you’re in love or lust.” Adam Hawley uses his exquisite nylon guitar play to add ambience to “Love Me Tonight (A Lover’s Duet)” while Kat Hawley’s desirous voice turns up the heat.

 

“The goal for this song was to create a very seductive and hypnotic sound with the instruments and the vocals to envelope the listener. I really wanted the listener to be drawn in and feel like they were in the room with me seeing and feeling exactly what I was writing and recording so, I made my vocals smooth, very long and stretched out notes so the listener would hang on my every word – seduced and hypnotized,” explained Kat Hawley.

 

The tempo picks up on “Can We Dance,” designed for the dance floor.

 

“We definitely wanted a dance song, a steppers song that people could really move and groove to. As I was recording the vocals, for some reason I was envisioning myself on a light-filled dance floor with fans blowing my hair and clothes while I’m dancing my heart out. I wanted the listener to experience the same feeling,” Kat Hawley enthused.

 

Last January, the second single, “Never Too Busy,” was issued halfway through the album recording process.

 

“We live such a busy modern-day lifestyle of never having enough hours in the day. Everyone has to check their calendars in the same household just to see who has what and when, and when we can schedule family time or time with friends. This song is about making time for who and/or what is most important,” said Kat Hawley. 

 

Adam Hawley’s evocative nylon string guitar illumines “Summer Breeze,” paired gorgeously with Kat Hawley’s impassioned vocals. Her vivid longing lyrics were penned last winter in the midst of a prolonged period of cold and wet weather in Southern California where the couple lives.

 

“Lazy Afternoon” was recorded to memorialize the late Cecil Ramirez, a Bay Area pianist and friend of the Hawley’s. Greg Manning plays poignantly in place of Ramirez on this track. 

 

“Cecil was an amazing musician whom we got to perform with many times at Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway. He brought this song to me to sing on our live internet show that Adam and I did. It was for the three of us to perform together. Initially, I wasn’t too sure or comfortable singing the song, but Cecil reassured me, telling me that I sounded great singing it. We performed it and it was in fact perfect. Sadly, shortly after that live internet performance, Cecil passed away in early 2021 due to cancer. I wanted to remember Cecil and pay tribute to him not only on my record but also in my live shows. This song allows me to carry on his memory as the person and musician that he was,” stated Kat Hawley.

 

The third single from the album, “Rather Be,” will begin collecting radio and Spotify playlist adds on Monday (June 24). It’s a devotional pledge from wife to husband.

 

“Adam and I are like two peas in a pod. We are literally always together. That may be strange to a lot of people but, we’ve spent so many years with large spans of time being apart because he was out on world concert tours with other artists. We’re simply better together. No matter where we are individually or together, I’d rather be with him,” said Kat Hawley who has been with Adam for sixteen years.

   

The album title comes from their son Adam Jr.’s (A.J.) birthday: 10/9/08. Kat Hawley wrote the ethereal “Moonlight” for A.J., which she hopes will serve as a timeless testament to her love for him and the pride she feels in being his mother.

 

“‘Moonlight’ is not even a fraction of the emotions that I have when I think of A.J. The love for your child can never really be described in words. I wanted the song to have a spacey and eclectic sound that captures these emotions via the sounds, the arrangement of the song and how the lyrics are sung. I wanted to make sure I was writing A.J. a letter rather than a song. Something that after I’m no longer living, he can read and understand and feel my words as if I am speaking directly to him along with the song and music itself. It will be something he can hold and read as well as listen to and experience all the feelings that were made exclusively for him,” conveyed Kat Hawley.

 

To close the album, Kat Hawley delivers a stripped-down acoustic version of Adele’s “Chasing Pavements.” The occasion allows her to tap into her roots singing gospel and Christian music in church.

 

“X-IX-VIII” includes performances by saxophonist Fabian Chavez, keyboardists Carnell Harrell, Kasey Square and Caleb Middleton; trumpeter Michael Stever, bassist Tim Bailey, drummer Eric Valentine and percussionist Ramon Islas. 

 

Kat Hawley has sung on all six of Adam Hawley’s albums. She performs with him at festivals, theaters and clubs around the world and has shared the stage with Dave Koz, Marcus Anderson, Julian Vaughn, Jazmin Ghent and Marqueal Jordan, among others.  

 

“X-IX-VIII” contains the following songs:

 

“Keep On, Keepin’ On” featuring Steve Cole

“No Chill” featuring Judah Sealy

“Love Me Tonight (A Lover’s Duet)” featuring Adam Hawley

“Can We Dance”

“Never Too Busy”

“Summer Breeze”

“Lazy Afternoon (In Loving Memory of Cecil Ramirez)” featuring Greg Manning

“Rather Be”

“Moonlight (For A.J.)”

“Chasing Pavements”

 

 

For more information, visit https://www.kathawley.com.

 

 

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kat-hawley/1087663396

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0B2zUlJ4Kuy6nIfl14kPT3

https://www.instagram.com/kathawleymusic

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091317350785

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Cindy Blackman 2024 Summer Tour Dates #jazz #music

- After striking a rhythmic chord with ESPN’s new Monday Night Football anthem, Blackman Santana’s 2024 plans include a solo album and tours with the Cindy Blackman Santana Band and Santana. World-renowned drummer and bandleader Cindy Blackman Santana will hit the road this year with her highly acclaimed and vibrant ensemble the Cindy Blackman Santana Band for multiple shows in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Portsmouth, NH, Baltimore, MD, and New York City. Audiences can expect an intimate and soulful musical journey as Cindy and her stellar band, including Aurélien Budynek (guitar), Felix Pastorious (bass), Emilio Modeste (saxophone), Zaccai Curtis (Piano), and JD Allen (saxophone, joining for select NYC shows), explore the depths of jazz, rock, and fusion alongside electrifying performances showcasing Blackman Santana’s signature drumming style. The New York Sun praised last summer's New York City shows at Birdland, stating, "It’s hard to imagine a situation where she is not in charge of everything. Like the great drummer-leaders of modern jazz, she determines more than the beat and the tempo." Blackman Santana says, "I'm thrilled to bring my band to the East Coast! We're excited to connect with the audience and share the energy and passion we bring to the music." For tickets, visit https://cindyblackmansantana.com/. Blackman Santana struck a rhythmic chord last fall with the highly anticipated launch of ESPN’s new Monday Night Football anthem where she, alongside eight-time Grammy Award winner Chris Stapleton and multi-generational artist Snoop Dogg, reimagined the Phil Collins classic “In the Air Tonight.” This year, Blackman Santana will navigate seamlessly between her own ensemble and the iconic Santana collective, which kicks off another set of dates in May as part of the more than ten-year residency An Intimate Evening with Santana: Greatest Hits Live at House of Blues Las Vegas, a must-see live experience for fans of the award-winning artist, as well as on the Santana and Counting Crows Oneness Tour 2024 with dates across the U.S. this summer. Next, Blackman Santana will head back into the studio for her upcoming solo album, a testament to her enduring musical legacy and unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of sound. Cindy Blackman Santana Band 2024 Tour Dates: July 4 - Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club - Portsmouth, NH July 5 - Keystone Korner Baltimore - Baltimore, MD July 6 - Keystone Korner Baltimore - Baltimore, MD July 7 - Keystone Korner Baltimore - Baltimore, MD July 9 - Birdland - New York, NY July 10 - Birdland - New York, NY July 11 - Birdland - New York, NY July 12 - Birdland - New York, NY July 13 - Birdland - New York, NY For more information, visit https://cindyblackmansantana.com/. For tour dates with Santana, visit https://tour.santana.com/. About Cindy Blackman Santana: Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso drummer whose artistry spans the realms of jazz and rock. As a bandleader and musician, Cindy is a sound innovator with a passion for pushing creative boundaries and exploring movement and change. She is as known for the nuances and colors she brings to her beats and fills as she is for the sheer power of her soulful playing. From the beginning of her career as a busking street performer in New York City in the ’80s through the present day, Cindy has been touring the globe and making albums with artists including Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, Joe Henderson, Buckethead, Don Pullen, Hugh Masakela, and Angela Bofill. She writes, records and performs with her own bands, Cindy Blackman Santana Group and Another Lifetime, which released its critically acclaimed self-titled debut in 2010. In 2011 she joined forces with Vernon Reid, Jack Bruce and John Medeski to form the critically acclaimed Spectrum Road, which released an album and tour dedicated to the music of Tony Williams. From 1992 to 2007 and again in 2014 and 2015 she was the drummer in Lenny Kravitz’s band, performing through multiple world tours and hit albums. In 2016, Cindy joined Santana full-time and has been mesmerizing audiences around the globe ever since. Her drumming can be heard on multiple Santana albums, including Power of Peace with the Isley Brothers (2017), the EP In Search of Mona Lisa (2019), Africa Speaks (2019), and Blessings and Miracles (2021). Her solo album Give the Drummer Some (2020) and subsequent touring with the Cindy Blackman Santana Band highlights songs that span the realm of jazz, rock, and funk and showcase Cindy’s incredible versatility both behind the kit and in front of the microphone. Last fall, she joined music superstars Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg for a reimagining of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” as the new musical anthem and show open for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. With it, she continues to build a body of work and artistic legacy that make her one of the finest drummers and recording artists of this or any generation.

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Contemporary Soul Violinist Damien Escobar Releases New Album “Gemini” | LISTEN! #jazz #music

            

WORLD RENOWNED VIOLINIST, DAMIEN ESCOBAR, ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF HIS LATEST STUDIO ALBUM, “GEMINI,” WITH A MULTIMARKET PERFORMANCE SERIES

Released on his birthday, the Gemini album showcases Damien’s love for soul infused classical music and exhibits his growth as a 20 year veteran of the music industry

Two time Emmy-award winning contemporary soul violinist, DAMIEN ESCOBAR is proud to announce the release of his fifth solo studio album, “GEMINI”, launched on Thursday, June 13, 2024, on his birthday as a gift to his legion of devoted fans. The aptly titled album is not only in reference to Damien’s astrological sign, but also humorously pays homage to his “Gemini ways” that he has exhibited throughout his twenty year musical career. It encapsulates the ups and down, the pivots and the rollercoaster scenarios brought on by the surprises of life, this 8-track album will take music lovers on an unforgettable journey.

“This album is a fully expressed celebration on what it means to be a Gemini in every facet of the word. There are so many emotions that went into completing this album and I am proud of this body of work,” shares Damien Escobar. The first single to be released from the “GEMINI” album, was the Billboard Magazine chart-topping single, “Taboo.” The single touched the souls of Jazz afficionados around the world and went on to become a number one Billboard single on the Jazz Charts. Earlier this year, Damien released the follow-up smash, “Deja Vu,” featuring renowned Keyboardist, Jeff Lorber. “As we await the arrival of “GEMINI,” Damien is eager to showcase the focus track of the album, his instrumental two-step, “Symphony of Romance.” The song was produced by Hamilton Harden and written by Darren “J-Dibbs” Jenkins.

To celebrate the launch of the Gemini album, a series of consumer performances will take place throughout the United States, kicking off in New York City on Friday, June 14, 2024. Additional show locations can be found by visiting ww.dameesco.com.

Damien Escobar is a worldwide phenom with a host of accolades to his credit including winning two Emmy’s, being nominated for a NAACP Image Award, performing for four presidents and selling millions of records throughout his historic time as a contemporary soul violinist. With a career spanning two decades, Escobar has single handedly redefined the classical music genre and helped usher in a new breed of violinist along the way. He has also overcome a host of personal trials and tribulations including depression and homelessness to ultimately pivoting during the Covid pandemic to nurturing a career in the advertising industry where he became the Chief Global Music Officer for advertising giant, HAVAS, the first and only African American to hold such a position.

At one time having completely lost his desire to produce music, then falling back in love with the creation process and developing content, Damien looks at the Gemini album as proof that a person can excel at a multitude of things at once as long as they stand strong in their perseverance and mission for success.

“GEMINI” by DAMIEN ESCOBAR (TRACKLIST):

1. Zodiac
2. Taboo
3. Ascension
4. Mercury Rising
5. Deja Vu
6. Secret Garden (Gemini Remix)
7. Symphony of Romance
8. Prelude

CONNECT WITH DAMIEN ESCOBAR:
Website
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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - June 17, 2024 #jazz #music

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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CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH WITH BANDCAMP #juneteenth #jazz #music

LIVE ON BANDCAMP BOOKER T. JONES & DEANIE PARKER

Our friends at Bandcamp are helping us celebrate Black Music Month with a very special virtual panel discussion on Monday, June 17! Tune in at noon ET for a conversation between the legendary Booker T. Jones, Deanie Parker, and Bandcamp Daily contributor Martin Douglas, as they discuss the history of Stax and the indelible mark it’s left on music history as a whole. RSVP at the link below — see you there!

RSVP + TUNE IN HERE

BANDCAMP JUNETEENTH FUNDRAISER

On Wednesday, June 19—from midnight PT to midnight PT June 20th—Bandcamp will hold its fourth annual Juneteenth fundraiser. This year, Bandcamp will be donating a portion of the sales to The Soulsville Foundation — an organization very close to our hearts and mission here at Stax Records!   The Soulsville Foundation perpetuates the soul of Stax Records by preserving its rich cultural legacy, educating youth to be prepared for life success, and inspiring future artists to achieve their dreams. The Foundation supports three not-for-profit music and educational entities, an afterschool music program, a museum, and charter school.

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STAX JUNETEENTH PLAYLIST

Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865 date when slaves in Galveston, Texas, were notified, 2 years after the Emancipation Proclaimation, that they were free. Here is a special playlist for this day, featuring powerful songs from legendary soul, blues, gospel and R&B artists, including Stax icons like The Staple Singers, Bettye Crutcher, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, and more. Let's take action every day to fight for equality for all.

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