TOM WETMORE -
THE DESIRED EFFECT
The buoyant grooves and graceful melodies heard on the forthcoming CD The Desired Effect serve to introduce a fresh new voice in jazz—Tom Wetmore, whose Crosstown Records will release the pianist/composer's exceptional debut, The Desired Effect, on January 17. The 29-year-old Massachusetts native has been active on the New York scene since 2005, leading his own traditional jazz trio as well as his eclectic sextet. He's also performed and/or recorded with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, T.K. Blue, Bernard Purdie, and the fine contemporary players showcased on his new disc.
BE GOOD
On Be Good, (out February 14, 2011 on Motéma), Porter has crafted a work that not only meets, but is likely to surpass, the heightened expectations of the jazz and soul audiences eagerly awaiting his follow up to Water. Featuring Porter's winning combination of "outstanding original songs, erudite lyrics and social comment, top drawer musicianship and improvisation, and a voice to die for" (Jazz Wise), Be Good is a musical compendium of groove-driven delights, ranging from quiet ballads to up-tempo burners, from romantic charmers to powerful, blues-tinged anthems. Be Good finds Porter surrounded by the core of his powerhouse working band, with whom he recorded his Grammy® nominated debut, and who have performed with him for over three years now: Chip Crawford on piano, Aaron James on bass, Emanuel Harrold on drums, and Yosuke Sato on alto sax. Under the sure hand of producer Brian Bacchus, Porter and the band rise to new heights on Be Good, which is further fueled by richly emotional horn arrangements by Kamau Kenyatta, who produced Water and who continues to play an important role in Porter's sound. Kenyatta also performs on one track ("Painted on Canvas") and guest instrumentalists Keyon Harrold ontrumpet and Tivon Pennicott ontenor sax are also featured throughout.
ECHOES OF INDIANA AVENUE
Resonance Records will release Echoes of Indiana Avenue - the first full album of previously unheard Montgomery music in over 25 years - on March 6, 2012, which would have been Montgomery's 88th birthday. The tapes are the earliest known recordings of Montgomery as a leader, pre-dating his auspicious 1959 debut on Riverside Records. The album showcases Montgomery in performance from 1957-1958 at nightclubs in his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as rare studio recordings. The release is also beautifully packaged, containing previously unseen photographs and insightful essays by noted music writers and musicians alike, including guitarist Pat Martino and Montgomery's brothers Buddy and Monk. On this scintillating discovery, Montgomery plays it strictly straight ahead, swinging with a momentum and ferocity that is positively visceral - a clear display of Montgomery's bebop side. Listening to these recordings only reaffirms how Montgomery exerted such a profound influence over generations of guitarists - from George Benson, Pat Martino and Joe Pass to John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Kevin Eubanks, and Russell Malone to Kurt Rosenwinkel.
WINTER IN AMERICA
A follow up to his debut solo album From Where I Stand, the new project features conscious emcees such as The Grouch, Zumbi (of Zion I) and K-Maxx, as well as fellow Santana member (and 11 time Grammy Award Winner) Tony Lindsey, and iconic poet/vocalist Linda Tillery, featured with a spoken word performance of Dr. Martin Luther King's Nobel Peace Prize speech. "My musical upbringing contains a wide variety of musical styles, including Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin, African, R&B/soul, and blues, ” he states. “What I am trying to do with my musical voice is reflect all of those elements of who I am as a musician and a person. I'm not a purist; I try to bring all these elements of who I am musically into one voice." “Carlos has always used music to inspire and bring people together, ” explains Ortiz. “I follow in that tradition. I’ve been really encouraged by some of the Bay Area hip-hop artists like Zumbi and the Grouch who make music with enlightened lyrics, ” Ortiz adds of how he chose his featured guests. “We often celebrate ignorance in our society, so I wanted to celebrate consciousness.” Ortiz covers Gil Scott Heron’s 1973 hit on the title track “Winter in America” as an homage to the recently departed Heron. The worldwide digital and physical release is scheduled for January 31st, 2012.
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