CostaVibes

CostaVibes9ine for Feb 2012

2012-02-12T15:57:00.001+01:00

THE NEW CostaVibes9ine… a mix featuring 9ine recommended tracks from forthcoming and recent releases;

Track 1: The Quiet Nights Orchestra ‘When We Fly’ from ´Movin’ (Reach-Up), the DJ’s favourite (and mine) from their second album. Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, the QNO remind us what classic jazz is all about… fun and dancing!

Track 2: Gregory Porter ‘On My Way to Harlem’ forthcoming from ‘Be Good’ (Motema). The Grammy nominated singer is just about to release his second album… please tell me that you already knew that!

Track 3: The Unity Sextet ´Do Me A Fredo’ from the self-titled debut (Legere Recordings), a track that features an infectious Paul Gonzalves “Boom-Jackie-Boom-Chick groove”. The Unity Sextet is a new side project for producer Adam Gibbons, aka Lack of Afro, who ventures into a jazzier sound yet still retains his trademark sampling and funky instrumentation.

Track 4: Quasamodo & The Q Orchestra ‘Nakapenda’ from ‘Movin’ On’ (Bombastic Jam), a funky (slightly broken) instrumental that jumped out at me whilst listening to the new album, from the Q (Quite Unusual and Slightly Awkward Music of Diverse Origin) guy’s third album.

Track 5: Jimi Tenor ‘Moonfolks’ from ‘Cosmic Relief’ EP (Sahko Recordings), a super sounding piece of jazzy lounge from the one-man recording machine. Originally released in 2001 after his Warp years, now made available once again and sounding as fresh as ever over.

Track 6: Yusuke Hirado featuring Tomoki Seto of the Cradle Orchestra ‘Against the Invisible Wall’ from ‘Speak Own Words’ (EMI Music Japan). A little “Suck My Soul” interlude from DJ Concept leads us into a stand out track from Japan’s Quasimode pianist’s debut release.

Track 7: Indigo Jam Unit ‘Escape’ from ‘Independent (Basis Records). Dig bass? Den dig dis!

Track 8: The Middlewood Sessions ‘Red Waters’ (2012 version) from the forthcoming self-titled debut (Middlewood). Revamp of the 2008 single. If you like The Heritage Orchestra, 4hero, Cinematic, this is right up your street.

Track 9: Tigran Hamasyan ‘Vardavar’ from ‘EP N°1’ (Universal Music France). I first heard this on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide radio show on BBCR1. The Brownswood guys are praising this guy as the ”real deal”. I expect you might hear more from the Parisian pianist on a forthcoming Bubbler.

CostaVibes9ine for Feb 2012 by Tony Poole on Mixcloud

Robert Glasper Remix Contest

2012-02-08T19:26:00.000+01:00

ROBERT GLASPER’S visit to Murcia as part of the Jazz In Blue Festival in April promises to be one of the highlights in the Iberian jazz calendar this year. Ahead of that, his new album ‘Black Radio’ is due to be released on 28th February. Glasper signed to the legendary Blue Note record label as a jazz pianist, but his latest project is a genre fusion of jazz, soul and hip-hop featuring Mos Def, Ledisi, Bilal, Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, Shafiq Husayn, Lupe Fiasco, Musiq Soulchild, Chrisette Michele, Meshell Ndegeocello, Stokley Williams and KING.

Glasper has teamed up with Indabamusic.com, the online music creation site, to launch a remix contest for the song 'Move Love' from the album, which features vocals from rising star KING. Indaba’s international community of more than 600,000 musicians will be given each component of the song - including the individual vocal, drum, keyboard, and other tracks - and asked to create their own remix. Glasper will judge all of the entries and select the winner, who will receive a $500 cash prize, a royalty-free one-of-a-kind piano sample created by Glasper for use in an original composition, and a signed copy of ‘Black Radio’. Entries close on 20th February.

‘More Love’ was featured on the CostaVibes9ine for January.

Jose James - Save Your Love For Me (free download) [2011]

2012-02-07T14:42:00.002+01:00

JOSE JAMES fans should grab this free download of Save Your Love For Me recorded live at the Triple Door, Seattle, last year featuring Takuya Kuroda, Kris Bowers, Solomon Dorsey and Nate Smith. The super talented singer is extremely generous with free downloads made available through his Soundcloud page.

Jose´s new album ´No Beginning, No End' drops later this year. The album continues to chart his explorations into black music (essentially), fusing soul and jazz, featuring an array of musicians and songwriters including Taylor McFerrin, Jessica Care Moore, Emily King, Suphala, Hindi Zahra, Pino Palladino, Chris Dave, Robert Glasper, Richard Spaven, Grant Winsor, Jules Buckley, amonst others. Jose says the album was originally inspired by working with soul singer-songwriter-producer Leon Ware, best known for crafting Marvin Gaye's 'I Want You' album (who Jose cites to be his all-time favourite singer).

Jose made his Murcia debut here in Spain last November with McCoy Tyner performing a Johnny Hartman-John Coltrane tribute at the XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival. Come back soon mi amigo!

Eli "Paperboy" Reed meets The Pepper Pots - Time and Place (2012)

2012-02-05T18:48:00.000+01:00

SOUL AND R&B music is not a style you would immediately associate with Spain. However over recent years black American music has become increasingly popular on the Costa Blanca. In January the Hoochie Coochie Black Music Secret Society staged the first Semana de Musica Negra - Black Music Week in Alicante (hopefully the organisers won’t keep the next one so secret and drop me an email), and Charles Bradley (‘No Time for Dreaming’) sneaked under my radar and performed a concert in Murcia in November. Spanish bands like The Sweet Vandals, The Cherry Boppers and Speak Low are fronting a growing scene that has not only established a fan base in their home country, but also built an international following.

Add to that list, The Pepper Pots, a 10-piece group, with three girls sharing lead vocals, from Girona, Catalonia, who deliver an ‘Old School’ Sound inspired by the best mid-60s Soul albums. Their latest release sees them teaming up with American singer Eli "Paperboy" Reed for Time and Place (Double Back 2012), an EP that comprises of four classic soul tunes. Reed has built a strong international reputation showcasing his genuine fascination, and love for, Soul music’s golden era. His last album Come and Get it! introduced the world to an exceptional singer-songwriter who has taken the genre a step further. His lively voice and his impressive backing band (The True Loves) have worn out dancing shoes around the world, evident from his performance at the Cartagena Jazz Festival in 2010.

In recent years, The Pepper Pots also have made great strides. In 2009 they recorded with Binky Griptite, guitarist with the magnificent Dap-Kings (backing band for Sharon Jones and one of the creative forces behind the sound of Amy Winehouse). That record was followed by an expansive world tour leading up to the release of their newest full-length album, Train to Your Lover (Double Back, 2011).

To find an authentic sound The Pepper Pots recorded the album in their own recording studio “Black Pepper Studio”, using an entirely analogical set up and using similar instruments to those used in the 60s. Each band member collaborated in each of the tasks involved in the recording; the composition, arrangements, production, mixing… and the final mastering touch comes from the hands of the legendary Bob Ohlsson, Motown sound engineer during the classic period of the label - between 1965 and 1972, working with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokie Robinson & the Miracles, The Spinners and Gladys Knight & the Pips

Not long after this release, the band found time to perform on several occasions with a living legend of Northern Soul, Maxine Brown, a star who worked with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye.

The relationship between The Pepper Pots and Eli “Paperboy” Reed started some time back. They first met at one of Reed's famed live shows. The idea of a joint venture was always a dream and finally became a reality last May. The premise was ideal. Reed and The Pepper Pots would choose their favourite unheralded soul records and then record their own versions of the best of the best, recasting the classic tunes in their own styles with Reed at the helm as producer.

The end result is a seamless blend of the two bands' sounds. The rugged Soul of the American star and the silken Motown Sound of the Catalans as they come together to pay tribute to Chicago's Fontella Bass and Bobby McClure, Lee Moses from Atlanta, GA, Jimmy Lewis from Texas and South Carolina's Kip Anderson. The songs were recorded in The Pepper Pots' own 100% analogue studio, Black Pepper Studio, in Cornellà del Terri.

The record (available on CD and 7-inch vinyl) is accompanied by a DVD documentary which charts some of the hidden moments behind the recording. Time and Place is already gathering notoriety as Eli "Paperboy" Reed's production debut and will hopefully be the beginning of a long friendship between the American Soul Star and The Pepper Pots.

Next month The Pepper Pots will tour Spain together with the Sweet Vandals and The Cherry Boppers as part of the Soul Train Fest, a touring festival that mimics the events of the famous Motown and Stax Revues.

Eli "Paperboy" Reed meets The Pepper Pots - Don't Mess Up A Good Thing

Robert Glasper Mix

2012-01-30T20:51:00.000+01:00

ROBERT GLASPER is touring Spain in April as part of the Jazz In Blue Festival 2012. By sheer coincidence those nice chaps at BamaLoveSoul.Com have posted a super 17-track mix titled The Next Movement: Robert Glasper Mix. Actually, it's probably more out of respect to the great man, who just in case you have been living on Panet Zog for the past few weeks, is about to release a new album titled Black Radio.

According to BLS "This mix can serve as a retrospective of sorts, containing tracks from 'Mood' (2003) and 'Canvas' (2005) as well as 'In My Element' and 'Double Booked' as well as fantastic live performances. Glasper is the perfect bridge for any soulhead who happens to also love Jazz and Hip-Hop or however you want to arrange it. Glasper, being the hybrid he is, represents the new vanguard who will usher in the new sounds and styles or The Next Movement as it were."

Here is a great opportunity to grab some of Robert's back catalogue in the build up to the release of Black Radio. CostaVibes will be following the Spanish tour closely, particularly the performance at the Murcia Teatro Circo on April 21st (tickets available from Ticketmaster).

And head on over to BamaLoveSoul.Com to check out one of the coolest black music sites on the internet... 3045 followers can´t be wrong!

01. Mos Def / Thieves In The Night ft. Chris Dave & Robert Glasper

02. Robert Glasper / F.T.B. from 'In My Element'

03. Myron / Relax from 'Myron & The Works'

04. Rozzi Daime / Morning Light from 'Brownswood Bubblers Vol. 3'

05. Dela / Get Busy from 'The Robert Glasper Beattape'

06. J Dilla / Dilla*Shine ft. Robert Glasper & Zynzelay

07. Robert Glasper Trio / Don’t Close Your Eyes ft. Bilal from 'Mood'

08. Robert Glasper / Downtime from 'Double Booked'

09. Robert Glasper Trio / Maiden Voyage ft. Bilal from 'Mood'

10. Robert Glasper Experiment / Third Eye (Live) from 'Roy Ayers Tribute Concert'

11. Robert Glasper Trio / Lil Tipsy from 'Mood'

12. Robert Glasper / Portrait Of An Angel from 'Canvas'

13. Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Mos Def / Thelonious (Live)

14. Robert Glasper / J Dillalaude from 'In My Element'

15. Robert Glasper Experiment / For You from 'Double Booked'

16. Robert Glasper / I Remember ft. Bilal from 'Canvas'

17. Jaleel Shaw / Optimism from 'Optimism'

HOTFILE: DOWNLOAD

Federico Lechner’s “Tango & Jazz” Trio play Alicante

2012-01-29T22:07:00.000+01:00

ARGENTINE PIANIST Federico Lechner brings his Tango & Jazz Trio to Las Cigarreras – La Caja Negra (The Cigar Jazz & Blues Club) in Alicante on Thursday 16th February. He will present his latest recordings ‘Estele’ (Bost Espacio Creativo, 2006) and ‘Beboponga’ (18 Chulos, 2009) along with Toño Miguel on double bass and Michael Oliveira on drums.

Federico describes the project as “a laboratory mix of jazz and tango, through classics of both styles, as well as original compositions, always keeping the aesthetics of the jazz trio par excellence, but with a tango flavour.”

The trio's first album ‘Estele’ was the culmination of a year and a half of live trio work at both festivals and in clubs. ‘Beboponga’, the second album, features a larger ensemble of musicians which include the renowned Spanish harmonica player, and long-time collaborator, Antonio Serrano. The album features recordings by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charles Mingus and Chopin, as well as original compositions.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1974 into a family of musicians, Federico began playing the piano at the age of 3 years old with the help of his mother. During his childhood he often played piano recitals and worked as a singer in TV ads. In 1984 he moved to Spain, after which he began to study jazz and work professionally as a pianist and keyboardist. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists from the commercial music scene in Spain and recorded five albums as a leader, plus his name can be found credited on several soundtracks to Spanish films. He has also composed original music for several short films and commercials, and has toured Spain twice as a live pianist improvising to silent movies. He has taught improvisation workshops at a variety of high schools and colleges across Europe and the USA.

Despite his youth, he is well established on the Spanish jazz circuit having played with musicians such as Jorge Pardo, Antonio Serrano, Perico Sambeat, Pedro Ruy Blas, Bob Sands, Ximo Tebar, Concha Buika, Israel Sandoval, Paloma Berganza, Carlos Carli, and many others, and frequently collaborates and tours overseas with international artists such as Jerry Gonzalez, Christian Howes, Sonny Fortune, Ugonna Okewo and Rez Abbasi.

In 2001 he won 4th prize in the composition for jazz ‘Tete Montoliu’, convened by the SGAE. In 2002, his duo album with Jerry Gonzalez, ‘A Primera Vista’, was a finalist for Best Jazz Album in the Spanish Music Awards. In 2005 his song ‘Iboga’ was awarded 1st Prize for jazz composition ‘Tete Montoliu’.

This all adds up to what promises to be an evening of attractive fusion where “jazz meets tango” that should delight all lovers of good music.

The concert at Las Cigarreras starts at 20:30, tickets are 10 euros in advance, available from FNAC Boulevard, or 12 euros on the night from the box office. For more information visit www.lascigarreras.com

Click here to view Google Map for directions to La Cigarreras

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Kirk MacDonald Quartet at Concert Cafe 16

2012-01-28T01:01:00.000+01:00

IN CONCERT on Thursday 2nd February at the Cafe Concierto 16 in the heart of Alicante City is Kirk MacDonald. one of Canada's best exports on the tenor saxophone. He has been nominated for four Juno Awards, with his Album The Atlantic Sessions winning the 1999 Juno Award for Best Mainstream Jazz Album.

With an established reputation as one of Canada's leading saxophonists, MacDonald cut his first record at the age of thirteen. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, and has worked with many leading musicians in a variety of musical genres. He has performed on over 40 CDs as both leader and sideman, and has participated in numerous national broadcast recordings for CBC Radio. In addition to performing extensively throughout Canada, he has also performed in the USA, France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Australia, Korea, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.

For over 25 years Kirk has worked and recorded with many leading Canadian, U.S. and International jazz musicians including Claude Ranger, Dave Young, Sam Noto, Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Henderson, Harold Mabern, Walter Bishop Jr., Lorne Lofsky, Bob Mover, Pat LaBarbera, John Taylor, Ron McClure, Mike Stern, Jim McNeely, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton, Chris Potter, Glenn Ferris, Nancy Walker, Barry Romberg, Andre White, Rob Smith, Brian Dickinson, Denny Christianson, Bernie Senensky, Phil Nimmons, James Moody, Rosemary Clooney, and the Humber College Faculty Ensemble

As a composer, he has recorded over 50 of his own compositions. Most recently, a number of his pieces have been arranged for large ensembles by leading Canadian and American arrangers. He has been active as an educator for almost 25 years at both the college and university levels.

Kirk MacDonald is accompanied by Fabio Miano, piano; Andrés Lizón, bass; Curro Garcia, drums. The concert is at the Cafe Concierto 16, Plaza de los Luceros, 03004 Alicante, starts 22:30. For more information tel. 966 37 56 18, email cafeconcierto16@gmail.com, or visit www.cafeconcierto16.es

For directions to Cafe Concierto 16 click here to view Google Map

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Part-Time Heroes - So (2011) [Free Download & Video]

2012-01-27T13:53:00.001+01:00

PART-TIME Heroes are set to release new music this Spring on Wah Wah 45s, their first in over 3 years. Currently available on Bandcamp is a teaser titled So. Check out this brilliant piece of cinematic electro-soul featuring the vocals of album collaborator Sarah Scott. It's an exclusive free download and the track will NOT be on the album... so grab it now!

A 6-track EP featuring the single Folded is due for digital release on Feb 6th.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://part-timeheroes.bandcamp.com/album/free-download-so"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Free Download: So by Part-Time Heroes&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Video compiled from travelling footage by Ross Wakefield & Toby Vane over the past few years >>>

Gregory Porter - On My Way to Harlem (2012) [Free Download]

2012-01-24T14:59:00.000+01:00

GREGORY PORTER's new album will be released on February 14th, 2012. His Grammy nominated debut album Water is about to be followed up by another dose of soulful jazz on 'Be Good'. The lead single 'Be Good (Lion's Song)' finally gets an official release, it is a popular Porter song regularly featured in his live shows but was not included on Water. Listen here.

Motema Records are offering a free download of Gregory's 'On My To Harlem' from 'Be Good' as part of a Vocal Music Sampler available on Bandcamp.

PS Click here for news on a Gregory Porter / Jamie Cullum collaboration

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://motemamusic.bandcamp.com/track/gregory-porter-on-my-way-to-harlem"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Gregory Porter - On My Way to Harlem by Motéma Music&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Jazz In Blue Festival 2012

2012-01-22T17:42:00.002+01:00

JAZZ IN Blue is a touring festival beginning on Feb 10 in Malaga. It stages 25 concerts in some of the major cities in Spain, before culminating in Murcia on May 18. The three month tour takes in Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Malaga, Murcia, Aviles, Valladolid and Santiago de Compostela. The programme features four major recording artists, of which three are signed to the prestigious Blue Note record label; the Erik Truffaz 4tet, the Joe Lovano Quartet Europe, the Robert Glasper Trio and The Bad Plus.

Erik Truffaz is a Swiss-born French jazz trumpeter, infusing elements of hip-hop, rock & roll and dance music into his compositions. He signed with the French EMI label in 1996. Truffaz gained international attention with his second album on Blue Note, ‘The Dawn’, produced together with Pat Muller, Marcello Giuliani and Mark Erbetta. Since then they have produced several Blue Note albums together, such as ‘Bending New Corners’, which became a Silver Album in France. Their 2007 release ‘Arkhangelsk’ is a mixture of pop songs, French chanson, and jazz-groove.

Joe Lovano is an American post-bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinettist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls. His live work, specifically ‘Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard’, gained a Down Beat "Jazz Album of the Year" award. In the late 1990s, he formed the Saxophone Summit with Dave Liebman and Michael Brecker (now deceased, replaced with Ravi Coltrane). His latest album ‘Bird Songs’ released on Blue Note last year primarily features the music of Charlie Parker.

Robert Glasper studied at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York and began working with artists from jazz, R&B and hip-hop like Mos Def, Q-Tip, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z and Me’Shell Ndegeoncello. In 2003 he published his first album, and in 2005 he released ‘Canvas’, his first with Blue Note Records, then two years after the Grammy nominated ‘In My Element’. His much anticipated latest album ‘Black Radio’ has just been released (you can listen to ´More Love', a track from Robert Glasper`s new album as part of the CostaVibes9ine mix for January 2012, along with other recommended new releases).

The Bad Plus are a jazz trio from the United States, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King, originating from Minneapolis. Their music combines elements of traditional jazz, free jazz, rock and pop, performing versions of Nirvana, Ornette Coleman, Blondie, Pixies, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Neil Young and Radiohead. The trio released their first album in 2001. Their latest album ‘Never Stop’, released in 2010, is their ninth.

Jazz In Blue offers an opportunity to see performances from some of today’s finest and creative jazz artists making inroads on the international jazz scene. For the full programme and itinerary visit www.jazzinblue.es

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CostaVibes9ine for Jan 2012

2012-01-21T21:39:00.003+01:00

NEW FEATURE, a monthly mix of 9ine recommended tracks from forthcoming and newly released albums;

Track 1: ‘Land Of The Pharoahs’ from the eagerly awaited forthcoming album by Woodland Conclave (Infracom Records), an uplifting left-field spiritual joint from Perry Hemus and the guys that’s created a buzz over the past few months.

Track 2: ‘More Love’ by The Robert Glasper Experiment ft. King from ‘Black Radio’ (Blue Note). The first big album of 2012 and further evidence that the future is music without frontiers... BAM! (For my Espana amigos, Robert is touring Spain in April as part of the Jazz In Blue Festival).

Track 3: ‘Little Sunflower’ by Munich bass player Jerker Kluge’s Deep Jazz from ‘The Meeting’ (Perfect Toy Records). A vocal version of Freddie Hubbard’s classic that gets a unique makeover using a rhythm section featuring flute/alto, tenor and bass-clarinet, as well as concert harp.

Track 4: ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Michael Kinanuka recorded in session at the BBC Maida Vale Studios. Michael is defo the man of the moment, voted winner of BBC’s Sound Of 2012… and he’s still to release a full length album.

Track 5: ‘Dance The Dance (Atjazz Remix’) from Jazzanova’s ‘Upside Down’ (Sonar Kollektiv). When house music meets jazz it doesn´t get any better than this.

Track 6: ‘Mayame’ by Novalima from 'Karimba' (ESL Music). The Grammy nominated guys are on a mission to revolutionize Afro-Peruvian music.

Track 7: ‘Rooster Was A Witness’ by Neil Cowley Trio from ‘The Face Of Mount Molehill (Naim Jazz), a pulsating piece with soaring strings featuring Cowley's dynamic piano playing.

Track 8: ‘Rain Dance’ by Kenny Wellington from ‘In Retrospect’ (MBJ Records). From his second solo project, the Light Of The World founder member still carries the UK Jazz Funk torch with an added modern contemporary twist.

Track 9: ‘Look Around The Corner’ by Quantic and Alice Russell with the Combo Barbaro from the forthcoming album of the same name (Tru Thoughts). This has Rotary Connection written all over it.

CostaVibes9ine for Jan 2012 by Tony Poole on Mixcloud

Robbie France R.I.P.

2012-01-18T20:54:00.000+01:00

IT IS with a heavy heart that I report the untimely death of Robbie France aged 52. He died on Saturday 14th January from a ruptured aorta. Robbie was best known as former drummer of the British heavy metal bands Diamond Head and UFO, and his playing on Skunk Anansie's smash-hit debut album ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Sunburnt´. He was also a prolific songwriter, producer and radio broadcaster. Robbie´s life is well documented; the best version of his life story is on Wikipedia, “I should know,” joked Robbie, “I wrote it!”

Diamond Head posted the following statement on their website, "It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Robbie France. Robbie was the drummer for Diamond Head from 1983 to 1985." Tributes and messages of condolences have been pouring in on the bands official Facebook page.

Robbie was born in Sheffield, and moved to Australia at a young age before retiring to Spain in 1998 where he resided in Puerto de Mazarron. He started his career after forming the jazz fusion band Carnival in Australia. Later he would team up with the renowned jazz saxophonist Jean Toussaint, “Sorry to hear the tragic news about Robbie. He was quite a character and will be sorely missed.”

Robbie had a life changing experience in 1996 that forced him to drop out of the live music scene “I was watching a football match between England and Spain. A young man called Miguel Angel Nadal, (Rafa’s uncle), walked up to take a penalty. The goalkeeper was David Seaman. I was innocently watching this take place in the south of France with the band I was with at the time, Alphaville. Nadal shot. Seaman saved. I jumped up. In doing so I crashed my Achilles tendon into the underside of the seat I was using. The horizontal wooden strut was like a razor. The tendon was severed to within 16th of an inch. About a millimetre. That was it. Life had changed.” After major surgery and a bout of gangrene he knew his days as a touring drummer were over and he retired to Spain where he settled in to writing, broadcasting and sailing.

I met Robbie in the summer of 2009 whilst at TKO Gold. Our conversations were nearly always about music, his knowledge was vast, he had lived the rock ´n roll life. I remember how he always wore vest tops to the studios, as evident in many of his publicity photos, I don´t ever recall ever seeing him wear anything else, apart from one time the presenters posed for a publicity shot and he donned a cheque cowboy shirt. Regrettably I never saw him play drums live, but I would regularly listen to his radio shows where the music mix was always eclectic. Former TKO Station Manager, Shelly Parker, paid an emotional tribute “I can't quite believe it. Why oh why do the good die young? It’s not right, it’s not fair, and I am totally shocked. You will forever be in my thoughts.”

Cliff “The Sheriff” Roberts of Real Radio FM explained the circumstances surrounding Robbie´s death, “Robbie took ill on Friday while having lunch. He felt unwell and an ambulance was called. On arrival at hospital he was very ill and only given short time to live. R.I.P. Robbie one of the nicest people ever that I was happy to call a friend.” The funeral was held in Mazarron on Wednesday 18th January.

Janice Harrington: Concerts in Murcia

2012-01-15T15:26:00.000+01:00

AMERICAN SINGER Janice Harrington will be visiting Spain during the first week of February. She will be performing a series of concerts with the Brinck Johnsen / Ramon Climent Quartet. Janice is a renowned singer of jazz, blues and gospel who resides in Lüneburg, Germany. She performed at the XVI Jazz Festival in Murcia in 1996.

Ms. Harrington’s international career began in 1969 with tours for the USO to South East Asia, where she entertained USA military personnel during the Vietnam War. Throughout 1975 to 1977, she appeared at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel.

She has worked with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lionel Hampton, who told her "Two Aries should not work together. You should get your own show." She did exactly that in 1980, when she relocated to Europe.

In 1982, she was the opening act for Joan Armatrading in Oslo. She accepted an invitation to sing for Bishop Desmond Tutu in Oslo after he received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1989, she performed with the Kenn Lending Blues Band as the opening act for B. B. King in Copenhagen. In 1993, Ms. Harrington toured Switzerland with Big Jay McNeely. As a Jazz performer, she has appeared with Nat Adderley, Papa Bue’s Royal Viking Jazzband, the Humphrey Lyttleton Band and the Dutch Swing College Band. Ms. Harrington has also appeared with the Danish Radio Big Band, the Oslo Radio Big Band, the German NDR Radio Big Band and the Ljubljana Radio Big Band. Her latest CD is a tribute to Dinah Washington titled Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.

Her band for the concerts features Norwegian saxophonist Brinck Johnsen, pianist Ramon Climent, bass player Sergio David Valcarcèl, and drummer Raul Garcia, all regular contributors to the jazz scene on the Costa Blanca.

Janice Harrington will be performing at the Auditorio de Algezares, south of the city of Murcia, on Wednesday 1st Feb. Followed by La Puerta Falsa in Murcia on Friday 3rd Feb. Then, at the Restaurant Asturias at Punta Prima, Orihuela Costa, on Sunday 5th Feb.

Tickets and reservations:

Concert at the Auditorio de Algezares on Wednesday 1st Feb starts at 21:00. Tickets on sale in the entrance 2 hours before the concert, price 8 euros. Reservations: telephone 629 388 721.

Club concert at La Puerta Falsa on Friday 3rd Feb starts at 21:30. Tickets on sale in the entrance 2 hours before the concert, price 10 euros, Reservations: telephone 868 931 180.

Concert at the Restaurant Asturias on Sunday 5th Feb starts at 20:30. Tickets on sale in the entrance 1 hour before start, price unconfirmed. Table reservations: telephone 965 326 369.

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Músicas del Alma XII cancelled

2012-01-12T15:52:00.001+01:00

MUSICAS DEL Alma,San Javier´s winter music festival, has been cancelled. Alberto Nieto, theFestival Director of Jazz San Javier recently issued a statement on theirwebsite "Due to budget cuts stemming from the economic crisis, the SanJavier Town Council has decided to cancel the 2012 edition of Músicas del Alma.Meanwhile, organizers continue to work on preparing the already confirmed, 15thedition of the San Javier International Jazz Festival, which will be heldthroughout the month of July". As I predicted in a November post, budgetcuts would threaten our jazz festivals this year. It would have been the XIIedition of this now established annual event, but instead has become an early newyear’s casualty of town hall financial cut backs. Although assurance has beengiven to this summer’s festival, it remains to be seen if it, and otherfestivals in Murcia, will be affected.

Music without Frontiers

2012-01-08T15:13:00.003+01:00

MUSICAS SIN Fronteras (Music without Frontiers) is the annual spring festival staged in Rojales. The festival acts to promote cross-cultural exchanges and celebrate diverse music styles through cultural collaborations with national and international artists and help break down prejudice through music. In addition the event raises money for local charities. Last year it raised over 2000 euros for special care centres in Torrevieja helping Alzheimer and woman shelters.

The line-up for this year´s event has been announced by the tourism department of the Ayuntamiento de Rojales and features a programme of three live concerts including Latin jazz, be-bop and Flamenco music. The festival takes place over three consecutive Friday evenings during March.

Opening the festival is the Joshua Edelman Band on Friday 16th. Edelman was born and grew up in Manhattan. He studied at the High School of Music and Art, Manhattan School of Music and New York University. As a pianist and composer he combines his classical and jazz training with the passion he feels for the Latin music he fell in love with in his youth in New York. He relocated to Valencia in 1980 and now resides in Madrid. There he leads a band next to other nomadic musicians from all Latin America presenting a project called Calle de Rosario. His band features the Cuban trumpeter Manuel Machado, formerly of the ground breaking Afro-Cuban jazz group Irakere.

The following week it is the American sax tenor Scott Hamilton with the Fabio Miano Trio on Friday 23rd. Hamilton is no stranger here and a firm favourite of jazz audiences having performed recently at Musicas del Alma in San Javier and L'Alfas del Pi Jazz Festival in Albir. He is generally considered to be one of the few musicians of real talent who carried forward the tradition of the classic jazz tenor saxophone in the style of Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and Illinois Jacquet. He teams up once again with Alicante´s finest, one of Spain’s most respected jazz pianists, Fabio Miano.

The finale is the Carlos Piñana Trio is Friday 30th. Carlos Piñana Conesa was born in Cartagena in 1976. He is son of Antonio Piñana, also a guitarist, and grandson of the famous flamenco singer from Levante of the same name. Carlos first started to learn classical guitar at the Cartagena Music Conservatory in 1996. However, he decided to focus on Flamenco and was taught by Manolo Sanlúcar, Rafael Riqueni and Enrique de Melchor. He has won the Bordón Minero award in La Unión in 1996 and the Ramón Montoya award at the Cordoba National Contest in 1998. He has recorded several albums, Palosanto (Big Bang Producciones) regarded as being the most celebrated.

All the concerts are at the Teatro Capitol in Rojales and start at 21:00. Admission is 3 euros. For more information is available from the Rojales Tourist Office, tel. 966 713 275, or visit www.rojales.es

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CostaVibes9ine2011 - Part 3

2012-01-05T18:50:00.000+01:00

MORE JAZZ best picks from 2011 and a very eclectic affair. The mix opens with the Buggy Wesseltoft + Henrik Schwarz duo ´Where is The Edge?’ from their self-titled project. Techno improvisations can leave me cold, but this is one of the best I´ve heard.

Up next my re-edit of the year, Gregory Porter’s ‘1960 What?’ the Opolopo Kick & Bass Rerub. As if the track wasn´t powerful enough in its original form on the Grammy nominated album ‘Water’, mutant producer Opolopo superbly re-worked it for the dance floor and brought the track, and the man, to a whole new audience.

Continuing on a techno-jazz theme ‘Lions Of Judah’ by Emanative & Ahmed Abdullah is a tribute to late American jazz drummer Steve Reid who played with a wide range of artists including Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, James Brown, Fela Kuti and Sun Ra, and as a session drummer for Motown.

Marcus Strickland is a Downbeat and JazzTimes "Rising Star" and someone who´s undoubted talent I witnessed first-hand at the San Javier International Jazz Festival in 2010. ‘Virgo’ is from ‘Triumph of The Heavy’ (Vol. 1).

Hip female jazz singers do it for me, and they don´t come much hipper than Laika (Faiten). This excellent version of Joe Henderson´s ‘Black Narcissus’ is from her 2011 offering ‘Nebula’.

´Vision Quest’ is from Mark Stephens ‘The Dream of The Peaceful Warrior’ and features the late Michael Brecker, so it must have been recorded a few years back. A little Dave Grusin style piano intro leads into a catchy melody with a finger-tapping groove and some fine solos worked in… great tune!

Bassist Ben Williams is a young cat getting a lot of attention with the release of his debut album ‘State of Art’ this year. ‘Home’ is a funky tune that opens the album and hits the spot.

From the Italian nu-jazz remix maestros, the Barrio Jazz Gang ´The Complete Remixes’ we get a brilliant re-edit of ‘Chok-A-Blok-Avenue’ by Steve Martinez, a pulsating groove complete with jazzy horns and Moby-style vocal.

A fiery uptempo jazz dancer ‘Go Ahead!’ by Japanese band Pe’z from ´Himawari’ closes the set. If you like Soil & “Pimp”, IJU, Quasimode, you´re gonna dig this.

CostaVibes9ine for 2011-tresJAZZ by Tony Poole on Mixcloud

Click here to download at PodOmatic

Lee Ritenour Band ft. Dave Grusin live 2011 (SATrip)

2012-01-05T03:36:00.005+01:00

CALIFORNIAN GUITARIST, composer, jazz funk and contemporary jazz fusion pioneer Lee "Captain Fingers" Ritenour is admired by guitarists and aficionados throughout the world. During his career he has recorded 42 albums and over 3,000 recording sessions. He returned to San Javier last year following his debut at the VIII edition in 2005 along with pianist and composer Dave Grusin with whom he has recorded albums 'Harlequin', 'GRP Live in Session', 'Two Worlds' and 'Amparo'.

Tracklist: 1. Etude; 2. Punta; 3. Stone; 4. Wes Bound; 5. Stolen Moments; 6. Lay It Down; 7. Smoke 'n' Mirrors; 8. Get Up, Stand Up

Lineup: Lee Ritenour (guitars); Dave Grusin (piano and keyboards); Melvin Davis (bass); Sonny Emory (drums)

Recorded live at the XIV edition of San Javier International Jazz Festival on 1st July 2011.

DOWNLOAD : Filesonic

DOWNLOAD : Unibytes

Anna Luna Quartet at The Cigar

2012-01-02T13:11:00.000+01:00

LAS CIGARRERAS (The Cigar) is Alicante´s Jazz & Blues Club based just north of the city centre. Its home is in multi-cultural centre 'Cultura Comtemporanea' for contemporary arts, a complex that provides facilities for production and teaching in the performing and visual arts.

To start the New Year they are presenting the Anna Luna Quartet on Jan 19 as the final concert of their latest programme that included the Eliptic Project, the Pau Viguer Trio and the Óscar Peñas Quartet featuring the American jazz trumpeter Jason Palmer.

I was invited by Alex Garcia of JazzTK to see the Eliptic Project in December. The concerts are staged in an intimate theatre within the Cultura Comtemporanea where the venue provides excellent seating and viewing. The venue is a far cry from some of the smokey jazz clubs I´ve been too in my time. Alex told me how few jazz clubs there are in the region, unlike festivals, and that you have to search the major cities to find them. Another programme of jazz at Las Cigarreras is to be announced soon after the finale of the January concert with the Anna Luna Quartet.

Anna Luna (also known as Anna Luna Lucas) is a jazz and bossa nova singer from Barcelona. In 2011 she released her sixth album titled Femenina (Quadrant Records). She sings originals and jazz classics adapting the lyrics herself into Castilian. She studied vocal techniques, harmony, piano and uses the guitar as a second instrument. With a career spanning over twenty years, Anna is one of the most prominent singers on the Spanish jazz scene. Her previous album, ‘Sketches’, was nominated for best jazz record by The National Spanish Awards in 2008.

Femenina is a tribute to womenhood through music using songs dedicated to women or written by women, all sung in a swing, bossa, Latin jazz style. For her latest project Anna selected ten jazz standards (most of them never sung before) from jazz and Latin music icons. She created lyrics for Miles Davis ‘Blue In Green’ and ‘Nardis’, Dizzy Gillespie’s ´Con Alma’ and beautifully adapted Joe Henderson’s ‘Black Narcissus’ to ‘Ángel Negro’, plus she recorded re-works of Hispanic composers Mara Grever and J. Manuel Serrat, and Brazilian singer-songwriters Djavan, Jobim, and Joyce. The cover version of the title track, written by the latter, is quite simply superb. Anna has a beautiful voice that balances emotion and tension with a warm samba feel.

The Anna Luna Quartet features Jaume Vilaseca on piano, Curro Gálvez on double bass, and Roberto Faenzi on drums and percussion. They will be presenting Femenina at Las Cigarreras – La Caja Negra, San Carlos, 78, 03013 Alicante on Thursday 19th January. The performance starts at 20:30. Tickets are 10 euros, available in advance from FNAC Bulevar, or 12 euros one hour before the concert at the box office. For more information visit www.lascigarreras.com

Click here to view Google Map for directions to La Cigarreras

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2011 Review

2011-12-19T10:45:00.000+01:00

ONE OF the great things about living on the Costa Blanca is the array of open air jazz festivals during the summer months, and chance to see world class artists on the door step. Visitors and overseas property owners even book their annual holidays around them. It’s only been since the mid 70’s that Spain started to attract major international figures since the return to democracy, and that´s allowed for an increased interest in the jazz scene.

Cartagena, Alicante, Valencia and San Javier all staged successful international festivals this year that attracted respectful attendance figures considering the current financial climate. Whilst Murcia succumbed to budget cuts and was cancelled. Among this year’s overseas visitors were Chicago, Eric Burdon, Wynton Marsalis, David Sanborn, Stanley Clarke, Pat Metheny, Gilberto Gil, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Marvis Staples, Bettye LaVette, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin performing alongside top Spanish jazz artists like Chano Dominguez, Raynald Colom and Jaume Vilaseca. Torrevieja, El Campello, Denia, Altea, Calpe, Javea, Rojales, Polop and Elche all staged concerts as part of smaller festivals supported by their local town hall cultural departments.

On the club scene, Murcia´s Jazzazza continued to present another excellent programme of mixed Spanish and international jazz artists, topped in November by visiting American saxophonist Greg Osby.

I paid my first visit to Las Cigarreras Jazz & Blues Club in Alicante earlier this month to see the Eliptec Project featuring Catalonian guitarist Roc Calvet as they presented their debut album ‘Six Tunes Below Zero’. Based north of the city centre in the Cultura Contemporanea complex, the current programme climaxes on Jan 19 with a performance from the Anna Luna Quartet… but more about that in the New Year.

My favourite party weekend of the year is always in mid September when DJ Andy Ward hosts the Vocal Booth Weekender in Campoamor. Now in its third year, numero tres featured another top international line-up of DJ’s along with PA´s from neo soul artist Colonel Red and French singer Ladybird (The Rurals). Look out for next year’s dates from Sep 14 for a week long session of pool parties.

Finally, respect… in remembrance of esteemed notable musicians passing in 2011; Charles Farnborough, 60 (Art Blakey´s Jazz Messengers); John Barry, 77; Gary Moore, 58; Sir George Shearing OBE, 91; Joe Morello, 82 (Dave Brubeck Quartet); Melvin Sparks, 64; Loleatta Holloway, 64; Billy Bang, 63; Cornell Dupree, 69; Gil Scot-Heron, 62; Ray Bryant, 79; Clarence Clemons, 69 (E Street Band); Fonze Mizell, 68 (The Mizell Brothers); Joe Lee Wilson, 75; Amy Winehouse, 27; Frank Foster, 82; Gene McDaniels, 76; Nickolas Ashford, 70 (Ashford & Simpson); Graham Collier, 74; Vesta Williams, 48; Edmundo Ross OBE, 100; Sir Jimmy Savile OBE, 84 (DJ); Joe Frazier, 67 (World Heavyweight Champion 1970-73 and occasional soul singer); Michael Garrick, 78; Paul Motion, 80; Dobie Gray, 71 (The In Crowd), Ralph McDonald, 67; and others… RIP

CostaVibes9ine2011 - Part 2

2011-12-12T01:55:00.003+01:00

MORE ViBES as we round up the year with some more recommendations released over the last 12 months. 2011 has seen the boundaries of jazz continue to expand with artists progressively fusing the music with elements from other genres, especially electronica and hip-hop. As Berry Gordy Jr. said “It’s what´s in the groove that counts!”

So here is another CostaVibes9ine to get your groove on;

The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a group featuring eight brothers. Originally from Chicago they were a street ensemble before recording in 2004. In July they released ‘Bulletproof Brass’, and from it the band throws down the hip-hop infused ´Starfighter'.

The innovative Italian DJ, producer, guitarist and bandleader Nicola Conte is renowned for incorporating bossa nova, Italian movie themes and ethnic rhythms into his music. His latest album ´Love & Revolution’ is his most satisfying release to date. The track of choice is 'Black Spirits´ featuring singer Nailah Porter and saxophonist Magnus Lindgren.

Keyboard wizard Jeff Lorber re-visits ‘Fusion’ and the sound he helped pioneer in the 70’s. His latest album ´Galaxy’ is ‘Now Is the Time’ part 2 from last year. Features Randy Brecker, Paul Jackson Jr., Eric Marienthal… nuff said! Among Lorber’s favorites is “Horace” (dedicated to Horace Silver), the American jazz pianist and composer who inspired so much of his playing.

Amercian jazz singer Rene Marie is destined to be one of the modern greats. Her album ‘The Voice of My Beautiful County’ was released Stateside in 2008, and finally got a European release this year. Marie´s cover of Jefferson Airplane’s ´White Rabbit´ is swinging psychedelic jazz… as the dormouse said “Feed your head”.

Soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom is noted for her use of live electronics, using a foot pedal to trigger various electronic effects that alter the sound of her instrument. The trippy ‘Life on Cloud 8` from `Wingwalker’ is one of my favourite tunes of the year.

Italian Raphael Gualazzi is an extra-ordinary vocalist and pianist who represented his country at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest (but don´t let that put you off) and came second. His vocal delivery is sort of jazz and blues but yet totally unique. Check out ‘Reality and Fantasy’ for something off the wall. I first saw Gualazzi magnificently perform 'A Three Second Breath' live on the Italian TV channel Rai 2 on You Tube. Included here is the album version.

Guitarist Eddie Roberts of the British funk band ‘The New Mastersounds’ released my favourite jazz funk album of the year ´Burn’. Covering tunes like ´Big’ John Patton’s ‘Latona`, Hadley Caliman´s ‘Cigar Eddie’ and ´The Lope Song’ by Eddie Russ, it´s pure retro yet extremely fresh.

Gerald Short of Jazzman Records is renowned for “diggin´deeper’. Recently he uncovered recordings from Mexican drummer Tino Contreras. In his own country he’s a living legend of Latin jazz but practically unknown elsewhere. ‘El Jazz Mexicano de Tino Contreras’ is a compilation of waltz-time exotica, latinesque choral chants, and psychedelic modal jazz. My pick is the straight-ahead Latin jazz dancer 'La Malaguena'.

Soil & "Pimp" Sessions is a Japanese club jazz sextet who formed in Tokyo 10 years ago. They are known for their energetic live performances, having coined the term "death jazz" to describe their music. This year’s offering is ‘Magnetic Soil’. From it 'Freedom Time' takes no prisoners, high octane stuff… your granny wouldn´t like it!

CostaVibes9ine for 2011-MasJAZZ by Tony Poole on Mixcloud

Click here to download at PodOmatic

Eliptic Project at Las Cigarreras

2011-12-06T19:45:00.004+01:00

ELIPTIC PROJECT are a new innovative quartet from Barcelona, led by the young Catalan guitarist Roc Calvet. His influences range from Wayne Shorter and Greg Osby, to Joe Pass and Jim Hall. Roc is joined by the experienced saxophonist Xavi Figuerola, double bass player Miguel Serna and drummer Oriol Gonzalez. The band present their debut album Six Tunes Below Zero at Las Cigarreras Jazz & Blues Club on Dec 15.

Quadrant Records, says of the recording “the instrumental quality, the originality of the repertoire and the height of the music on this album are elements that are able to create atmospheres and sonorous landscapes that cannot leave the most exigent lovers of good music indifferent.”

Checking out the band on Spotify and YouTube is enough for me warrant further investigation. Plus it´s a welcome last chance to catch some live jazz this side of Christmas and catch mi amigo Alex Garcia who hosts the excellent JazzTK website.

Band Members: Roc Calvet-guitar / Xavier Figuerola-sax / Miguel Serna-double bass / Oriol González-drums

Genre: Jazz, Contemporary

Venue: Las Cigarreras Jazz & Blues Club: La Caja Negra, San Carlos, 78, 03013 ALICANTE

Directions: Google Maps

Time & Date: 20:30 on Thursday 15th December 2011

Tickets: 10 euros, pre-sale at FNAC Boulevard, and two hours before the concert at the La Cigarreras box office.

Record Label: Quadrant Records

Debut Release: Six Tunes Below Zero (2009)

Web: Quadrant Corner

Tel: 965 20 66 74

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CostaVibes9ine2011 - Part 1

2011-12-05T21:05:00.004+01:00

DECEMBER IS the time of the year in the music calendar when we tend to reflect on the last 12 months and debate who released the best records of the year. So for this post I offer the CostaVibes9ine for 2011. As you have no doubt noticed, I have also done a little housekeeping to my blog to give it a new magazine-style look. A brand new feature will be DJ mixes, a monthly podcast that will showcase new releases, which will be available to stream and download.

First of this year´s recommendations is the March release from Grammy award winning American jazz singer Kurt Elling titled ´The Gate´ including the swinging cover of Joe Jackson’s ‘Steppin´Out’… best vocal jazz album of the year.

This is followed by Zara McFarlane and her debut ‘Until Tomorrow’, an impressive 28 year old jazz singer from London who´s made notable appearances with Denys Baptiste, Orphy Robinson, Soweto Kinch and Jazz Jamaica All Stars. ‘Chiaroscuro’ is the track of choice... illustrious career to follow.

27 year old Manchurian trumpeter, composer, arranger, DJ, producer and band leader Matthew Halsall released his third album this year ‘On the Go’. From it ‘Music for a Dancing Mind’ is a beautiful rolling modal number a la Art Blakey... retro and inspirational.

Representing the Costa Blanca is Alcoy´s very own Hammond endorser, Mauri Sanchis. His latest project ´What Did You Expect?’ features the mod-style organ grinder ‘Guess What!!!’… Yeah baby!

Hidden Orchestra, the electronic jazz collective based in Edinburgh released the EP ´Flight’ as the follow-up to their stunning debut ‘Night Walks’. The title track was developed in part for a BBC Radio 4 documentary about flying carpets… an intense and transporting piece with a folk feel.

Gilles Peterson continues his exploration into Cuban music with ´Havana Cultura: The Search Continues’. The track ‘Orisa’ featuring Dreiser & Sexto Sentido perfectly showcases Afro-Cuban creativity.

My Latin jazz album of the year is from the Rhythmagic Orchestra, an All-Star project featuring members of the Nostalgia 77 Octet, the Plumstead Radical Club, the Alex Wilson Band, Jazz Jamaica and Ska Cubano. The cover of Nina Simone’s ‘African Mailman´ is about as good as Latin jazz dance gets.

A lot of great jazz has come out of the land of the rising sun during 2011, making it practically impossible to pick a top favourite. However, representing Japan, I´ve gone for the stylish Tokyo group Native and the track ´Summer House’ from ‘Going with the Flow’. It´s an uplifting flute-led breezy samba… the perfect winter warmer.

Completing the 9ine is a quirky Indo-sitar version of Dave Brubeck´s ´Take Five’ by the Sachal Studios Orchestra from ‘Jazz Interpretations Of Jazz Standards & Bossa Nova’ Brubeck himself stated that this rendition was the most interesting he had heard… a wonderful reawakening of a timeless jazz standard.

Click play to listen or stream at Mixcloud, alternatively stream or download the podcast at PodOmatic.

CostaVibes9ine for 2011 - JAZZ by Tony Poole on Mixcloud

Click here to download at PodOmatic

Budget Cuts threaten Costa Blanca´s Jazz Festivals

2011-11-27T18:12:00.000+01:00

Tete Montoliu - Father of Jazz Espanol

JAZZ IN Spain began with an interest in New Orleans or Dixieland jazz. Influences from visiting Americans evolved the music into other styles. In 1947 tenor saxophonist Don Byas introduced pianist Tete Montoliu to bebop. Montoliu began playing professionally at pubs in Barcelona, where he was noticed by Lionel Hampton. Montoliu toured with Hampton through Spain and France and recorded Jazz flamenco, setting off a prolific international career, and later efforts to fuse jazz with flamenco occurred. Catalan and Galician music is also an influence in some regions.

Still, jazz in Spain initially suffered from many difficulties. One example being that the cultural, political, and economic climate was unsuitable for the creativity and freedom required of a jazz movement. This pre-dates Francisco Franco's regime to some extent, but his rule placed far more restraints on jazz, due in part to his regime's restrictions and in part due to Spain being isolated on various cultural fronts, preferring an inward-looking, more easily-digested form of culture. Thus, a particularly fruitful period for jazz in general - the period spanning the 40s, 50s and the early 60s - passed almost unnoticed in Spain. The return to democracy, and the development of the economy, has allowed for there to be an increased jazz scene in the last twenty years. However, the last few years has seen a downturn in the global economy which threatens further development.

1966 poster

One particular feature of live jazz in Spain is the popular attendance at outdoor jazz festivals, the first of which, the Donostia-San Sebastian Jazz Festival dates back to 1966. It would not be until the mid-70s, however, that major international figures would attend the festival, including, over the years, Charles Mingus, Tete Montoliu, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Rollins, B.B. King, Woody Herman, Freddie Hubbard, Weather Report, Gato Barbieri, Art Blakey, Mercer Ellington, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Clark Terry, and Miles Davis.

The Costa Blanca is fortunate to have an array of jazz festivals staged throughout the year that attract international artists. The regions oldest was set up in Cartagena in 1980, Alicante some 10 years later, followed by Valencia in 1996, and San Javier in 1997. In recent years, towns like Javea, Polop. Rojales, Elche, Denia, Benidorm, L’Alfas del Pi, Altea, El Campello and Torrevieja all stage smaller festivals, yet still with impressive programmes.

Festival season is over for 2011 and we now await the announcement of the winter programme for Musicas del Almas 2012, San Javier´s little brother, to kick start the new year. The main concern for the future of our festivals is not so much the cultural or political climate, but economic. The current financial crisis took the Murcia Jazz Festival as its first major casualty earlier this year, and San Javier is facing a 40% budget cut next summer. Stretched budgets of the regional cultural departments will certainly have an effect on the forthcoming festival season. Support your local jazz festival - it may be crucial if they are to survive.

Fleet Foxes finale at Jazz Cartagena

2011-11-20T17:51:00.000+01:00

FLEET FOXES are a folk rock band formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, “Sun Giant”, and their debut full length album “Fleet Foxes”. Both “Sun Giant” and their eponymous debut album received much critical praise and reviewers often noted their use of refined lyrics and vocal harmonies.

Fleet Foxes rise to prominence was in late 2007 after they had attracted over a quarter of a million song plays over two months on their MySpace site. Although the band had not released any of their recordings, they benefited from word of mouth exposure and their success soon translated into a record deal.

The band completed the recording of their second EP, “Sun Giant”, around the same time in preparation for upcoming tours. Fleet Foxes began their spring tour in February 2008, their performances moved the band into the public consciousness, notably attracting attention from the European press for the first time.

“Sun Giant” was released internationally in April and the group's brand of folk, rock and pop, marked by their use of vocal harmonies, was well received by the press. In May the band chose to extend their North American and European tour until September in support of their forthcoming album.

Additionally, the band grew in number as songwriters Christian Wargo and J. Tillman joined Fleet Foxes on guitars and drums respectively. Their debut full length album “Fleet Foxes” was released shortly afterwards in June. The album achieved similar critical success as the previous EP had. “Fleet Foxes” received four out of five stars from Rolling Stone, who compared it to the likes of the Beach Boys, Animal Collective, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. The Guardian was particularly complimentary, awarding the album five stars and declaring it "a landmark in American music—an instant classic." In June 2008, “Fleet Foxes” went to #1 on the CMJ Radio 200 Chart. While the group enjoyed moderate success in the United States, "Fleet Foxes" was better received in Europe, selling over 200,000 copies in the first five months following its release.

“Fleet Foxes” was rated album of the year by Billboard's Critic's Choice and in Metacritic's end of year best album round-up it appeared in 17 lists, topping six of them. Furthermore, it had sold over 408,000 copies in North America and over 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom, making it the first gold certificate record for UK label Bella Union. Throughout 2008-9 the band played globally ending the tour in September with a final European leg. They released “Helplessness Blues” in May 2011 as the follow-up album.

Fleet Foxes play the final concert of this year´s Cartagena Jazz Festival on Saturday (26th). Tickets are 30, 25 & 20 euros. Starts 21:30.

More info at www.jazzcartagena.com

Weekend of International Jazz Stars at Cartagena

2011-11-13T23:36:00.000+01:00

IT´S THE penultimate weekend of the XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival with all roads leading to Murcia´s port city for a mouth-watering 3 day extravaganza featuring some of the best international jazz artists to visit the Costas this year.

On Friday 18th it´s the world class Dee Dee Bridgewater “To Billie with Love – A Celebration of Lady Day” supported by one of America´s finest upcoming jazz/R&B singers Lizz Wright.

On Saturday 19th it´s the legendary jazz pianist McCoy Tyner with Jose James and Chris Potter “A Contemporary Exploration of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman” supported by the extraordinary Madeleine Peyroux.

Sunday 20th sees the climax with one of the world´s “big 3” of the jazz guitar, Pat Metheny, with his trio featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Bill Stewart.

We have previewed Bridgewater, Tyner and Metheny in previous posts, so let´s conclude by telling you about Lizz Wright and Madeleine Peyroux.

Peyroux is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist of French decent who is noted for her vocal style, which has been compared to that of Billie Holiday. She has cited Bessie Smith, Patsy Cline, Édith Piaf, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Mercer, Charlie Chaplin, Serge Gainsbourg, Bob Dylan and Billie Holiday as influences on her music.

Peyroux eschews publicity and keeps a low profile. She has dropped "out of sight" for extended periods of time, as when she spent several years busking after the release of her first album Dreamland. The album was released in 1996 and gained widespread attention. Time magazine called it "the most exciting, involving vocal performance by a new singer this year". Her latest album Standing On The Rooftop was released earlier this year.

Wright was born in the small town of Hahira in the US state of Georgia; one of three children and the daughter of a minister and the musical director of their Church. She started singing gospel music and playing piano in church as a child, and also became interested in jazz and blues. She attended Houston County High School, where she was heavily involved in choral singing, receiving the National Choral Award.

Wright joined the Atlanta-based vocal quartet In The Spirit in 2000, which soon achieved critical acclaim, and in 2002 she signed a recording contact with Verve Records, where her musical compositions and vocal style led her to be compared to Norah Jones.

Her first album, Salt, was released in 2003 and reached number two on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart. Her next release in June 2005, Dreaming Wide Awake incorporated folk music to her musical blend, and reached number one on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart. On The Fellowship released in 2010, she continues her genre-defying journey with a nod to her roots in gospel on the one hand and her gospel of eclecticism on the other.

Joe Magnarelli Quartet at Jazzazza

2011-11-08T21:15:00.000+01:00

JOE MAGNARELLI is one of the most exalted of contemporary bop trumpeter players on the jazz scene. A musician who ended up in New York in 1986, and soon after became one of the great instrumentalists in Manhattan. A finalist of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition in 1990, Magnarelli has shared stage with Lionel Hampton, Gran Stewart, John Hendricks, Harry Connick Jr., Maria Schneider, Ray Barretto and the Village Vanguard Orchestra.

The accompanying rhythm section at Jazzazza on Friday 11th November are some of the great musicians who have appeared in the past, Fabio Miano on piano, Ignasi Gonzalez on bass and Esteve Pi on drums. Starts 22:00, tickets 5 euros.

www.jazzazza.com

Dee Dee Bridgewater tribute to Lady Day

2011-11-06T20:41:00.000+01:00

THE XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival is currently in full swing. Murcia´s port city is hosting a programme of top international artists until Nov 26th. Here we preview the American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater who is performing To Billie With Love – A Celebration Of Lady Day at the Auditorio y Palacio de Congresos "El Batel" Sala A on Friday 18th Nov.

Dee Dee Bridgewater is a three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, as well as a Tony Award winning stage actress. In the course of a multifaceted career that has spanned four decades, Bridgewater has ascended to the top tier of today´s jazz singers, putting her own unique spin and personal touch to standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. Praised by the Village Voice as “the most capable jazz singer of her generation” and “the gold standard by which all divas will now be measured - a total package entertainer.”

On last year´s Grammy Award winning album, Eleanora Fagan (1917-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee Bridgewater she paid homage to an iconic figure in jazz, Billie Holliday, who died tragically at the age of forty-four years, half a century ago. “This album is my way of paying my respects to a singer who made it possible for singers like me to forge a career for ourselves,” says Bridgewater. “I wanted Eleanora Fagan to be something different: more modern and a celebration, not a [recording] that goes dark and sullen and maudlin. I wanted the album to be joyful.”

Bridgewater adds that Eleanora Fagan goes far deeper than being a tribute album of retreaded Holiday tunes. “Billie deserves to have her music heard in another light,” she says, “and I definitely didn’t set out to imitate her.”

She played the role of Holiday in “Lady Day” the triumphant theatrical production, based on the autobiography “Lady Sings The Blues”, which was staged in Paris and London in 1986 and 1987 for which role she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award.

Her latest recording Midnight Sun is available on her own label DDB Records distributed by Universal Music. It´s a collection of love songs culled from her Grammy-winning and nominated CDs Dear Ella, Keeping Tradition, This Is New, J’ai Deux Amours, Love & Peace: A Tribute To Horace Silver and Eleanora Fagan, including such classics as Kurt Weill’s “Speak Low” and Sammy Cahn’s “I’m A Fool To Want You /I Fall In Love Too Easily,” Johnny Mercer’s “Midnight Sun,” Alan Jay Lerner’s “Here I’ll Stay,” and Billie Holiday’s “Good Morning Heartache"

Bridgewater also hosts an award winning weekly syndicated radio show, JazzSet, now in its second decade on the air; and her recordings are available worldwide as she continues to tour globally, performing to sold-out venues both domestically and internationally where she has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world.

Mike Janisch & Aruan Ortiz Quintet ft. Rainald Colom/Greg Osby at Jazzazza

2011-10-31T21:30:00.000+01:00

www.jazzazza.com

Tyner Tribute to Coltrane & Hartman

2011-10-30T13:07:00.000+01:00

AMERICAN McCOY Tyner is a jazz pianist best known for his work with the legendary John Coltrane and a lifelong solo career.

In 1963 he recorded with “Trane” and the velvet smooth bass crooner Johnny Hartman what is considered one of the “essential” albums for jazz collectors, “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman”. Hartman was never widely known, but earned critical acclaim specialising in ballads. He is the only vocalist with whom the saxophonist would record with as a leader.

Almost half a century later, Tyner is recreating that recording session at concerts across the globe along with rising star José James stepping into Hartman´s shoes and the prodigious Chris Potter taking on the role of Coltrane. On Nov 19th they perform at the Cartagena Jazz Festival.

Coltrane and Hartman had known each other since their days playing with Dizzy Gillespie's band in the late 40s. Initially when producer Bob Thiele approached Hartman with Coltrane's request that the two record together Hartman was hesitant as he did not consider himself a jazz singer and did not think he and Coltrane would complement one another musically. However, Thiele encouraged Hartman to go see Coltrane perform at Birdland in New York to see if something could be worked out. Hartman did so, and after the club closed he went over some songs together with Coltrane and Tyner. After they had decided on 10 songs for the album, en route to the studio on March 7th 1963 they heard Nat King Cole on the radio performing "Lush Life", immediately Hartman decided that song had to be included in their album. The legendary compilation was made that same day at the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Each song was done in only one take, except for "You Are Too Beautiful", which required two takes because Elvin Jones dropped one of his drumsticks during the first take. Hartman's "master" Billy Eckstine stood godfather to the production.

The album became an instant jazz classic, and the renditions of "Lush Life", "My One and Only Love", and "They Say It's Wonderful" are considered definitive.

“It's an amazing and very humbling experience”, says José, “to work with such a master musician and to pay homage to the music of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. We started the tour off in Santa Cruz at an intimate performance space called Kuumbwa which was really fun. Santa Cruz is very hippy and very cool and we really enjoyed it. Then we hit up San Francisco which is one of my favourite cities and played the historic Herbst Theater for the SF Jazz Festival. I really felt the power of the music that night and we haven't looked back since.”

They have since performed in China in front of 30,000 people at an open-air festival in Taichung City. They now head to Europe to play three dates in Spain - Las Palmas, Grenada, and Cartagena.

Bettye LaVette plays Cartagena

2011-10-23T19:59:00.000+02:00

ViBES FROM the Costas is following the last major music festival of 2011, namely the XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival taking place November 5th to 26th. This week we profile Bettye LaVette appearing on Saturday 12th.

Who is Bettye LaVette you may ask? Quite simply, Ms. LaVette is one of the greatest singers in American soul music. She is a perennial cult favourite in Northern soul circles and a living legend in the black music community but has only received intermittent fame in recent years with the release of her album I´ve Got My Own Hell To Raise in 2005. One reason for the legendary status is her 1965 recording Let Me Down Easy. It is considered by many to be one of the greatest soul recordings of all time. That led to a brief stint with The James Brown Revue.

Another reason is her rendition of 1973´s Love, Reign o'er Me (from Quadrophenia) at the Kennedy Center Honours in December 2008, Ms. LaVette delivered a tribute to Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, who were among the year's honourees. The performance was widely considered one of the event's highlights. The recording is available to view on YouTube as well as featured on her CD Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook released last year. The CD was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

She has an eclectic musical style combining elements of soul, blues, rock and roll, funk, gospel, and country music which has made it difficult for record labels to market in the past. Motown Records even tried investing in her to fill the void left by Diana Ross at the label in the early 80´s. Despite a heavy promotional push, her long-awaited chart breakthrough was eluded, and outside of a handful of recordings for Motor City during the '90s, she focused primarily on live appearances in the years to follow until recent years.

British soul connoisseur John Ridley says “In a career spanning 40 years she has maintained a level of almost unrivalled quality and consistency, wherever she recorded, for whatever label”

The full programme; Wanda Jackson / Herman Dune (5th), Sly Johnson / Luisa Sobral (11th), Bettye LaVette / Cowboy Junkies (12th), Anoushka Shankar (13th), Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio (16th), Dee Dee Bridgewater / Lizz Wright (18th), McCoy Tyner Trio with José James + Chris Potter / Madeleyne Peyroux (19th), Pat Metheny Trio (20th), Fleet Foxes / Vetiver (26th). For more information visit www.jazzcartagena.com.

www.bettyelavette.com

Edmundo Ros RIP

Finally on a sad note, Edmundo Ros OBE, the Trinidadian musician, vocalist, arranger and bandleader who made his career in Britain passed away at his home in Javea on Friday 21st October aged 100. He directed a highly popular Latin American orchestra and was mainly responsible for popularising the music in the UK. He had an extensive recording career and owned one of London's leading night-clubs.

Vocal Booth Weekender dates for 2012

2011-10-23T16:30:00.000+02:00

Dehesa de Campoamor, Alicante, ES

vocalboothweekender.com

Will Vinson Quartet ft. Mike Moreno at Jazzazza

2011-10-23T10:53:00.000+02:00

www.jazzazza.com

XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival programme announced

2011-10-18T16:30:00.000+02:00

THE XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival will be staged November 5th to 26th featuring nine concerts; Wanda Jackson / Herman Dune (5th), Sly Johnson / Luisa Sobral (11th), Bettye LaVette / Cowboy Junkies (12th), Anoushka Shankar (13th), Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio (16th), Dee Dee Bridgewater / Lizz Wright (18th), McCoy Tyner Trio with José James + Chris Potter / Madeleine Peyroux (19th), Pat Metheny Trio (20th), Fleet Foxes / Vetiver (26th). The concerts will be staged at the Nuevo Teatro Circo and the new Auditorio y Centro de Congresos “El Batel” rooms.

Wanda Jackson

Herman Düne is a French folk rock French duo, formed in 1999. Originally a trio, the band now consists of David-Ivar Herman Düne (guitars and vocals) and Néman Herman Düne (drums and sometimes backing vocals).

Parisian soul singer Sly Johnson, formerly of the rap collective Saïan Supa Crew, released his debut album in 2010. “Rap and all it stood for couldn’t be my key to self-discovery anymore. Soul music was the answer. It has always made me want to cry and dance at the same time.” Testiment to that is his CD '74' showcasing his influences from Otis Redding to Marvin Gaye. Appearing with Sly Johnson is the Portuguese jazz singer, guitarist, songwriter Luisa Sobral.

Bettye LaVette

I saw Bettye Lavette at Palacio de Congresos de Alicante in March earlier this year and she blew my socks off. Her eclectic musical style combines elements of soul, blues, rock and roll, funk, gospel, and country music. Check out her rendition of 'Love, Reign o'er Me' on YouTube in tribute to Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Only in recent years has she achieved intermittent fame with her album, 'I've Got My Own Hell To Raise' (2005), but has long been revered to as a living legend in the black music community

Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins (vocalist), Michael Timmins (songwriter, guitarist), Peter Timmins (drummer) and Alan Anton (bassist).

Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar is an Indian sitar player and composer who lives between the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. She is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and Sukanya Shankar. Through her father, she is the half-sister of Norah Jones.

Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese musician, composer, record producer, writer, singer, pianist, and actor, based in Tokyo and New York. He began his career in 1978 as a member of the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), where he played the keyboards and occasionally sang the vocals. The band was an international success, with worldwide hits such as 'Computer Game / Firecracker' (1978) and 'Behind the Mask' (1978), the latter written and sung by Sakamoto. At around the same time, he began pursuing a solo career in pop music, debuting with anexperimental electronic fusion album 'The Thousand Knives of Ryūichi Sakamoto' (1978), and later released the pioneering electro music album 'B-2 Unit' (1980).

Dee Dee Bridgewater

Two-time Grammy award winner, American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater will perform “To Billie With Love – A Celebration of "Lady Day". Billie Holidays music has long been a huge influence on Ms. Bridgewaters career. Her tribute album 'Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie with Love ...' won the 2011 Grammy Award for best jazz album. I saw her perform magnificently in 'Lady Day' on the West End stage back in 1986. This chica is a class act. Appearing with Ms. Bridgewayer is Lizz Wright an amazing American jazz/R&B singer and composer.

The one name that jumped straight out of the programme at me - singer José James. He is a phenomenal young talent from NYC that blends modern jazz and hip-hop. On this ocassion he will be performing “A contemporary exploration of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman” together with the legendary pianist McCoy Tyner. This is Josés first visit to Murcia, miss him at your peril.

Madeleine Peyroux is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She is noted for her vocal style, which has been compared to that of Billie Holiday. Peyroux has cited Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Patsy Cline, Édith Piaf, Leonard Cohen, Johnny Mercer, Charlie Chaplin, Serge Gainsbourg and Bob Dylan as influences on her music.

Pat Metheny

Pat Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer. One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s. His style incorporates elements of progressive and contemporary jazz, post-bop, latin jazz and jazz fusion. He has three gold albums and 18 Grammy Awards.

Fleet Foxes are a folk band which formed in Seattle, Washington. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, 'Sun Giant', and their debut full length album 'Fleet Foxes'. Both 'Sun Giant' and their eponymous debut album received much critical praise and reviewers often noted their use of refined lyrics and vocal harmonies. Appearing with Fleet Foxes is Vetiver, an American folk band headed by songwriter Andy Cabic.

Tickets can be purchased from the theatre box offices and on-line at www.entradas.com. Festival passes are available, limited to 250, applicable to all concerts except Fleet Foxes and Vetiver. Passes have three prices depending on the seat position in the Auditorium and Congress Palace of El Batel; €80 stalls, €70 in the first amphitheatre and €60 in the second amphitheater. Passes can be purchased only at the box office Nuevo Teatro Circo or by telephone with a credit card on 968 501 615. Ticket sales direct from the ticket office for El Batel are available from November 1st. For more information visit www.jazzcartagena.com or telephone 986 128 813.

Sly Johnson at Cartagena Jazz

2011-10-17T00:13:00.000+02:00

SOUL MUSIC is largely an underground scene these days. The music that I grew up with, along with our ex pat 50-something community, on the radio and in the clubs during the 70's and 80's is pretty much ignored by mainstream radio stations these days. After the decline of disco and funk in the early 1980s, soul music became influenced by electro music and it became less raw and more slickly produced, resulting in a style known as contemporary R&B, which sounded very different from the original rhythm and blues style. Soul music has been getting a sort of comeback lately with the popularity of such artists as Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele, but gone are the days of black soul artists dominating the Top 40.

However, there are a band of dedicated DJ's keeping the ViBE ALiVE. Our local hero of the air waves is DJ Deano with his Superior Rhythms Soul Show on Exite Radio every Saturday evening. Other excellent on-line radio shows are Ralph Tee's Luxury Soul and Phil Drivers Soul Unsigned, plus the daddy of 'em all, Robbie Vincent, still going strong on Jazz FM every Sunday morning.

So when a quality international soul act visits the Costas I want to shout it from the roof tops, go hear this wonderful music that does what it says on the tin... Lift your Soul!!!

One such artist appearing at the Cartagena Jazz Festival in November is Parisian soul singer Sly Johnson. Formerly of the rap collective Saïan Supa Crew recording under the alias Sly the Mic Buddha, “Rap and all it stood for couldn’t be my key to self-discovery anymore. Soul music was the answer. It has always made me want to cry and dance at the same time.” Testiment to that is his debut album released last year titled 74 clearly showcasing his influences from Otis Redding to Marvin Gaye.

During a conversation with Luis Lluch, of the San Javier International Jazz Festival, I asked why don't you book a soul artist for the festival? “Spanish don't know soul music” he answered, “we were raised on Spanish pop music, so it's a risky business to book soul artists”. The organisers of the Cartagena Jazz Festival, appear then, to be going into the “risk business”, booking the likes of Sly Johnson and Bettye LaVette. I'll be as much interested in the attendance as well as the performances on match day.

The XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival is Nov 5th to 26th; Wanda Jackson / Herman Dune (5th), Sly Johnson / Luisa Sobral (11th), Bettye LaVette / Cowboy Junkies (12th), Anoushka Shankar (13th), Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio (16th), Dee Dee Bridgewater / Lizz Wright (18th), McCoy Tyner Trio with José James + Chris Potter / Madeleyne Peyroux (19th), Pat Metheny Trio (20th), Fleet Foxes / Vetiver (26th). For more information visit www.jazzcartagena.com

www.slyjohnson.com

Roberta Flack new Beatles Album

2011-10-01T13:52:00.000+02:00

THE LEGENDARY 4-time Grammy winner Roberta Flack is to release her first album in more than eight years. The R&B/Soul singer is best known for her Top 10 hits; 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' and 'Feel Like Makin' Love', as well as 'Where Is The Love' and 'The Closer I Get To You', two of her many duets with the late Donny Hathaway.

Vibes From The the Costas reported on Roberta Flacks new Beatles project back in April last year. Cancelled concerts at the Sala Narciso Yepes and the Cartagena Jazz Festival followed. She last performed in Murcia at the San Javier International Jazz Festival in 2005. Finally Ms. Flacks long awaited CD is to be released. The still as-yet untitled album, a collection of Beatles classics, is scheduled to drop in early February 2012. Flack collaborated with producer Sherrod Barnes and contributing producers Jerry Barnes and Barry Miles on the album.

The project will be released through 429 Records/Sony ATV Music Publishing and Flack's RAS Records. 429 Records is a division of the Savoy Label Group. Sony/ATV is a joint venture between Sony and trusts formed by Michael Jackson.

In a statement from Ms. Flack, she said "My passion for the project comes from the magical genius of the greatest songwriters of all time. Love, inspiration, friendship and my own life's lessons come together when I sing the songs they created."

The first single, 'We Can Work It Out', debuted on the iTunes Music Store on Tuesday 27th September. It's a beautiful interpretation of the classic Lennon/McCartney song, performed with her instantly recognisable trademark sound yet with a delightful new angle.

Flack & Hathaway

She was last seen performing 'Where Is The Love', a duet with Maxwell at the 2010 Grammy Awards, the million-selling gold single was originally recorded with Donny Hathaway and won a Grammy in 1972.

She founded the Roberta Flack School of Music in Bronx, NY in 2006, and is also a spokesperson for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Her appearance in commercials for the ASPCA featured 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' which won the 1973 Grammy Record of the Year and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' won the same award at the Grammy Awards of 1974. She and U2 are the only artists to win the award in consecutive years.

Clint Eastwood chose the song 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face', for the soundtrack to his directorial debut 'Play Misty For Me'. It became the biggest hit of the year for 1972, spending six consecutive weeks at #1 in America, earning Ms. Flack a million-selling gold disc.

Ms. Flack is expected to embark on a worldwide tour to promote the new album. So hopefully we can expect a rescheduled concert date in the region next Summer.

Connect with Roberta on Facebook

Pat Metheny plays XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival

2011-09-25T13:47:00.000+02:00

AHEAD OF the announcement for the full programme for this years Cartagena Jazz Festival in November, the American jazz guitarist Pat Methany is confirmed that he will perform with his trio (Larry Grenadier, bass; Bill Stewart, drums). Metheny last performed in Murcia opening for the San Javier International Jazz Festival in 2005. His appearance forms part of a European tour that takes in five cities in Spain; Zaragoza (18th), Sevilla (19th), Cartagena (20th), Madrid (21st) and Barcelona (24th).

Pat Metheny was born in Kansas City on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. Starting on trumpet at the age of 8, Metheny switched to guitar at age 12. By the age of 15, he was working regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience at an unusually young age. Metheny first burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over the course of his three-year stint with vibraphone great Gary Burton, the young Missouri native already displayed his soon-to-become trademarked playing style, which blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility, a way of playing and improvising that was modern in conception but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues. With the release of his first album, 'Bright Size Life' (1975), he reinvented the traditional "jazz guitar" sound for a new generation of players. Throughout his career, Metheny has continued to re-define the genre by utilizing new technology and constantly working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of his instrument.

Metheny's versatility is almost nearly without peer on any instrument. Over the years, he has performed with artists as diverse as Steve Reich to Ornette Coleman to Herbie Hancock to Jim Hall to Milton Nascimento to David Bowie. He has been part of a writing team with keyboardist Lyle Mays for more than twenty years, an association that has been compared to the Lennon/McCartney and Ellington/Strayhorn partnerships by critics and listeners alike. Metheny's body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces, with settings ranging from modern jazz to rock to classical.

It is one thing to attain popularity as a musician, but it is another to receive the kind of acclaim Metheny has garnered from critics and peers. Over the years, Metheny has won countless polls as "Best Jazz Guitarist" and awards, including three gold records for 'Still Life (Talking)', 'Letter From Home', and 'Secret Story'. He has also won 18 Grammy Awards spread out over a variety of different categories including Best Rock Instrumental, Best Contemporary Jazz Recording, Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, Best Instrumental Composition. The Pat Metheny Group won an unprecedented seven consecutive Grammys for seven consecutive albums. Metheny has spent most of his life on tour, averaging between 120-240 shows a year since 1974.

Pat Metheny's latest album is What's It All About released on Nonesuch Records.

Clara Luna & Javier Moreno perform new project at Jazzazza

2011-09-19T11:10:00.000+02:00

CLARA LUNA is gradually becoming an indispensable voice on the Spanish jazz scene, the inquiring singer has collaborated with Madridian bassist player Javier Moreno to perform a new project at Jazzazza on Saturday 24th September.

Born in Barcelona in 1980, Clara began her musical career playing classical piano studying at the Conservatori Municipal de Música de Barcelona. Soon after she discovered the world of jazz, and her best instrument, her voice. She had the opportunity to work with Bobby McFerrin at the Barcelona Jazz Festival in 2002 and Joan Albert Amargós at the Mediterranian Music Festival in 2005. She sings for the Jazz Musicians Workshop Orchestra, with whom she has participated in the recordings of Cris Juanico's 'Sa Lluna Vola'm' (2006) and 'Tot De Mi' (2008). She is a member of the Girona Jazz Project, covering the repertoire of work by Vicens Martin and Perico Sambeat. She is the leader of Lunar Project with an album titled 'Supernova' on New Mood Jazz released in 2007, consisting of her own compositions. Together with guitarist and singer Albert Vila she performs jazz standards, bossa nova, pop and soul. She also performs a tribute to the legendary songwriter Cole Porter titled 'Mmm ... Cole Porter!' together with pianist Jose Alberto Medina, Rai Ferrer on bass, and Xavi Maureta on drums.

Javier Moreno, currently living in New York City, recorded his first CD as a leader in 2010, which features a very open range of sound textures and moods, headed by a strong rhythmic presence that paints a Mediterranean landscape of colours. This new album titled Brisa was released earlier this year.

Javier has lived and performed in the Netherlands, France and Spain, performing at international jazz festivals as well as other music venues; creating music projects like the duo with the accordion player Didier Ithursarry in Paris. He has had the opportunity to play as a sideman as well as a leader with internationally renowned jazz artists George Garzone, Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn, Gerald Cleaver, Rez Abassi, Tony Malaby, Ralph Lalama, Badal Roy, William Parker, Tony Moreno and Jerry Gonzalez. On the Spanish music scene, he has performed with the celebrated artists Javier Ruibal, Federico Lechner, and Justin Tchatchoua and from the flamenco scene he collaborated with Carmen Linares and Agustín Carbonell "El Bola ". He holds a BA from The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands and a MM from the New York University. Pianist Albert Bover and drummer Xavi Maureta complete the line-up for the new collaboration with singer Clara Luna.

Jazzazza is five kilometres south of the city of Murcia in the suburb of Aljezares at Ramon y Canal 4. Since opening it's doors in late 2004 they have presented various cultural activities including book presentations, a children's theatre, poetry, film club and piano jazz.

For ticket information and further details about Jazzazza visit www.jazzazza.com

Click here to view map and directions to Jazzazza

Autumn jazz at Jazzazza

2011-09-12T13:52:00.001+02:00

ABOUT FIVE kilometres south of the city of Murcia is a small haven of live music, particularly jazz. The venue is called Jazzazza, based in the suburb of Aljezares. It's not just a bar, (it's slogan is "Ce n'est pas un Bar") it's a place to read, enjoy a cup of coffee, have a relaxed conversation or perhaps a game of chess, as well as listen to live music. Since opening in late 2004 they have presented various cultural activities including book presentations, children's theatre, poetry and film club. Jazzazza recently announced an impressive autumn programme of jazz;

Kunta Quintet

Sep 12 – Kunta Quintet Project

This young, up and coming band from Murcia, bases its repertoire of jazz standards on Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Some members have participated in jazz festivals and collaborated on several recordings. The Kunta Quintet features Paco Martínez, trumpet; Héctor Sánchez, tenor sax; Raúl Martínez, piano; Pepe Sáez, double bass; Carlos Sáez, drums.

Nelson Cascais

Sep 17 - Nelson Cascais Quintet featuring Logan Richardson

A major musician on the Iberian scene, double bass player Nelson Cascais released The Golden Fish in April earlier this year, following three other albums. Born in Lisbon in 1973, studied at the Hot Clube Jazz School while keeping his classical studies at the National Conservatory. The quintet features the American sax player and Greg Osby disciple, Logan Richardson; André Fernandes, electric guitar; Oscar Graça, piano; Bruno Pedroso, drums.

Sep 24 - Clara Luna & Javier Moreno

Clara Luna

From Barcelona, Clara Luna is gradually becoming an indispensable voice on the Spanish jazz scene, an inquiring singer who on this occasion is getting together with Madridian double bassist Javier Moreno to perform a new project forged in New York.

Moreno, currently living in New York City, recorded his first CD as a leader in 2010, which features a very open range of sound textures and moods, headed by a strong rhythmic presence that paints a Mediterranean landscape of colours. This new album was released in the spring of earlier this on the prestigious jazz label Fresh Sound New Talent titled Brisa. The rhythm section features Albert Bover on piano and Xavi Maureta on drums.

Oct 13 - Oscar Peñas Trio & Jason Palmer

Jason Palmer

Led by the guitarist and composer, Oscar Peñas, living in Brooklyn since 2007. Beside him, one of the most innovative voices in contemporary jazz, the American trumpeter Jason Palmer. Both musicians are part of the underground jazz scene in New York, and began their collaboration last year playing in the Ethereal Ensemble. The rhythm section comprises of David Xirgu on drums and Swedish bassist Marko Lohikari.

Oct 28 - Will Vinson Quartet

Will Vinson

Saxophonist and composer from London, Will Vinson relocated to New York in 1999. Since then he has recorded and collaborated with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Potter, and Aaron Parks among others, plus has four critically-acclaimed solo albums. He has a great reputation as a leader and accompanist.

The quintet features the young masterful guitarist Mike Moreno. Moreno is becoming a hot item on the New York jazz scene. His agile guitar playing has attracted the attention of major artists such as Jeff Tain Watts, Greg Osby, and Kenny Garrett.

Birmingham, Alabama, bass player Orlando Le Fleming has toured and recorded with Billy Cobham's project Art of Five and was featured on Jimmy Cobb's series Marsalis Music Honors, and is currently a member of the David Sanchez Quartet. German drummer Jochen Rueckert completes the quartet.

Nov 4 - Aruan Ortiz & Michael Janisch Quintet featuring Greg Osby

Greg Osby

New leading international quartet formed at Berklee. Young musicians from different corners who have studied under the command of masters like Joe Lovano and Lee Konitz. Cuban pianist Aruan Ortiz, prominent newcomer bass player Michael Janisch, trumpeter Raynald Colom, and drummer Rudy Royston.

The special guest, Greg Osby, is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz stars in the U.S. Osby was named Playboy Magazine's "Jazz Artist of the Year" in 2009.

Nov 11 - Joe Magnarelli Quartet

Joe Magnarelli

Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli is one of the most exalted musicians of contemporary bebop. Syracuse native Magnarelli moved to New York City in 1986 and became a regular participant on the Manhattan-and-beyond jazz scene. A finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk competition in 1990, Magnarelli has shared stage with John Hendricks, Harry Connick Jr., Ray Barretto and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. His lastest album My Old Flame released last year features strings and was orchestrated by Marty Sheller. The rhythm section features Fabio Miano, piano; Ignasi Gonzalez, bass; Esteve Pi, drums.

Click here to view map and directions to Jazzazza

More info at www.jazzazza.com

Wanda Jackson opens XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival

2011-09-04T15:22:00.000+02:00

ROCKABILLY QUEEN Wanda Jackson opens the XXXI Cartagena Jazz Festival. Also performing will be the Japanese composer/musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Amercian jazz fusion guitarist Pat Metheny, and US folk band Fleet Foxes. The Department of Culture recently previewed who will be appearing in November. The full festival schedule will be announced later in September.

Wanda Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist. She is known to many as the Queen or First Lady of Rockabilly. Jackson mixed country music with fast-moving rockabilly. As rockabilly declined in popularity in the mid-60s, she moved to a successful career in mainstream country music with a string of hits between 1966 and 1973, including Tears Will Be The Chaser For Your Wine, A Woman Lives For Love and Fancy Satin Pillows. She has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity among rockabilly revivalists in Europe, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence in 2009.

Ryuichi Sakamoto began his career in 1978 as a member of the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra. They were an international success, with worldwide hits such as Computer Game / Firecracker (1978) and Behind The Mask (1978). As a solo artist he had success with the experimental electronic fusion album The Thousand Knives Of Ryuichi Sakamoto (1978), and later released the pioneering electro-music album 'B-2 Unit' (1980), which included the electro classic Riot In Lagos. He began acting and film composing with Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), which he starred in and composed the score for. The song Forbidden Colours, which he composed for the soundtrack, became a worldwide hit and he won a BAFTA Award. He later won an Academy Award and Grammy Award for scoring The Last Emperor (1987), and has also won two Golden Globe Awards for his work as a film composer. In addition, he also composed music for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics opening ceremony.

Pat Metheny is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence since the 70s, and regarded as one of the top three jazz guitarist in the world (the other two being John Scofield and Bill Frisell). Certainly he is one of the most original guitarists to emerge from the 80s onward as a chance-taking player who has taken some wild left turns. His music at times can be difficult to describe incorporating progressive elements of folk, jazz and mood music. Metheny has 3 gold albums and 17 Grammy Awards.

Fleet Foxes came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes. Both albums received much critical praise, and reviewers noted their use of refined lyrics and vocal harmonies.

Insound Festival (Altea) ~ 1-5 Sep 2011

2011-08-28T16:28:00.000+02:00

The second annual Insound Festival takes place between 1-5 September in Altea at the local settings of Palau Altea - Centre D’Arts, Plaça de L'Aigua and Anfiteatre L’olleta. The festival features an eclectic mix of summer concerts and events and features talented international musicians, choreographers and artists. The festival is dedicated to dance music and the avant-garde, and the program includes an engaging mix of music in many styles including jazz, contemporary classical, electronic and folk.

Michael Nyman

The festival features well-known international artists such as composer, percussionist and conductor Josep Vicent and Academy Award winning British composer and pianist Michael Nyman, famous for his film scores, especially the multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's 'The Piano'. and ‘The Draughtsman’s Contract’. The soundtrack for 'The Piano' won an Ivor Novello Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an American Film Institute award and sold over three million copies. The score for the film included the acclaimed piece 'The Heart Asks Pleasure First'. The album is rated in the top 100 soundtrack albums of all time. He has written six concerti, four string quartets, and many other chamber works. Nyman will be revisiting many of his great soundtracks with The World Orchestra, which include 20 soloists representing 20 countries, and they will be accompanied with video projections. The World Orchestra integrates almost 500 musicians from 54 countries. They have toured throughout China, Spain, Holland, Austria, Cyprus, Germany and Canada.

Cristina Pato

There will also be stunning contemporary dance from Nats Nus and theatre with Los Corderos, winner of the Best Theatre Set 2011. Also appearing will be Cristina Pato, the New York-based composer, pianist and Galician bagpiper and Joan Valent, fresh from his recent success writing the score for Sir Norman Foster’s film ‘How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr Foster?’

The world-renowned Ensemble Taller de Músics de Barcelona perform their Miles Davis Tribute featuring David Pastor, trumpet; Joan Díaz, piano; Deejay Foster, double bass; Ramón Ángel Rey, drums. Rafael de Utrera will present his Andalucian flamenco artists performing ‘Los Flamencos cantan a García Lorca’ and there’ll be stunning video art from Oscar Testón-Otu. Also appearing at the Insound Session is Dutch DJ Patrice Van Den Berg (The Minimal Lounge).

Josep Vicent

“The Insound Festival presents a platform for disseminating the service of young artists trying to create a promotional and creative impulse through new information technologies and interdisciplinary creation”, explains Festival Director Josep Vicent, “It presents an opportunity to foster collaboration between artists from different Spanish regions and other prestigious international artists. We are convinced this years festival is going to be amazing”

For more information, visit the Insound Festival website at www.insoundco.net where there will be live-tv streaming from some of the events. Jazz FM are promoting the event with regular on-air features at www.jazzfm.com. Tickets are available from ServiCam tel. 96 511 7117.

www.insoundco.net

Colonel Red at Vocal Booth Weekender 2011

2011-08-21T22:20:00.000+02:00

SOUL MUSIC, like all genres, is ever evolving. Those artists that best embrace new trends and effectively utilise the latest technology, not only with their artistic output, but also with the marketing of their wares, are the ones that generally receive critical acclaim. The soul singer of today is a very different animal than what emerged from the original Rhythm & Blues style of the 60s. To emerge into the mainstream over the last 15 years are names like, D'Angelo, Amp Fiddler, Erykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq, John Legand, Cee-Lo and a promising independent artist from Birmingham, soon to showcase his talent here, Colonel Red.

Back in the late 60s, record producer Norman Whitfield re-invented the Motown Sound by mixing soul with psychedelic rock, for what become known as psychedelic soul. Following the lead of Jimi Hendrix in psychedelic rock, psychedelia began to have a widespread impact on black artists, particularly the stars of the Motown label. Groups like the The Temptations moved from being a relatively light vocal group, to deliver much more serious material. As tastes began to change during the 70s, psychedelic soul paved the way for the development of funk and disco music, and the next new thing.

Technology started to make a serious impact at the turn of the 70s. After the decline of disco and funk in the early 80s, soul music became heavily influenced by electro music. It became less raw and more slickly produced, resulting in a style known as contemporary R&B. It wasn't until the soul "revival" movement in mid 90s, that 'neo soul' emerged into the mainstream. Neo soul was a term coined to market and describe a style of music that emerged from soul and contemporary R&B, and perhaps could be better redefined as black pop music as it draws influences from several popular genres.

This brings us to the sound of Colonel Red and the release of his third album, Keep Walkin, on 9th Sep, perhaps indicating the similar mindset that the spirit of Whitfield shares with this project. Accompanied in production by keyboard player Erik Ritfeld, Redz has penned a collection of profound original tunes which resonate influences from the past, life stories from the present, and a vision for the future, all delivered with lush vocals straight from the heart. Less electro sounding than Sweet Liberation (2009) and Blue Eye Blak (2005), Redz opts for a more soulful approach this outing. If you're an open-minded ol' soul boy, looking to revisit the bygone days of Marvin Gaye with an added twist of modern beats then this album is for you. But don't take my word for it, sample Keep Walkin at http://colonelred_keepwalkin.virb.com

Colonel Red will be performing poolside at DJ Andy Ward's Vocal Booth Weekender at the Montepiedra Hotel in Campoamor on Sunday 18th Sep. For ticket and booking info visit www.vocalboothweekender.com

http://colonelred_keepwalkin.virb.com

Bourbon Street Stompers first visit to Torrevieja

2011-08-15T15:03:00.000+02:00

ON MONDAY 5th September the Teatro Municipal in Torrevieja will stage the first ever visit of what is reputed to be the best traditional jazz band in Europe.

The Bourbon Street Stompers are a 7-piece group playing authentic classic jazz from the twenties and thirties. Surprisingly they do not come from the USA, Great Britain, or the Netherlands, but from Essen in Germany. They are also surprisingly young, all being in their mid thirties.

Marcus Pohle

They made their first visit to the Costa Blanca in 2009 but all of the concerts were north of Alicante. This time jazz enthusiasts in and around Torrevieja will also be able to see and listen to this remarkable band. Moreover, they will be accompanied this time by three guest stars. These are John Maddocks (cl/sax) from the UK, and from Hamburg top German ragtime and boogie pianist, Markus Pohle, and female vocalist Betty Berent.

The concert will start at 21:30 on Monday 5th September and tickets are priced at 5 Euros. They are obtainable from www.servicam.com (Tel. 96 511 7117) or from the Torrevieja Municipal Ticket Office Tues to Fri 11:00 to 13:00.

Source: Graham Knight... other sources claim John Maddocks is returning to the UK following the Stompers performance in Denia on Sep 4.

DJ Andy Ward´s Vocal Booth Weekender is Back

2011-08-14T16:38:00.000+02:00

DJ Andy Ward

THIS SEPTEMBER, the Vocal Booth returns to the shores of the Costa Blanca for another weekend of parties and fun. DJ Andy Ward once again hosts the event, “What started off as a tongue-in-cheek remark on-air, has turned into something incredible. My radio show and club nights have a very strong following of what I call “family members”, all of these people immediately jumped at the idea of finding a venue here in Spain to hold the 10 Year Birthday celebrations. Those celebrations in 2009 were to be the start of one amazing series of parties. Over 200 people travelled from across Europe to the shores of the Mar Menor and had the time of their lives. In 2010 the formula was already in place and the new home of Campoamor was graced with almost 400 members of “The Vocal Booth Family”.

The Vocal Booth was launched by Andy back in 1999 in Birmingham at the flagship bar owned by The Ministry of Sound. Kicking off on a Thursday night, Andy was joined weekly by some of the world’s most famous DJs on the deep house scene.

When Andy relocated to Spain with his family, the new home for the Vocal Booth was to be Thursday evenings on a local radio station, The Vocal Booth Radio Show was born.

As technology advanced the show began to stream globally on the internet and built up a strong and loyal fan base around the world with one of the busiest, funniest chat rooms on-line. Andy’s connections with some of the biggest names in the scene meant that listeners never knew who would be passing by, with the likes of Dennis Ferrer, Louie Vega and Joey Negro to name but a few regularly joining the fun.

The show continues to go from strength to strength on Pressure Radio every week with Andy on the mic, and backed up with a 2-hour, music only podcast that goes out out every two weeks on SSRadio called The Vocal Booth Club Sessions.

The weekend goes something like this... it all kicks off on Thursday 15th September at the Montepiedra Hotel in Campoamor. Chilled grooves by the pool welcome those who start to arrive in preparation for a packed weekends programme.

At 9 p.m. Andy goes live across the globe with the Vocal Booth radio show on Pressure Radio, the launch pad for the entire weekend, where he is joined by a selection of DJs who play for the crew in attendance and all those locked on at home packing their cases. It is meant to be a laid back start to the fun, if last year’s broadcast is anything to go by, then it will be far from subdued. Finishing the live broadcast at a reasonable 2 a.m., everyone (supposedly) retires to reserve their energies.

Friday afternoon and the music fires up again poolside as people from all over the world continue to arrive and check in. This is when the Vocal Booth Weekender really comes alive, as life long friends and new acquaintances join forces and reminisce about adventures of old and anticipate all that lies ahead.

For the duration of the event, downstairs in the exhibition area of the Montepiedra Hotel, Pioneer unveil their latest technologies and merchandise for all to get their hands on, providing demonstrations and one to one tutorials on all things equipment related for DJs and non DJs alike, whilst also hearing about all that is planned for the future from one of the worlds market leaders.

A separate, private area will be hosted by Pressure Radio. Whenever the main event is not being broadcast, DJs and clubbers have the opportunity to be interviewed, and show off their talent with a 90-minute mix on air.

Saturday afternoon – The Triple S Sessions (Sun, Sea, Soul). Under the blazing September sun groove away poolside to soulful sounds through till sunset. As the BBQ fires up, mouthwatering delights are dished up as all and sundry prepare for another night of madness.

On Friday and Saturday night, the family move into the club. Some of the scene’s biggest names get busy with a mixture of classic house grooves and upfront gems to keep the crowd rocking until daybreak.

A few surprises are kept in store for Sundays daytime schedule. In the evening its back the club for the Sunday Lockdown. This night promises to be packed full of feel good anthems to send many away on a high.

VBW 2011 also stages some up and coming acts on the live soul circuit. Hailing out of Birmingham, singer Colonel Red has spent many years creating a vibe and name for himself internationally. His versatility has been proven on all of his previous works and gained the support from the world’s most respected DJs, radio shows and producers. At VBW 2011 he presents his new album, Keep Walkin’.

Next up, Ladybird, the French vocalist behind Soldiers Of Twilight. Joining Andy Compton on several of The Rurals projects, they will be showcasing the show they're putting together for a South African tour later in the year, and, a new album titled Ocean.

Plus, out of the Soul Heaven camp, Wookie and Lain Gray, probably best known for their 2000 classic garage track Battle. Lain has had vast experience in vocal sessions and tours, for the likes of Robbie Williams, the Lighthouse Family, Mary J. Blige and many more.

Joining these vocalists, Slikk Tim, who has provided funky bass playing on some of the best known tracks on the soul scene recently, as well as featuring on Andys production with Nica Brooke “Find My Way”.

Despite all the hype attached to the Vocal Booth Weekender, it still manages to keep an intimate vibe with many like minded people enjoying the music and the company. "You really have to witness it to believe it", says Andy. To book your ticket and become part of the Vocal Booth Family, visit www.vocalboothweekender.com

www.vocalboothweekender.com

Exhibition of Jazz Portrait Photographs by Goio Villanueva

2011-08-04T12:58:00.000+02:00

JAZZ PHOTOGRAPHER Gregorio "Goio" Villanueva is hosting an exhibition of his work, "Jazz Portraits 2007-2010", during August at the artist caves in Rojales (probably the best kept secret tourist attraction in the area!). Goio is a familiar figure at the San Javier International Jazz Festival, and many other jazz festivals in Valencia and Murcia. On display will be photographs of some of the best national and international jazz artists who have performed live at concerts and festivals in Spain including legends like Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, George Benson, and B. B. King.

Goio & Hiromi

“From my passion for music and photography, I try to collect images of sensitivity, strength, serenity and enthusiasm,” explains Goio, “The synthesis of these unforgettable magical moments, I call 'Musicgraficas', a personal term that precisely describes the fusion of music and photography, and serves as a sign of my own unique work.”

The exhibition is at the Sala Mengolero, Cuevas del Rodeo, Rojales (Alicante). The caves are sign posted "Cuevas del Rodeo" from various sign posts around Rojales and Quesada. The cave houses are built into the sandstone hills, most dating back to the 19th century. The cave dwellings are now mostly used by craftsmen and artists to display and sell their wares. Live music shows are regularly held there, as are craft markets. How to get there - click here to view a map.

To view Goio's excellent work on-line, visit his web site at www.fotosdelconcierto.com and blog at musicgrafias.blogspot.com

Click here for more details of the event on Facebook

Amos Hoffman at XabiaJazz

2011-07-31T22:08:00.000+02:00

THE FIRST weekend in August each year sees Javea staging its annual music festival known as XabiaJazz. Born in 2001 it has become one of the cultural events of the summer in Javea aspiring to promote national and international artists. This year the 4-day festival features a diverse array of artists from Spain, Israel and Holland.

On Saturday 6th August, Tel Aviv based guitarist and oudist Amos Hoffman presents his latest album, Carving at the festival.

Hoffman started playing guitar at the age of 6, and oud a few years later. He studied guitar privately, and later attended the prestigious Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. His search for new musical experiences led him first to Amsterdam, and then to New York City, where he played jazz with both established musicians like Dennis Charles, Evelyn Blakey and Juma Santos and up and coming talents like Jason Lindler, Omer Avital, Sam Newsome, Jay Collins, bassist Avishai Cohen, and Duane Eubanks. He also began a more formal study of middle eastern music with Lebanese oud and ney player, Basam Saba.

The new album is a genre crossing project for Hoffman, further exploring his desire to fuse middle eastern music with western rhythms. From the up tempo, almost danceable oud featured on Brown Sugar, to the scat influenced guitar on Ras, the tracks on Carving weave between instruments and moods, continuing to explore the boundaries of jazz. Hoffman describes his music on the album as “a bunch of different parts that come together in a way that feels right to me. It's not always straight forward or easy to define, but that’s what makes life interesting”.

In 1998, he recorded his first solo album, The Dreamer, for the Spanish Label, Fresh Sound/New Talent.

On his second album, Na'ama, released in 2006, Hoffman played homage to the traditions of classical Arabic music - the taqasim (improvisation) and the maqam (scales). All 12 tracks are original compositions, inspired by the great Arab composers of the 20th Century.

Further pursuing his passion for combining jazz with middle eastern music, his third release, Evolution, is a ten track exploration of melodies and rhythms that incorporates compositional and improvisational elements common to both musical genres. Avishai Cohen, with whom who he has contributed to numerous of his projects over the years, joins him playing contrabass, piano and contributes vocals.

Carving takes another step westward, featuring guitar on half of the tracks, and strengthening the rhythm section by adding a drummer to the lineup.

XabiaJazz 2011 features the Spanish jazz quartet, the Colina-Serrano Project; Bob Sand Big Band (Aug 5); Amos Hoffman (Aug 6); and American jazz vocalist and composer, Deborah J. Carter (Aug 7). The concerts start at 22:30 at la Plaça de la Constitució. Tickets are €15, reduced fee €12 for under 25 years and retired. Festival passes available. More info www.xabia.org

www.amoshoffman.com

Chris Farlowe - Jazz San Javier finale

2011-07-24T15:37:00.000+02:00

THE LAST weekend in July sees the final concert of the XIV edition of the San Javier International Jazz Festival. Once again, stars from the world of jazz, blues and rock entertained the festival faithful under the night sky of the Mar Menor in the month-long extravaganza. I asked Festival Director, Alberto Nieto what had been his favourite concert, “I really enjoyed Elvin Bishop, and Monty Alexander was incredible, and once again Hiromi with her new jazz trio was fantastic”. Many representatives of the media turned out to party, including Mark Rose of Vibe FM, who said. “Chicago were brilliant”, Rachael Angus of TKO FM, said “those guys can really rock.” Following last weekends packed concert on Friday night, the mayor of San Javier, Juan Martinaez Pastor, presented Eric Burdon with the festival award for a lifetime of services to music.

Saturday night (30 July) is the last opportunity to witness the unique vibe created in the beautiful 2000 seater ampthitheatre in Almansa Park with British rock and blues singer Chris Farlowe and pop/swing ensemble, Pink Turtle.

Farlowe is best known for his #1 hit single Out Of Time from 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds. Inspired by Lonnie Donegan, Farlowe's musical career began with the John Henry Skiffle Group in 1957, before he joined the Johnny Burns Rhythm and Blues Quartet in 1958, after which he joined the Thunderbirds. He released a cover version of Stormy Monday Blues under the pseudonym of Little Joe Cook, which perpetuated the myth that he was a black singer.

Farlowe later recorded eleven singles, five of which were cover versions of Rolling Stones songs including Paint It, Black, Think, Ride On, Baby, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction and Out Of Time. He recorded four more singles, the best known of which is Mike d'Abo's Handbags And Gladrags.

He began an association with the jazz rock group Colosseum in the 1970s, recording a live album and three studio albums including, Daughter Of Time (1970). Later in the next millennium he would appear on two more Colosseum albums. In February 1972 he joined Atomic Rooster, and is featured on the albums Made In England (1972) and Nice 'n' Greasy (1973). With Farlowe now in his 71st year and touring harder than ever, Out Of Time: A Film About Chris Farlowe provides a unique insight into his eccentric and solitary life; an intimate portrayal of an old star doing the only thing he knows.

Chris Farlowe is joined on stage at Jazz San Javier XIV with Norman Beaker and his band, who have accompanied musical giants like Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Jack Bruce, B.B. King and Van Morrison.

French seven-piece vocal group Pink Turtle perform swing/jazz interpretations of contemporary pop songs. Their 2008 debut, Pop In Swing, focused mainly on the sounds of the '70s as they tackled prog rock (Yes' 'Owner of a Lonely Heart'), heavy metal (AC/DC's 'Highway To Hell') and disco-pop (Bee Gees' 'How Deep Is Your Love'), alongside reworkings of tracks by Deep Purple, Supertramp, and The Eagles.

Tickets are €12, available on the night at the auditorium box office. For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 968 19 15 88 or 968 19 15 68 or email festivales@sanjavier.es. Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es. Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).

Night of the Virtuosos at Jazz San Javier

2011-07-17T22:11:00.000+02:00

A PUPIL of legendary jazz pianists Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal, Hiromi Uehara, a native of Hamamatsu, Japan, is one the fastest ever rising stars in the world of jazz. She is known for her virtuosic technique, energetic live performances and blend of musical genres such as jazz, progressive rock, classical and fusion in her compositions. Hiromi is a classically trained musician, she was already playing with the Czech Philharmonic when she was fourteen years old. When she was 17, she met Chick Corea by chance in Tokyo, and was invited to play with him at his concert the next day. Before graduating from Boston's Berklee College of Music she had signed a recording contract with the Telarc jazz record label.

Since her debut in 2003, Hiromi has toured the world and appeared in numerous jazz festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Paris Olympia and toured with the Stanley Clarke Band.

Hiromi is one of the most beloved artists to perform at San Javier. Her solo renedition of Oscar Peterson's 'I Got Rhythm' at Jazz San Javier XII in 2009 was one of the highlights of the festival. She returns to San Javier on Saturday 23rd July for the third time to present her new album, Voice, with a spectacular new trio featuring Grammy nominated bassist Anthony Jackson, and Toto drummer, Simon Phillips.

On the same bill this Saturday evening is American virtuoso Hammond organ player, guitarist and singer, Lucky Peterson, who plays contemporary blues, fusing soul, R&B, gospel and rock 'n' roll. Son of bluesman James Peterson, who was the owner of a nightclub in Buffalo, NY, where as a boy Lucky listened to blues legends like Willie Dixon. Dixon saw a five-year-old Lucky Peterson performing at the club and, in Peterson's words, "Took me under his wing." Months later, Peterson performed on the American TV shows 'The Tonight Show', 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'What's My Line?' Millions of people watched Lucky Peterson sing "1-2-3-4", a cover version of "Please, Please, Please" by James Brown. Music journalist, Tony Russell, in his book The Blues - From Robert Johnson To Robert Cray said, "he may be the only blues musician to have had national television exposure in short pants."

Today, Peterson lives in Dallas, Texas. He still tours, but spends an increasing amount of time playing music for his church. His appearance in San Javier could be the last opportunity to see him perform in Spain. Lucky Peterson's latest album, Every Second A Fool Is Born, is available on JSP Records.

Tickets are €15 and are available on the night at the Almansa Park auditorium box office. For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 968 19 15 88 or 968 19 15 68 or email festivales@sanjavier.es. Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es. Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).

XI XabiaJazz Festival ~ Aug 4-7, 2011

2011-07-17T11:44:00.000+02:00

Aug 4 : Colina Serrano Project

Aug 5 : Bob Sands Big Band

Aug 6 : Amos Hoffman

Aug 7 : Deborah J. Carter

+ XabiaJazz Dixieland Band

Plaça de la Constitució

Concerts start 22:30

Tickets €15, 4-day festival pass €40

Under 25 years and retired, tickets €12, pass €30

http://www.ajxabia.com/agenda/xi-festival-internacional-xabia-jazz

Mauri Sanchis presents new album at Vijazz 2011 (Full length video)

2011-07-11T20:30:00.000+02:00

MAURI SANCHIS' Modern Organ Trio recently presented their new album What Did You Expect? at the Festival Caixa Penedès Vijazz 2011. Trio features Mauri Sanchis on Hammond organ, Blas Fernández on drums and Razl on guitar. Click here to check out Mauri's concert dates.

www.maurisanchis.com

Mauri Sanchis' Modern Organ Trio - What Did You Expect? (2011)

2011-07-10T11:23:00.000+02:00

ESPANAS HAMMOND endorser, Mauri Sanchis, recently premiered his new album What Did You Expect? at the Caixa Penedés Vijazz festival near Barcelona, sharing the line-up with Branford Marsalis, Tower of Power, Terence Blanchard, and Kyle Eastwood. Mauri featured his Modern Organ Trio on the new project along with long time friends Blas Fernández on drums and Razl on guitar.

Mauri Sanchis' Modern Organ Trio are performing at JAZZpolop 2011 on Friday 15th July.

www.maurisanchis.com

VIII Festival Internacional de Jazz de Peñíscola ~ Jul 7-30, 2011

2011-07-09T22:52:00.000+02:00

http://es.scribd.com/doc/53334401/8%C2%AA-Festival-de-Jazz-de-Peniscola-2011

SummerJazz ed. III ~ Jul 29-Aug 14, 2011

2011-07-09T17:31:00.000+02:00

Venues: Villa Marco, El Campello (VM) and Torrecremada, Denia (TD)

All concerts start at 22:30

All tickets are 16 Euros, and be purchased from Servicam

29 Jul (VM) / 31 Jul (TD) : Randy Greer y Enric Peidró Quartet

5 Aug (VM) / 7 Aug (TD) : Boleros en Femení

12 Aug (VM) / 14 Aug (TD) : The Night Shouters

www.summerjazz.es

Festival de Jazz del Sureste - Torrevieja ~ Jul 11-15, 2011

2011-07-07T22:18:00.000+02:00

Monday 11th July: Sphere Jazz Trio

Tuesday 12th July: Moggio Jazz Band

Wednesday 13th July: Fabio Miano Quartet

Thursday 14th July: Smart Set Quartet

Friday 15th July: Lidia Arquellada

Teatro Municipal de Torrevieja at 21:30

€5 each concert.

€20 pass for all concerts

Thanks to Enrique Simon for the info www.eosimon.es

Imagina Funk Festival #4 ~ Aug 5-6, 2011

2011-07-07T13:10:00.000+02:00

IMAGINA FUNK returns with the Take #4 Summer 2011 edition in Sierra Mágina, Torres near Jaén (north of Granada), Andulucia. Imagina Funk offers a refreshing music format among the sea of jazz festivals during the Summer months with some of the best funk bands Spain (and beyond) has to offer. Well worth a visit, August 5-6, for those into cutting edge funk and rare groove.

The programme of bands includes the Imagina Funk Band featuring Sulene Fleming, Alma Afrobeat Ensemble, Ebo Taylor & Afrobeat Academy, La Mula, The Apples, 6ix Toys along with DJ's, Floro, Marcos, and Charlie Faber, acting MC. Other activities include the presentation of a new book on Fela Kuti by Sagrario Luna with musical illustration by DJ Floro (Afrobeat Project), plus an exhibition on 15 years in the life of Madrid funk club and on-line magazine The Maderfaker, and a jam session.

www.imaginafunk.com

JAZZpolop Ed. II ~ Jul 14-16, 2011

2011-07-05T22:36:00.000+02:00

www.jazzpolop.com

NITZZ Elx Jazz Festival ~ Jul 1-9, 2011

2011-07-05T22:09:00.000+02:00

http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/ag/elx/elche/nitzz-elx-jazz-festival-0-0

Alicante Jazz Festival ~ Jul 20-24, 2011

2011-07-05T20:46:00.000+02:00

THE ALICANTE Jazz Festival returns this Summer with the XIV edition together with leading figures from the world of jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban jazz, Brazilian jazz and gospel music at the Tossal de Manises, Alicante.

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

20th July

The Blind Boys of Alabama

Starts: 22:30

21st July

D.I.G. (Check Loeb, Till Brönner, Harvey Mason, Eric Marientahal, Pat Bianchi)

Starts: 22:30

22nd July

Mike Stern Band

Starts: 22:30

23rd July

Ivan Lins

Starts: 22:30

24th July

Chucho Valdés & The Afro-Cuban Messengers

Starts: 22:30

Ticket prices are €18, €12 and €9. Season ticket prices are €70, €50 and €35

More info here

Sphere Jazz Trio at Torrevieja Jazz Festival

2011-07-05T18:41:00.000+02:00

ENRIQUE SIMON emailed some jazz news, "I'm very happy to announce a special event next week. From July 11th to 15th, a jazz festival is running in Torrevieja. I'll be playing next Monday with the Sphere Jazz Trio. I'm sure you will enjoy this event and you won't want to miss it! I hope to see you at the Teatro Municipal next Monday."

The Sphere Jazz Trio play mainstream jazz fusion with South American folklore. Featuring Enrique Simon (Spanish) on piano, Pablo Fojo (Argentina) on double bass, and Nelson de Leon (Uruguay) on drums.

Monday 11th July, 21:00, Teatro Municipal Torrevieja part of the Torrevieja Jazz Festival + special guest Pablo Mercader on Spanish guitar.

Enrique aka Eo also plays every Tuesday in the Marina Bar with Dixieland Trad band, All That Jazz.

Lead by John Hutchings (trombone), Mike Hutchings (saxes), Roy Hubbard (clarinet), Peter Emuss (drums), Geoff Hull (bass), Enrique Simon (piano).

Tuesdays, 13:00, Marina Bar, Torreta 2, Torrevieja, tel. 966 707 820 to book a table.

More info about Enrique Simon and the Sphere Jazz Trio at www.eosimon.com/

Jazz San Javier XIV in full swing

2011-07-04T12:35:00.000+02:00

THIS SUMMERS San Javier International Jazz Festival is now well under way. Our happy ticket competition winners have all been enjoying the event. Graham Lewis of Torrevieja on the Lee Ritenour evening said, “Thanks for the tickets, both artists were great and we had a brilliant evening”. The opportunity to see guitarist Ritenour with Grammy Award winner pianist/composer Dave Grusin will certainly be a highlight for many. Ritenour showed a lot of respect to the fans, backstage and out front, possing for photos and signing autographs. While the rest of the band made the quickest exit after a concert that I've ever witnessed. I wondered if they actually bothered to wait for Lee, and perhaps he had to hitch a ride back to the hotel. I've witnessed some strange going-ons backstage before, like when John Foggerty totally blanked the Festival Director at the IX edition.

There will be no such antics from the band leader of next weeks Friday night concert. The third week sees one of the true statesman of jazz, Wynton Marsalis (check out “Wynton Marsalis, Part 1 & Part 2” recently recorded for 60 Minutes and posted on YouTube), and Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra plus singer Carla Cook with the Albert Bover Trio (Fri 8th), rock blues guitarist Elvin Bishop plus the Jaume Vilaseca Quartet with sitar player Ravi Chary (Sat 9th), and Chicago (Jul 12th).

The most anticipated concert of the XIV edition is the first ever performance of supergroup Chicago in Spain. They are also playing Madrid (Jul 14th) and Gerona (Jul 15th), then on to Switzerland before returning to the USA. Formed in 1967, by all accounts from the bands official Facebook page, they have not lost any of their magic since their heyday period of the 70's and 80's. The line-up will include original band members Robert Lamm on keyboards, vocals; Lee Loughnane on trumpet; James Pankow on trombone; as well as Ray Herrmann on woodwinds; Jason Scheff on bass, vocals; Tris Imboden on drums; Keith Howland on guitar; Lou Pardini on keyboards; vocals and Drew Hester on percussion.

Televisión Española's second channel (La 2) will rebroadcast twelve concerts early this autumn, starting with the Lee Ritenour Band. The concerts will air from Monday to Thursday starting on August 29th during the late night time slot, and will begin at 12:30 am.

Radio Nacional de España's Radio 3 will also retransmit several concerts. The concerts are scheduled for 11:00 pm on Sundays throughout July, and will feature commentaries from the prestigious musical journalist Rodolfo Poveda, host of the radio program "Trópico Utópico", one of the most popular programs in Radio 3's lineup.

For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 968 19 15 88 or 968 19 15 68 or email festivales@sanjavier.es. Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es. Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).

René Marie ~ Renaissance Lady of Jazz

2011-06-26T15:20:00.000+02:00

THE XIV edition of the San Javier International Jazz Festival kicked off last weekend and continues until July 30th. In the first week of July there are three excellent nights of European and American jazz flavors to look forward to; Lee Ritenour & Sergio Monroy (Fri 1st), Monty Alexander & Raynald Colom (Sat 2nd), Ramsey Lewis & Ludovic Beier (Wed 6th).

Looking forward to mid-July, I urge you not to miss the opportunity to witness an artist, who in time, maybe heralded along with legendary names like Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan. René Marie is a singer/songwriter who instantly became a top favourite of mine when I saw her perform at Musicas del Alma in 2009.

Marie began her professional music career late in life at age 42. She has released six albums, the second of which, 'Vertigo', was awarded a coronet ranking by the 'Penguin Guide To Jazz', a distinction given to less than 85 other recordings in jazz history. The singer often combines contrasting songs like 'Dixie' with the anti-lynching 'Strange Fruit', or combines other works like Ravel's Boléro with Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne'.

Marie attracted controversy in 2008, when she was invited to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a civic event in Denver, and substituted the song's lyrics with those from "Lift Every Voice And Sing.", a song often referred to as the black national anthem. Even the President was lurred into the controversy. The arrangement forms part of the titular suite on Marie's latest CD, The Voice Of My Beautiful Country. René Marie performs on Friday 15th July, tickets are €12. Also performing is blues guitarist Joe Louis Walker.

On Saturday 1st July Raynald Colom, one of the top jazz trumpeters in Spain, joins the program for 2011 edition. In a last minute substitution, the Raynald Colom Sexteto steps in for Leny Andrade. Ms. Andrade was forced cancel her appearance at the Musicas del Almas festival last year when an Icelandic volcano eruption caused havoc to air traffic control.

Colom was actually born in Vincennes (France) in 1978 where he started learning music when he was four years old. He studied violin until age eight, when his parents gave him a trumpet. The family moved to Barcelona ten years later, where he continued his musical studies, and got some private tuition from Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove and Kenny Barron. In 1999 he obtained a scholarship for the Berklee Music College.

Colom performed at Musicas del Alma in 2006 with 'Luis Salinas and Friends' which was released on DVD. Today, he is considered a Spanish jazz star, and the concert promises to be one of the best performances of the XIV edition.

Wynton & JALCO to perform new project at Jazz San Javier XIV

2011-06-20T01:39:00.000+02:00

ON FRIDAY 8th July Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform a new project "Music Of The Decades". The evening promises to be a musical tour through the years, from the origins of jazz in New Orleans and Chicago up to the present day, with new arrangements and the usual panache from one of the best jazz big bands of all time. Two years ago they received the festival award after a spectacular performance. In my last interview with the Mayoress of San Javier, Pepe Garcia, she described the evening as “a wonderful night, the performance by Wynton Marsalis with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra was amazing”.

Saturday 25th June is the opening concert to the fourteenth edition with British blues band Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes, together with Mallorcan guitarist Biel Ballester and his trio with special guest Romanian violinist Costel Nitescu with a programme of gyspy jazz. The festival programme includes 23 performances over 12 concerts and continues until the end of July.

The XIV ed. is dedicated to the memories of guitarist Gary Moore and soul singer Solomon Burke, both performed at previous editions and died within the last year. As you would expect from a programme honoring a great guitarist there are several performances from some guitar greats including jazz players Lee Ritenour, John Scofield, Henry Johnson (with Ramsey Lewis), and blues players Elvin Bishop, Lucky Peterson, Joe Louis Walker and Albert Lee.

The main headliner is the legendary band Chicago, who along with Blood, Sweat & Tears, represent the best of the 70's jazz-rock supergroups. Chicago also stood out in other genres too, like pop-rock and soft-rock, achieving international success with worldwide hits like 25 Or 6 To 4, Saturday In The Park, Hard To Say I'm Sorry and If You Leave Me Now, one of the most danced power ballads in British and Spanish discos during the 70s.

Tickets for concerts are priced from €12 to €36. A 10-Night Season Pass is available for all concerts except Chicago (€36) and Wynton Marsalis & JALCO (€25, or €20 for season pass holders). For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 968 19 15 88 or 968 19 15 68 or email festivales@sanjavier.es

Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es. Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).

Ramsey Lewis and His Electric Band 'The Sun Goddess Tour'

2011-06-16T21:49:00.000+02:00

COMPOSER, PIANIST, radio personality and living jazz legend, Ramsey Lewis is one of the most respected and most successful musicians in the United States. With a career spanning 55 years which began with the release of his album Ramsey Lewis And The Gentlemen Of Swing in 1956, Lewis has gone on to record over 80 albums, win three Grammy awards, and collect seven gold records. Ten years after his debut release, Lewis was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with The In Crowd (1965), Hang On Sloopy (1966), and Wade In The Water (1966). All three singles each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs.

After his classic acoustic albums in the 60's, Lewis wanted to head into a different direction with a new electric sound. In 1974 he reunited with former drummer Maurice White who at that time was with his own band, Earth, Wind & Fire. Then drawing on musicians largely from EWF, and together with producer Teo Macero (Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck) released an all-time classic album in the genre Lewis helped pioneer known as jazz-funk, titled Sun Goddess. The album which became a huge cross-over hit, and Lewis' most popular since the release of the The In Crowd, charting #1 on the Billboard Black Albums chart as well as the jazz album chart. The album also charted #12 in the pop chart. While the album charted in the top 15, the songs Hot Dawgit and Sun Goddess charted in the black singles, the pop singles, and the disco singles charts. Sun Goddess has been certified gold. EWF later released a version of the title track on their album Gratitude (1975).

The album has become hugely influential to jazz and R&B musicians over the years, and very collectible on original vinyl. In my record dealer days during the 90's, I recall selling an original US import copy to Paul Weller at London's black music record collectors fair at Baden Powell House.

Ramsey Lewis returns to Jazz San Javier after his thunderous success during the IX edition of the festival, in which he received the festival's award, with his new groove orientated project that brought fans to their feet in the 70's together with a funky electric band which includes the magnificent guitarist Henry Johnson.

A much anticipated new album is to follow in August, Ramsey, Taking Another Look paying homege to the upbeat jazz-funk sound of the 70's.

Ramsey Lewis and his Electric Band 'The Sun Goddess Tour', and the Ludovic Beier New Montmartre Quartet are at Jazz San Javier on Wednesday 6th July. Tickets are 12 Euros. For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 968 19 15 88 or 968 19 15 68 or email festivales@sanjavier.es

Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es. Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).

Captain Fingers at Jazz San Javier

2011-06-05T13:33:00.000+02:00

LEE MACK "Captain Fingers" Ritenour, so called because of his skillful ability on the guitar, is one of the many world class guitarists playing at this summers San Javier International Jazz Festival in rememberance of Gary Moore.

Ritenour has long been regarded as the perfect studio musician and has appeared on over 3000 sessions, recorded over 42 albums, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. While he possesses impressive technique, Ritenour has mostly played instrumental pop throughout his career, sometimes with a Brazilian flavor. His few jazz efforts have found him essentially imitating Wes Montgomery, but despite that he has been consistently popular since the mid-70s. After touring with Sergio Mendes' Brasil '77 in 1973, Ritenour became a busy studio guitarist in Los Angeles, taking time off for occasional tours with his groups, and in the mid-90s with Bob James in Fourplay. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, Is It You in 1981.

Ritenour is considered to be a pioneer in the contemporary jazz and jazz-funk genres of music. Guitar Player Magazine awarded him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2010. His highly acclaimed and popular 2010 hit album Lee Ritenour's 6 String Theory had numerous awards in 2011 including, Guitar Album of the Year in Guitar International Magazine. He has also recorded many albums as a leader including Portraits (1987), Wes Bound (1992), Larry & Lee with Larry Carlton (1994), This Is Love (1997), Overtime (2005), and Smoke 'N' Mirrors (2006).

Playing together with Ritenour will be long-time collabarator Dave Grusin. Grusin has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy award and 12 Grammys. He has had a prolific recording career as an artist, arranger, producer and executive producer.

Supporting Ritenour is Cadiz born Sergio Monroy. He combines his love of flamenco with his formal piano studies at the Conservatory Manuel de Falla de Cádiz. Monroy began his career at the age of 16, and studied in Madrid with master Arturo Pavón and Cadiz classical piano teacher Antonio Escobar Perera. and is considered a strong candidate to continue on with Chano Dominguez's legacy in the 21st century, infusing bulerias, tanguitos and diverse styles of flamenco with the freedom and swing of jazz. A finalist for the National Critics Awards Flamenca 2004 with its first work, Piano Flamenco, he presents his second solo album at Jazz San Javer titled Chicuco.

The Lee Ritenour Band featuring Dave Grusin, and Sergio Monroy, are at Jazz San Javier on Friday 1st July. Tickets are 12 Euros. For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 968 19 15 88 or 968 19 15 68 or email festivales@sanjavier.es

Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es. Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).

JAM Trio & Dick Oatts at Jazzazza ~ Sat 4 June

2011-05-22T19:45:00.000+02:00