ANNOUNCING THE RELEASE OF A NEW CD
DENNY ZEITLIN: Wherever You Are--Midnight Moods For Solo Piano
 Sunnyside Records SSC 1322 |
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INITIAL CRITICAL ACCLAIM FROM SOME OF THE TOP JAZZ WRITERS
"There's something magnificent about a top-level artist alone with a piano, immersed in a mood of quiet nights, under quiet stars… Wherever You Are—Midnight Moods for Solo Piano is Denny Zeitlin's most intimate and contemplative sets of songs, and perhaps the loveliest work from a top jazz pianist at the height of his expressive powers."
Dan McClenaghan allaboutjazz. "…Wherever You Are: Midnight Moods for Solo Piano", is his 3rd unaccompanied recording in less than 2 years for the Sunnyside label. Before you start accusing the pianist of overkill, the CDs are different in many respects (material, pacing, recording venues)--what they have in common is the excellent musicianship and fertile mind of an artist who never compromises his ideals. What is different with the new recording is that the program consists entirely of ballads… Yet, nothing is what you'd expect other than the pianist will explore avenues others have never thought to use. He never abandons the melody but his harmonies are often surprising while he will slip into (and out of) a rhythmic pattern so naturally it make take you a moment to notice…"Wherever You Are" is indeed an album of "Midnight Moods" yet this is not dark nor foreboding music. Instead, Denny Zeitlin aims for the heart of the listener by finding the emotional center of each song and creating his own world. Sit with someone you love or by yourself and allow this music to take you away from the humdrum, from the apparent darkness of the everyday world and into a much quieter place. " Richard B. Kamins steptempest.blogspot. "Bay-area psychiatrist/pianist Denny Zeitlin not only leads volcanic trios but is one of the pre-eminent soloists in modern jazz…the title [Midnight Moods For Solo Piano] does not do justice to the sophistication of these arrangements and two original works that fill the disc…music that transcends time and place. Denny Zeitlin strikes the universal chords of love lost and found, creating moods for whenever, wherever you are." Andrea Canter jazzpolice.com "…the tunes all do seem to connect to each other; as soon as “Goodbye” fades away into the night, the gentle chimes of “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars/How Insensitive” gently rise like a sliver of a moon. Zeitlin’s touch and exploratory skills on these pieces feel like gentle rabbit trails during a conversation, slowly drifting away from the main point, creating a new main point, and then returning to what we were talking about originally. Lot’s to learn about sounds and thoughts on this ruminating release." George Harris jazzweekly.com "Equally at home performing with his working trio and as a solo pianist, Zeitlin focuses on the latter in this striking session which he recorded himself in his home studio. His imaginative arrangements of the familiar standards that make up much of this collection put them into a new light, perfect for late-night listening with someone special…This compelling solo piano CD is destined to become one of Denny Zeitlin's landmark recordings." Ken Dryden allmusic.com " ...Here, Denny plays solo piano and sticks exclusively to ballads. Denny's most recent albums have been spiritual tours de force, with cascades of musical exploration. Here, it's Denny in slow motion, affording an opportunity to hear his voicings up close and learn how he builds ideas on the backs of eight standards and two originals." Marc Myers jazzwax.com "Solo piano recordings can be the equivalent of tap dancing in a musical mine field for some artists. Denny Zeitlin reconfirms his ability to interpret a ballad as well as any pianist today… Zeitlin's true gift is his keen sense of lyrical direction and harmonic balance when it comes to working without a net… There is a buoyant ebb and flow to the release with well paced and a thoughtful emotional quality to the melodic course charted… one would be hard pressed not to find this as one of Denny Zeitlin's most entertaining releases to date [and] one of the more entertaining for the year. " Brent Black criticaljazz.com
WATCH THE VIDEO: Click Here
Please forward this announcement to people who may be interested |
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Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services T: 845-986-1677 E-Mail: jim@jazzpromoservices.com http://www.jazzpromoservices. |
New CD Alison Wedding "This Dance" (GroundUp GRO 112) SEP 03: BIRMINGHAM, AL-ZYDECO 8:30PM SEP 04: NASHVILLE, TN-3RD & LINDSLEY 8:00PM SEP 05: RICHMOND, VA-CAPITAL ALE HOUSE 9:00PM
Sept 28: LOS ANGELES-THE MINT 9:00 PM
Sept 29: Bakersfield-California State University
sept 30: San Francisco-THE BOOM BOOM ROOM 8:00 PM
Oct 2: Boston-CAFE 939 8PM
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 August
2, 2012 -- Four individuals of distinction –Jon Hendricks, Louis
Harrison, MD, Ilene Harrison, RN, and Deena Harburg – are the recipients
of the 2012 What A Wonderful World Award, announced Joanne Loewy, DA,
MT-BC, LCAT, Director, The Louis Armstrong Center for Music &
Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center.The honorees will be feted at a special cocktail reception to be held on Monday, September 24 at Beth Israel’s Phillips Ambulatory Care Center’s Nerken Family Atrium, 10 Union Square East in Manhattan. Dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington will preside over a program that will open with the Broadway cast of Evita, performing selections from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, and will also feature a performance by honoree Jon Hendricks with perennial favorites -- renowned trumpeter Jon Faddis and pianist David Hazeltine. A silent auction of musical, sport, entertainment, travel treasures, antiques, art and clothing will benefit the Louis Armstrong Center’s clinical services. “Our honorees are emulating the legacy of Louis Armstrong, a great musician and humanitarian,” said Dr. Loewy. “Each one of them is making a difference in the lives of many people and we are pleased to recognize and celebrate their contributions and achievements.” A critically acclaimed singer, lyricist and drummer, Jon Hendricks is among America’s living legends. He is an originator of vocalese, the art of crafting lyrics for instrumental music, which changed jazz singing around the world and elevated scat-singing to extraordinary heights. He has taught jazz studies at the University of Toledo (Ohio), his alma mater, California State University at Sonoma, Stanford University and UC Berkeley, and abroad. He has performed with some of the brightest luminaries in the entertainment industry. A much-honored musician, he has received the National Endowment for the Arts’ Jazz Masters Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed by the nation to jazz artists who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz. He also is the recipient of France’s Legion D’honneur. Several of his projects have won Emmy, Peabody and Grammy awards. Dr. Louis Harrison is an internationally renowned radiation oncologist with expertise in head and neck cancer, sarcomas, and intraoperative brachytherapy, and a co-inventor of the instrument used in the therapy. As Physician-in-Chief of Continuum Cancer Centers of New York and Gerald J. Friedman Chair of Radiation Oncology at Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals, he has been a leader in the development of multidisciplinary management strategies that prioritize cancer cure with organ and function preservation. He has published extensively and is the lead editor of the award-winning textbook, Head and Neck Cancer, A Multidisciplinary Approach. Dr. Harrison is Past President and Chairman of the Board of The American Society of Radiation Oncology, as well as Past President of the American Brachytherapy Society. He is a recipient of the Louise and Allston Boyer Award for Biomedical Research, the Ulrich Henschke Lecture Award for Brachytherapy, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.
Ilene Harrison, RN, who worked as a nurse
and nurse educator for many years, is being honored for her
contributions as a Louis Armstrong Center volunteer research assistant
-- interviewing patients in the Chemotherapy Suite at Roosevelt Hospital
and collecting data for a study on the impact of music therapy on
resiliency for patients receiving first-time chemotherapy. She
previously worked for the American Red Cross and Children’s Aid and
Family Services in New Jersey, and actively oversees “Marilyn’s Place,” a
program established by her family in her mother’s honor that offers a
variety of amenities and resources to hospitalized patients and their
families at Continuum hospitals.
Author and musical theater educator Deena Rosenberg Harburg is Executive Vice President and Artistic Director of the Yip Harburg Foundation, named for her husband’s father – the lyricist of Brother Can You Spare a Dime and all the songs in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, among several memorable songs. She is author of Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin and Founding Chair, Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her current focus, Literacy through Musical Theatre, is a unique program that endeavors to improve the way young students learn by bringing musical theater into inner-city elementary classrooms in New York’s East Village. She has benefited from music therapy during the course of her hospitalization and recovery at Beth Israel. The Louis and Lucille Armstrong Music Therapy Program at Beth Israel, established nearly two decades ago, is a legacy of the beloved jazz trumpeter that became the foundation for The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, located in the Phillips Ambulatory Care Center, 10 Union Square East in Manhattan. It is made possible by a generous gift from the David B. Kriser Foundation and through the estate of John H. Slade, directed to Beth Israel from hospital trustee Richard Netter, and with additional support provided by Phoebe Jacobs and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. For more information about the 2012 What a Wonderful World Awards cocktail reception and silent auction, as well as the programs and services offered by the Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine, please call 212-420-2704 or check out its website at www.musicandmedicine.org and on Facebook. |
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A Fusion of Jazz, Neo Soul & Funk - Featuring Chieli Minucci, Marion Meadows & Bob Baldwin
Available on Randis Music First Single, “Off-Kilter” Hits Radio August 20th
Listen to it here
Evolve is flutist, vocalist and songwriter Ragan Whiteside’s truly exciting and innovative sophomore CD. Fusing together the coolest elements of contemporary jazz, neo soul and funk, this award winning artist makes an aesthetic statement that marks her evolution as an undeniably talented musical force. On Evolve, Ragan delivers a 12-track collection of funky grooves, layered with her mesmerizing flute compositions, sexy vocals, slow grooves and ultra-hip melodies. A follow up to her debut CD, Class Axe, which took the Smooth Jazz world by storm and caught the eyes and ears of the esteemed Capital Jazz Festival, the largest jazz festival in the country, the flutist’s latest disc showcases her edginess and creative prowess as a multi-talented artist. It also celebrates her emergence as a versatile and powerful writer, songstress and arranger who hails from Mount Vernon, NY. Evolve features more sultry lead vocals from Ragan, whose uncanny instrumental chops and fierce compositions transcend her first disc with this latest collection of original songs, live instrumentation and superb harmonies . Ragan says Evolve reflects not just her personal growth but her creative metamorphosis as well. “Since Class Axe was my first introduction to the scene as a new artist, I needed to make a splash at radio,” she adds. “When my first CD was released, there weren't many flute tunes being played so it was extra important to stay inside the box. In the end, it grabbed the attention of radio and I eventually won the 2007 Capital Jazz Award for new artists, which was really cool.” She also performed on the Capital Jazz Cruise later that year and shared the stage with such artists like Kirk Whalum, Brian Culbertson and more. Since her debut album, this award winning artist has developed a heightened focus in the writing, producing, and editing process of Evolve. “A lot has changed since then so now I'm able to open up and step outside of the box a little more,” says the native New Yorker, who recently moved South. Under the direction of her highly acclaimed producers/arrangers, Dennis Johnson and Bob Baldwin, Ragan showcases her high energy and expansive musical abilities. Her versatility is heard throughout the CD on such sultry songs as Livin’ Lovin’ and Mean to Me which she co-wrote. In her up-tempo R&B duet, On the Dance Floor, she teams up with legendary vocalist Porter Carroll Jr. (original member of Atlantic Starr) and continues to craft her own unique style. Taking her refreshing and vibrant flute sounds to newer heights, Ragan has collaborated with an array of veteran contemporary jazz artists, including Chieli Minucci, Marion Meadows, Bob Baldwin, the afore mentioned Carroll and Chembo Corniel (Latin Jazz Grammy nominee). The featured guests add brilliance and extraordinary vibes to Evolve’s organic listening experience. Her remake of the Ohio Players’ 1975 hit, Sweet Sticky Thing, merges old-school funk with the flutist’s signature brand of “boom bap.” With this widely anticipated recording, this soulfully carefree artist surfaces clearly, rising to the top of her generation of musicians. Fusing traditions, styles, and unafraid of pushing the envelope, Ragan’s crafty arrangements and edgy music transcends genre boundaries and marks a new era of contemporary jazz, neo soul and funk. Evolve is an example of what makes Ragan a triple threat to watch for on the music scene as she constantly evolves. Her new disc, Evolve, will be available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and major retail outlets. You can find performance info on her website at www.raganwhiteside.com For interviews and record label requests, email randismusic@gmail.com or call 212-561-0253.
Artist: Ragan Whiteside
CD Title: Evolve Label: Randis Release Date: August 28, 2012
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| For more information, please contact: Dennis Johnson Randis Music 212-561-0253 randismusic@gmail.com |
Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services T: 845-986-1677 E-Mail: jim@jazzpromoservices.com http://www.jazzpromoservices. |
In the ten years since his move to New York City from Chicago, tenor saxophonist/composer/arranger Russ Nolan has made great strides in advancing his musical career. He immersed himself in the scene, playing and collaborating with a wide range of musicians. He made his first recordings as a leader-the quartet date Two Colors (2004) and the much-praised With You in Mind(2008), on which he was backed by the Kenny Werner Trio. And, less typically, he hit the dance floor, becoming an active and accomplished salsa dancer.
Nolan is a powerful tenor player who strikes a soulful balance between a classic, hard-edged sound and the airier tones and textures popularized by Michael Brecker. As an arranger he applies his distinctive touch to an array of material including Joe Zawinul's "A Remark You Made," John Lennon's "Nowhere Man," and, most strikingly, Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments." "The singer I wrote it for didn't like 6/8, so I kept it for myself," Nolan says of the dynamic chart.
Back in Chicago, however, he played very little music from 1994 until the end of the decade. Then he was contracted to play in the orchestra that backed singer Kurt Elling at Mayor Richard M. Daley's big millennium bash. That was where he first met Brock, with whom he subsequently played in a quintet of musicians associated with the Bloom School of Jazz.
 DOUBLE GRAMMY NOMINEES SAMMY FIGUEROA & HIS LATIN JAZZ EXPLOSION CELEBRATE THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY AT NEW YORK’S BLUE NOTE AND TWO CONCERTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA |
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Renowned percussionist Sammy Figueroa and his Latin Jazz Explosion shall be celebrating their 10th anniversary with three concerts in New York City and South Florida.
10 September - New York NY – Blue Note 15 September – Miami FL – WDNA Jazz Gallery Fine Arts Series 22 September – Delray Beach FL – Arts Garage When legendary percussionist Sammy Figueroa (Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Brecker Brothers, Mariah Carey, David Bowie and countless others) arrived in South Florida in 2001 he discovered a vibrant Latin jazz scene, where players from Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Haiti, Colombia and Argentina create a simmering mix of multi-cultural jazz collaboration. With the support of producerRachel Faro and Dr. Ron Weber of South Florida Jazz, Sammy put together a band of the best players in town, making their debut at the Hollywood Jazz Festival in November 2002. How time flies! Since then Sammy and the band have released three critically acclaimed albums (two of which have received Grammy Nominations), toured throughout the world and developed a large, devoted fan base. Although the personnel has changed throughout the years the sound of this band has remained remarkably consistent: sophisticated jazz fusion mixed up with a lot of rice and beans. Whether you’re in the New York area or South Florida come help Sammy celebrate his 10th Anniversary as leader of one of the premier bands in Latin Jazz today! Sammy Figueroa, percussion Silvano Monasterios, piano; Gabriel Vivas, bass Nomar Negroni, drums Alex Pope Norris, trumpet (NY); Cisco Dimas, trumpet (FL) Troy Roberts, saxophone (NY); John Michalak, saxophone (FL) For media contact & guest list: 786-553-1634 info@sammyfigueroa.com |
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“The Sammy Figueroa Show” every Monday at 11 AM on WDNA-FM 88.9 Miami
or streaming worldwide at www.wdna.org See Sammy with Sonny Rollins in the BBC Documentary ‘Beyond The Notes' |
 To Listen and Purchase please click on the album
SAMMY FIGUEROA MUSIC
6538 Collins Avenue #295
Miami Beach FL 33141 USA info@sammyfigueroa.com www.sammyfigueroa.com http://www.facebook.com/ ### |
