Grammy Nominated© Jazzmeia Horn Makes her Jazz Standard Debut!

"A si nger who stands apart from many of her peers because she takes on every song she sings so naturally. Jazzmeia is a performer for whom every word, gesture, and ornament becomes an expression of her total conviction and she completely comes alive in the moment"  -London Jazz News It was a promising coming-out party for the most talked-about jazz vocalist to emerge since Cecile McLorin Salvant and Gregory Porter" -NY Times "The woman has a beautiful, supple vocal instrument with a tremendous range and an intonation that has elements of some of her influences-Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter and Nancy Wilson." -The Huffington Post Notes JazzMeaia Horn: Jazzmeia Horn is a Grammy Nominated © artist for her outstanding debut "A Social Call".  Also Winner of the 2015 Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition and 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself capturing her very essence. Hailing from the great Dallas, Texas Jazzmeia has already earned a reputation in New York as a “Rising Star.”

¡¡Amor & Jazz!!

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Vocalist Keri Johnsrud and Pianist/Arranger Kevin Bales Announce the Release of “Beyond the Neighborhood: The Music of Fred Rogers”

Featuring Billy Thornton (Bass) & Marlon Patton (Drums) Due Out March 20, Fred Rogers’ Birthday!

Chicago-based vocalist Keri Johnsrud and GRAMMY nominated pianist KevinBales have come together once again for the March 20th release of Beyond the Neighborhood: The Music of Fred Rogers. With the help of an esteemed rhythm section featuring Billy Thornton on bass and Marlon Patton on drums, Johnsrud and Bales have succeeded in reimagining and rearranging the music that has been heard by numerous generations on the beloved children’s television program Mister Rogers Neighborhood. The songs, which up until now were specifically tailored for a child’s ear, are now presented as reinvented gems that are wise and wistful, simple but not simplistic, and even, in some cases, a bit sultry. In this collection, Mister Rogers’ songs not only relate to adults; they seem to have been written for adults in the first place.   Fred McFeely Rogers – the cardigan-wearing, sneaker-shod, quintessentially gentle Presbyterian minister known as Mister Rogers on the awards-winning children’s TV show that aired for nearly 35 years – also wrote the songs he sang on his program. He wrote a lot of songs, and he wrote them well. As a kid, you might not have noticed the craftsmanship of these songs, but as an adult, you can’t miss it. These songs left their mark on three generations of children who made Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood part of their after-school routine.   This project began over two years ago when Johnsrud and Bales discovered that they had a deep mutual love and admiration for Fred Rogers, while having a conversation about children’s programs they used to watch growing up. It was obvious to them that music played an integral part in the programming of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and were amazed at how that music remains relevant today. Most songs written for youngsters try to impart messages about love and family, friendship and sharing, belief in one’s self-confidence but respect for others – messages that too many adults seem to have forgotten.   “We wanted to take these songs, which we grew up with as kids, and make them relatable – more accessible – to adults as well. We discovered that a lot of Fred Rogers’ music cannot translate across the generations; those songs very much catered to children. We took the songs that could be heard as adults, the songs that he implanted in our brains when we were children and that are still poignant to us now,” Johnsrud explains.   What a lot of people don’t know is that Fred Rogers composed all of the music heard on his programs (The Children’s Corner, The MisteRogers Show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood). In fact, Kevin’s first introduction to jazz was listening to the music performed live by pianist and musical director Johnny Costa and his trio on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. With that said, Keri and Kevin wanted to compile a list of songs that may be familiar to some and unfamiliar to others to showcase the depth of Fred’s songwriting talent. The pair also wanted to arrange these tunes in a way that could appeal to all generations, so that families could listen to this music together. The beauty of these compositions lies in the simple messages found in each of his songs (those of self-worth, acceptance, and kindness) and can apply to all, whether young or old.   When Fred Rogers sang “Just For Once” it expressed the desire of two kids to explore friendship on their own, minus the meddling ministrations of parents and adults. Now, against the exotic rhythm that jazz musicians know as “the ‘Poinciana’ beat,” Johnsrud’s smoldering interpretation transforms it into a song that channels the simmering ambitions of new lovers. Several of Rogers’ compositions make the transition from friendship to chaste romance. He wrote the lovely “When The Day Turns Into Night” as a comforter, girding tots against the separation anxiety that many feel at bedtime, when the lights go out and parents leave the room; here it has the heartfelt yearning of a Cole Porter meditation on separated lovers. The hard-swinging opener, “It’s You I Like,” carried a basic childhood message about accepting people for who they are, rather than how they look; Johnsrud and Bales turn it into a peppy, even flirty thing, suggesting the warmth and wonder of an emergent romance. And “I Like To Be Told” comes across as a love song conveying unabashed honesty and vulnerability – even though it began life as a child’s plea for respectful truth from elders. Johnsrud credits the quality of Rogers’ writing for smoothing the way on this album. “He’s certainly very underrated as a composer,” she says, adding that the success of these “translations” from kidspeak to adulthood owes to that. “Look And Listen” could have come from pretty much any Frank Loesser musical of the 1950s; Bales instills a New Orleans beat and then adds a terrific solo to boot. On “Find A Star,” Johnsrud’s graceful ease with the lyric reveals a song that would instantly improve the quality of almost any modern Broadway show. (Marlon Patton’s Latin-tinged rhythm and a standout bass solo from Billy Thornton, certainly help.)   “It will be interesting to see which adults are attracted to this, and it’s just refreshing to have his work out there – especially in the current climate. We’d like to introduce his music to a younger audience as well, but largely through parents listening with their children, because these messages can appeal to all generations. We hope, in some small way, to carry on the legacy of Fred Rogers through this recording. Thank you for taking the time to support this endeavor and may it be a beautiful day in your neighborhood.”   Notes KERI JOHNSRUD: A highly appealing jazz singer with a quietly expressive voice and a deep understanding of the lyrics that she interprets, Keri Johnsrud has been an important part of the Chicago jazz scene for the past 15 years. With headlining appearances at Chicago’s top venues including the historic Green Mill Cocktail Lounge and Jazz Showcase, Keri has built a strong reputation and following among peers and fans, alike. While having a solid regional presence, she continues to perform across the country (including regular appearances in Atlanta and New York City) and has enjoyed singing in Iowa before a hometown audience of fans and friends. In addition to finding success with her own group, Johnsrud also lends her voice to the critically acclaimed jazz ensemble Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance. Singing since she was seven years old and born and raised in Iowa alongside professional vocalists, Keri’s plans for the future are as direct and as logical as her music; “I plan to keep singing, writing, teaching and performing as much as possible and want to take the music wherever it needs to go.”   Notes KEVIN BALES: By some measures, Kevin Bales was a latecomer to jazz, already 17 when he encountered the sounds and structures and became captivated by the freedom and corresponding challenges of the music. But if late to the party, he wasted no time in immersing himself in the celebration, declaring total commitment to what would be his life’s work and backing his announcement by resigning his job and designated career in computer programming. Kevin could commit to jazz with a reasonable degree of expectation. He was already an accomplished pianist, with classical chops refined since the age of 10. So accomplished he was invited to audition for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, at age 16. Kevin’s initial career move was to the University of North Florida and a budding if little-known jazz program. There he met and performed with, and went on to record and tour with, a number of monumental artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ben Tucker, Ira Sullivan, Sam Rivers, and Nat Adderley. He counts among his mentors bassist Ben Tucker, multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, guitar legends Nathen Page and Jack Petersen, and the fiercely individual saxophonist Bunky Green. His meeting with Bunky Green led to five years of tours. His encounter with guitarist Nathen Page blossomed into 15 years of spot tours and four albums. And his work with trumpeter extraordinaire Marcus Printup has become a lifetime association that has included recordings on Blue Note/Capital records. Ten years touring and recording with vocal iconoclast Rene Marie culminated in a Grammy Nominated album. Few artists have the patience for teaching – as are few teachers accomplished players. But Kevin has amassed a reputation for his prowess in both professions. While still a senior at North Florida he was drafted into a full teaching load, and continued to be an integral part of the school’s jazz program for upwards of a decade. Today, Kevin manages his own jazz program, overseeing an ambitious schedule of jazz students. Kevin has accumulated a long list of awards and a reputation as one of the finest jazz pianists performing anywhere. In 1994, less than a decade into jazz, he won the American Pianist Association’s Jazz Piano Competition. In addition to nearly every important jazz venue in the South, he has performed in some of the most acclaimed clubs and festivals in America and around the world: the JVC Jazz Festival in New York, The Bakery in Los Angeles, The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center jazz series, the Toronto and Edinburgh jazz festivals, and the Moscow Center for the Performing Arts.

¡¡Amor & Jazz!!

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Vibraphonist Steve Hobbs new CD + Upcoming Live Appearances

Vibraphonist Steve Hobbs Upcoming Live Appearances Feb 23-24 7pm-11pm  The Umstead Hotel Raleigh's premier 5 star hotel no cover 100 Woodland Pond Dr Cary, NC 27513 Steve Hobbs with Drew Lile-guitar and bass March 15 and March 29 The Red Monkey 4325 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, NC (919) 896-7412 Ben Palmer/bass, Todd Proctor/drums, and special guest tba New CD

Steve Hobbs “Tribute to Bobby” (Challenge Catalog CR73433) Street Date: January 5, 2018 Steve Hobbs-Marimba, vibes, Adam Kolker-soprano and tenor saxes, Bill O'Connell-piano, Peter Washington-bass, John Riley-drums, Carol Ingbretsen, Maurice Myers and Marvin Thorne-vocals What The Press Is Saying About Steve Hobbs “Tribute to Bobby” ""I have valued Steve as a colleauge and friend since the day we met in 1993, and for me, Tribute to Bobby, his  lates project, represents his playing and writing at it's very best.  I am very happy to have been a part of it."  Peter Washinton/bassist extraordinaire( Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Art Blakey, Tommy Flannagan and more).  January 2018 "This is a top notch release by one of the very best vibes and marimba players around today, bar none.  Great playing, great musicans, top quality sound and very attractive choice of material.  Highly recommended."  Randy Johnston/guitarist extradonaire (Lionel Hampton, Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Sm "Everything about this issue is first rate."  Larry Hollis, Cadence magazine, January, 2018 "Mcherson."  Grady Harp, Hall of Fame Reviewer, Amazon, January, 2018 "Hobbs does Hutcherson and fans a service on this one."  George Harris, Jazz Weekly, November, 2017 asterful playing, terrific compositions and a fine tribute to Bobby Hut "Smoking Stuff that has all the right vibes, this is a nice solid, mainstram groovers delight.  Hot stuff throughout.  Shris Spector, Midwest Record, October, 2017ith and more).  January,2018 "With Hobbs behind the behind the mallets on Tribute to Bobby, the marimba gets an exhilarating and rejunvenating workout.  Instances of profound eloquence and stunning chops abound.  This is a proper tribute to Hutcherson if there ever was one."  Downbeat Magazines "Editor's Pick" January 2018 by Ed Enright Notes Steve Hobbs: Steve Hobbs is the son of retired professional dancers. He started hand drums at age 7, and trumpet and drumset at 11. He switched from trumpet to vibes at age 17. Hobbs received a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Berklee College of Music in 1978. He received a Master of Music in Jazz Mallet Performance from the University of Miami in 1982. As a vibist, Hobbs has toured with the pop group "Janice," which performed internationally and was featured on the Red Fox Show in 1979. He has also toured with Tom Harrell, Randy Johnston, Art Van Damme and many others. Steve recorded both as a leader and sideman with Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Bob Malach, Bruce Forman, Rufus Reid, Eddie Marshall, John Patitucci, Alan Broadbent, Joe LaBarbera, Victor Lewis, Peter Washington, John Riley, Steve Berrios, Bob Sheppard, Luis Conti, and many more. Steve Hobbs has released seven CD's as a leader, and has been featured over 30 recordings. All five of the CD's released under his name reached the top ten in the US jazz charts and have been released in Europe and Asia. His latest release titled "Steve Hobbs/Spring Cycle," hit number 3 on the jazz charts in June of 2005. It was also nominated for jazz CD of the year by the Jazz Journalists Association of America. In 1998, Steve was listed in the BMG All Music Guide to Jazz as one of the ten most influential jazz vibists in the world during the 1980's and 1990's. He was added to the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz in 2005. Hobbs has been featured on jazz radio across America, the Bob Parlocha Show, Music Choice Cable TV, Jazz After Hours with Jim Wilke, The David Sanborn Show, Downbeat Magazine, Jazziz Magazine, Jazz Times Magazine, Cadence Magazine, The London Observer, The New York Times, All About Jazz Magazine, and many more. Steve endorses Yamaha vibes and Innovative Percussion mallets and has taught master classes at Duke University, Yale University, Cincinnati Conservatory, University of Akron, Cleveland State University, The Cornish Institute, Whittman College, Eastern Washington University, Florida State University, Radford University, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and many more.

¡¡Amor & Jazz!!

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Susan Records Presents Ocean Av, The Haunting Third Album from Singer-Songwriter Emma Frank

Featuring Aaron Parks (Piano), Jim Black (Drummer), Rick Rosato (Bass) and Franky Rousseau (Guitar/Producer) Brooklyn-based record label Susan Records, is proud to announce the February 16th, 2018 release of singer-songwriter Emma Frank’s third studio album, Ocean Av. Emotionally honest and raw, Ocean Av confronts both the calm and the chaotic points of life that lead to new paths of self-discovery. Emma will be presenting Ocean Av on February 18th at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC.  On this 10-track collection of heartfelt original compositions, Frank is joined by widely-acclaimed pianist Aaron Parks, with whom Frank workshopped Ocean Av for over a year. “I’ve never felt as musically supported as I do with Aaron, or felt so much trust sharing my songs and shaping them with him,” says Frank. Joining Parks is drummer Jim Black, bassist Rick Rosato and guitarist FrankyRousseau with guest appearances by trumpeter Simon Millerd and PedroBarquinha on electronics. Written over a two year period, Ocean Av tells a journey of self-discovery prompted by a move from Montreal, where Frank had established herself as a prominent figure on the music scene during a fruitful ten-year period, to Brooklyn, New York.   “I didn’t know where I was going to end up, or what I needed to do, I just didn’t feel at home in my life anymore,” she explains. These feelings poured into one of Ocean Av’s most beautifully emotive offerings, “Good Morning, Good Night”. Within a month of penning the track, Frank made her stateside move. This life-change serves as the backdrop for much of Ocean Av, which takes it’s name from the border between Frank’s new neighborhood of Lefferts Garden and Prospect Park. Standout tracks include the rhodes-heavy first single “Best Friend,” an anthem for independence and self-reliance, and the stunning “One With”, where Parks’ harmonic chops shine. Perhaps the most addictive track on the record, “Enough,” chronicles Frank’s struggles to make art in New York City while spending so much of her time waitressing.  “I was reminding myself not only that there are no guarantees when it comes to following your dreams, but also that we have to keep following them anyway, and finding the reasons to do so - like community and a need to create,” she says.  Ocean Av serves as the follow up to Frank’s critically acclaimed 2015 release The People We’re Becoming which helped solidify Frank’s status as one the most sought after vocalists on the Montreal music scene after she emerged in 2014 with her debut For Being Apart. Her warm, gossamer voice, aptly described by award-winning Canadian songwriter Leif Vollebekk as  “leather on silk” has brought her to stages of the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival, Pop Montreal, and NXNE, among others. With the help of her A-list backing musicians, Frank has created an outstanding work that showcases intricate arrangements, confessional, beautifully honest lyrics and her beguiling vocals.

¡¡Amor & Jazz!!

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Pianist & Composer Rob Clearfield To Release Solo Piano Album Wherever You’re Starting From on Woolgathering Records

Due Out February 26th, 2018

Woolgathering Records is proud to announce the February 26, 2018 release of Wherever You’re Starting From, the fourth album by imaginative and innovative pianist Rob Clearfield. Wherever You’re Starting From is available for pre-order now on www.woolgatheringrecords.com. On the Chicago native’s second solo piano endeavor, Clearfield explores his fascination for a compositional approach to improvisation, which is highlighted through the albums distinct and dynamic sonic landscape. “My hope is that some of the music sounds through-composed, some sounds like simple songs, and all of it sounds spontaneous.” Clearfield’s compositions have been strongly influenced by his friend and colleague Makaya McCraven, the great Chicago-based drummer whose 2015 double LP In The Moment (International Anthem) is comprised of excerpts from live improvised performances. While touring together, Clearfield and Makaya had an in-depth discussion about an intriguing and innovative new approach to composing; improvising complete pieces by focusing more on individual moments. “If a beginning or ending is slow to arrive, but a fully-formed spontaneous idea is captured in the middle, it's a success!” This new idea gave way to a renewed sense of freedom, both in the studio and during the editing process by allowing Clearfield to develop a strong ear for the elements of a piece that worked, and to then utilise, edit and produce them to a high standard, regardless of the other parts that didn’t make the cut. As a result, two tracks off the album begin with a fade-in, and one ends with a fade-out, highlighting short pieces which were originally inside larger pieces. The prologue and epilogue of the album were also chosen with this unique improvisational production approach at the forefront. Clearfield introduces and closes Wherever You're Starting From with two takes of the same song. Clearfield’s progressive and virtuosic compositional skill is rooted in both classical and jazz influences. Since the release of his debut album A Thousand Words in 2009, the established composer spent a considerable amount of time studying the canon of classical piano music, particularly the romantics (Brahms, Chopin, Rachmoninoff) and the impressionists (Ravel, Debussy). “Their influence, particularly in regards to the textural palette of the piano, is at the forefront of the sound of this record.” This 12-track opus includes two freshly interpreted tracks by two of Clearfield’s musical heroes: Johannes Brahms and John Coltrane. The inclusion of their music in this project represents the varied musical traditions Clearfield has spent his life studying: classical and jazz, composition and improvisation, solo piano and group playing, European music and Black-American music. While the Brahms piece is played in a straightforward manner, sans improvisation, Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” is only faintly recognizable at first; the melody doesn't enter for several minutes, and the rhythm is stripped away almost completely. Called “…one of [Chicago’s] most enjoyably unpredictable players” by Neil Tesser, Clearfield has taken part in a number of highly creative and genre-bending releases since his emergence on the scene over a decade ago. They including several releases with Matt Ulery (including 2016’s Festival, with Ulery’s Loom/Large, 2014’s In The Ivory, and 2006’s Music Box Ballerina, to name just a few), as well as with Dan Bruce (2017’s Earthshine), Adam Larson (last year’s Second City), and Jon Deitemyer (2016’s Tall Tales), among others. Clearfield’s previous releases include Islands (2016) on ears&eyes Records, The Long And Short of It (2013), a collaborative EP with Bethany Hamilton The Beauty That We Live In (2010)  and his debut A Thousand Words (2009). With each of his musical endeavours, Clearfield has always strived to be as expressive and as personal as possible. However, Wherever You’re Starting From represents a new level of vulnerability and exposure, that until now, Clearfield had not yet experienced with any past venture.   “Ultimately, I came to view this work as an autobiography of sorts. My trio and quintet records are like works of fiction, creating new worlds and characters in my own image. This, on the other hand, is more of a documentary. What you're hearing is who I am, nothing more and nothing less.” In anticipation of the February release, Clearfield is delighted to announce a mid-west Spring tour. Sun. Feb 25 Grand Rapids, MI Heritage Hausmusik 5:00 Mon. Feb 26 Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo Piano Company 7:00 Wed. Feb 28 South Bend, IN Merriman's Playhouse 8:00 Thurs. Mar 1st Fort Wayne, IN University of Saint Francis 7:00 Fri. Mar 2nd Willis, MI Willis Sound 7:00 Sat. Mar 3rd Chicago IL Constellation 8:30

¡¡Amor & Jazz!!

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Award-winning vocalist Kathy Kosins Announces the Release of Her New Album “Uncovered Soul”

ASCAP award-winning vocalist Kathy Kosins, who has won the hearts of critics and fans around the globe with her eclectic musical palette that expands the rich history of Jazz and Soul, is thrilled to announce the February 9th release of her sixth album, “Uncovered Soul”. The album, which will be released on Maristar features a melting pot of accomplished and renowned musicians, including pianist and organist Mitch Forman, bassist Kevin Axt, drummer Eric Harland, pianist and saxophonist Kamau Kenyatta, guitarist Gregory “G-MO” Moore, trumpeter Curtis Taylor, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, vocalist Darryl Johnson, multi-instrumentalists Paul Randolph and Ed Motta, keyboardist and trumpeter Amp Fiddler, percussionist Mike Racette and pianist Glauton Campello. This soul-infused project, recorded at Big City Recording, California and Nester Studios, Michigan, showcases Kosins’ signature smoky voice in prime form and takes listeners on a dynamic musical journey through the sonic landscape of her native Detroit through the 1960’s and 1970’s. Born and raised during the legendary Motown years in Detroit, Kathy Kosins’ soulful voice, flawless phrasing and deep-rooted passion for stories and characters has been wowing audiences since she first came to prominence in the late 1980’s as a background singer for Don Was and Was/Not Was. Over two decades and five albums later, Kosins has circled back to her soul-infused roots with this new project. Produced by Kamau Kenyatta, the Grammy-winning producer behind Gregory Porter’s last two albums, “Uncovered Soul” features little-known masterpieces by Curtis Mayfield, The Neville Brothers, and Bill Withers, among others, alongside four originals penned by Kosins and collaborators. With Kamau at her side, Kosins let’s her soul and groove run free. Representative of  the musical landscape of 1970s Detroit, “Uncovered Soul” masterfully transports the unique Detroit-centric sound into the here and now. Songs like the Denise Nichols-penned "Can We Pretend", recorded by Bill Withers in the 1970s, sound as fresh and rejuvenated as a current soul gem and "Miss Martha", one of the very last songs Curtis Mayfield recorded before his untimely death, is truly a piece of gold. It is no wonder that Kenyatta raves about the songs: "It is my hope that the beauty and accessibility of the arrangements and the vocal and musical performances transmit this feeling to listeners globally.” The heartbreaking Paul Buchanan-penned ballad “The Downtown Lights” is given a new, eerily beautiful life on “Uncovered Soul” while  sagging swamp groove of "Voodoo" (The Neville Brothers) identifies Kathy's session background. "Dreamin" by Amos Lee showcases her excellent, candid taste. Three of Kosins’ original compositions have been added to “Uncovered Soul” to provide a contemporary point of view and they are co-written with hit songwriter Jeff Franzel. The gems include the magical title song with its irresistible hook, as well as "If Love Could Talk" and "A To B", which are destined to become future soul classics. Kosins contributions to the contemporary music scene cannot be overstated. In 1996, Kosins collaborated with both LA and New York based writers and composed a collection of jazz tunes, with the intent of selling them to already recognized jazz artists such as Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson and Diane Schuur. However, Michigan-based indie label Schoolkids Records discovered this repertoire, and, impressed and mesmerized by Kosins’ soulful voice urged her to record and release the material under her own name. It was then that Kosins’ prolific jazz career began to take shape. In 1996, Kosins debut, “All In A Dreams Work” was released and placed in the top 20 in the Gavin Report. Kosins went on to release more critically acclaimed recordings including 2002’s “Mood Swings” (Chiaroscuro Records), 2006’s “Vintage” (Mahogany Jazz), 2012’s “To The Ladies Of Cool” (Resonance) and 2013’s “The Space Between” (Mahogany Jazz). With her jazz repertoire always enhanced by her soulful vocal performance, “Uncovered Soul” is the natural next step in Kosins’ prolific career.

¡¡Amor & Jazz!!

www.kathykosins.com

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Pittsburgh Jazz Film: We Knew What We Had: The Greatest Jazz Story Never Told!!

MCG Jazz is pleased to present: We Knew What We Had:  The Greatest Jazz Story Never Told documentary film features the talents of international Jazz Masters George Benson, Ahmad Jamal, Stanley Turrentine, Billy Eckstine, Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Billy Strayhorn and Mary Lou Williams – all Pittsburghers – and explores the social conditions and historical events that conspired to make Pittsburgh one of the leading contributors to the legacy of Jazz music in the world. The one-hour film is packed with compelling interviews, historical photographs and over 20 live performance clips of the Jazz Masters. The film is being distributed by American Public Television and can be seen on PBS stations throughout the United States beginning February 1st.  Please check your local listings for show times.  If you don’t see a local air date please contact your local PBS affiliate to request the film. If your market carries www.worldchannel.org the film will air on February 6th and 7th with multiple showtimes. Watch the teaser here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uecy2BPTnY Visit MCG Jazz for more information about the film: www.mcgjazz.org Join us on Facebook to discuss the film: @WeKnewWhatWeHad

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Joanna Wallfisch's Fourth Album Blood & Bone is Now Available!

"Runaway Child" Joanna Wallfisch's Fourth Album Blood & Bone is Now Available!

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Joanna Wallfisch is proud to announce today's release of her highly-anticipated fourth album Blood & Bone. Her most adventurous and transparent album to date, Wallfisch shares an intimate journey from heartbreak to healing over the course of fourteen original compositions that tell an inspiring and affecting story of love and adventure. Blood & Bone presents Wallfisch more at home musically than she has ever been with her genre-blending jazz, classical and folk influences giving way to a lush new sound that is uniquely her own. Wallfisch’s vocals and ukulele are complemented by a stellar band featuring pianist Jesse Elder, bassist PabloMenares, guitarist Elias Meister, drummer Kenneth Salters, banjoist JaredEngel, trumpeter Wayne Tucker and also The Solar String Quartet. Blood & Bone presents an intimate and personal portrait of the songwriter the New York Times has called “introspective, sensitive, and deep” as it draws on several life changing experiences. During the Summer of 2016, Wallfisch embarked on a monumental endeavor that would make even the most avid adventurer blush: a coastal concert tour from Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles by bicycle. Armed with just her ukulele and loop pedals, Wallfisch powered through over ten cities in a month. Much of Wallfisch’s bike tour is chronicled in “Road Trip”- the album’s second offering which presents a true life collage of her experiences. This unique experience fueled some of Blood & Bone’s standout moments including the first track entitled “The Ship”. The stage is set for Blood & Bone as she sings: “...out of the splinter’s of my broken heart I built this ship to sail into a bright new start, with lessons learned, some bridges burned, and a tail wind in my heart.” Wallfisch’s vulnerability and transparency is admirably on display on “Anymore”, a heartbreaking reflection of a love lost, on "Summer Solstice", which displays her beautiful string quartet arranging as she reflects on love past, and on “Solitude In A Song” which speaks to the joy and solace found through music. The centerpiece of the album is “Bo Ba Bo”. Just made up sounds, but “Bo Ba Bo” is Wallfisch’s mantra for keeping a perspective on life. “Bo Ba Bo” was written in February 2016 just before Wallfisch was due to travel to Mumbai, India to volunteer as a choir director with Songbound, a charity that focuses on bringing music education to some of the poorest children in India. In Mumbai, Wallfisch found that the wordless, playful shape of the chorus was a hit with the 200+ children she was working with. “These children were from extreme backgrounds. Some were children of prostitutes, some were mentally and physically abused since birth and some were very sick in the cancer unit and others lived in conditions you could barely imagine,” said Wallfisch, however, the music was their solace. “During the choir lessons everything fell away. The music was their joy, their peace, their life… I have never experienced music in such a powerful way,” she added. “Bo Ba Bo”, featuring the voices of the children of the Songbound Choir of Mumbai, is a spellbinding and prolific testament to the power of music.   Blood & Bone closes with the beautiful title track which circles back to the album’s opener “The Ship.” The poetic chorus, sang with her signature multi-layering vocal technique, “this ship has sails made of blood and bone, and it knows the way home” refers to oneself being the ship and “no matter what kind of storm you might be in you have the strength inside to navigate your to shore,” she says. This final track showcases Wallfisch’s stunning versatility as she accompanies her voice with ukulele, flute and piano. Notes of JOANNA WALLFISCH: London born, LA/NYC based vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Joanna Wallfisch has emerged as a unique voice in the singer-songwriter world. With a classical and jazz infused background, her music combines post-folk and art-song with a poetic lyricism which The New York Times described as "sensitive and deep”. She is a master in the art of live vocal looping and creates beguiling vocal soundscapes to accompany her songs. The Telegraph called her virtuosic performance as "sublime and unique". Since 2011 Wallfisch has released three critically acclaimed albums. Gardens In My Mind, (Sunnyside, 2016), features pianist Dan Tepfer and the award-winning Sacconi Quartet, showcasing Joanna’s “crystalline delivery” (Downbeat) and lush string quartet writing. Downbeat gave this album four stars, calling it "an exquisite singer-songwriter album”, while PopMatters called it “a truly beautiful listen from start to finish”. She has worked with a litany of musical greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Fred Hersch, Lee Konitz, Joe Martin, Sam Newsome, and Dan Tepfer, with whom she’s recorded two critically acclaimed projects including 2015’s The Origin of Adjustable Things. Joanna is endorsed by Kala Brand ukulele, and plays their cedar top baritone, long neck soprano and -Bass. She also uses an RCBoss 30 loop pedal. ¡¡Amor & Jazz!! www.joanna-wallfisch.com www.lydialiebman.com       lydia@lydialiebmanpromotions.com www.jazzglobalbeat.blogspot.com   jazzglobalbeat@gmail.com