Friday, November 11, 2011

SOJOURN MUSIC RELEASE HOLIDAY INSPIRED SONGS “A CHILD IS BORN” SET FOR RELEASE ON NOV 22, 2011




Christmas at Sojourn has always been a unique thing. From the first year in the life of the church, Sojourn have been fascinated by the more gritty side of the Christmas story. The church fathers chose the darkest time of the year to celebrate the dawning of the Light of Lights in the birth of Christ, the entrance of hope into darkness.
The Christmas story itself is one of contrasts – God as a baby. A king in a manger. His birth was welcomed not by crowds and royalty, but by outcasts and foreigners. Because the Christmas story is ultimately a story of hope for the hopeless, healing for the broken, and light in the darkness.

Sojourn Church has sought for many years to capture that emotion in their Christmas music. There’s a place for joy, a necessary and central place for celebration, but that joy and celebration has its most weight when seen in the context of the suffering and longing from which it emerges. So Christmas music at Sojourn has always had a dark edge, a sense of tension and angst, which points us to the darkness of our own hearts that longs for the light of Christ.

This new CD recording, titled “A Child Is Born,” is birthed almost directly out of Sojourn Church’s Christmas worship services. The members of Sojourn recorded this new list of tracks at home, so to speak, at the 930 Arts Center (our Midtown campus) and at Eddy Morris’s, Sojourn’s Production Director and at Ear Candy studios, where Sojourn also recorded the albums, “Before the Throne” and “These Things I Remember.” Sojourn’s own pastor, Mike Cosper, states, “It’s an indie rock record, recorded the indie rock way, piecing together what we could to give fans and music lovers this homemade gift. It’s not perfect, but most home-made things aren’t.”

Sojourn Church also reached out to some friends and borrowed their songs for the making of “A Child Is Born,” including Bifrost Arts’ “Joy Joy,” a song based on a very old melody that perfectly captures that tense, advent joy. They also recorded Bill Mallonee’s “Knocking at Your Door”, a song we sing every Advent season whose gritty and earthy words bring the season home. In addition is Sandra McCracken’s “This is the Christ” a text McCracken reworked from Martin Luther, and was an instant favorite for Sojourn during last year’s holiday sermons.

In addition, Sojourn Church has a number of originals and traditional songs, including a punk-rock inspired “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” the grittiest version of “Go Tell it On the Mountain,” anyone will ever hear and ambient pop versions of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and “Silent Night,” a John Newton text reworked by Brooks Ritter (“Oh Glorious Hour”) and an ancient anonymous text reworked by Jamie Barnes (“A Voice is Sounding”).

Thursday, October 20, 2011

JULES VERNE FESTIVAL HONORS ICONIC FILM LEGEND JOHN WAYNE IN HOLLYWOOD AT THE CINERAMA DOME


THE JOHN WAYNE TRIBUTE EVENT
Thursday, November 10, 2011 @ 7pm
Cinerama Dome at the Arclight Hollywood
6360 W. Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028



Jules Verne Festival creators and film producers Jean-Christophe Jeauffre and Frédéric Dieudonné will dedicate the 2011 Jules Verne “Legendaire” Award annual presentation to the iconic screen adventurer JOHN WAYNE (www.julesverne.org) on November 10, 2011 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood CA and host a special screening of the classic film, “True Grit.”

A celebrity event evening will welcome Patrick Wayne and Ethan Wayne to accept the award on their father’s behalf. Special celebrity guests include actress and costar Kim Darby who starred as Mattie Ross in the John Wayne classic, “True Grit,” and legendary harmonica player Tommy Morgan (Rio Bravo, The Cowboys, Dances with Wolves) among other special guests for this special evening. The guests will be treated with an exclusive filmed interview by Glen Campbell for this special tribute to John Wayne.

The red carpet award show will be followed with a special presentation of John Wayne’s timeless classic movie, “True Grit,” the film that won him an Oscar Award in 1969.
The profits from the annual Jules Verne Award Charity Event will benefit the children of Los Angeles through the JVF Nature & Education year-round program.

The Jules Verne Festival was created in Paris in 1992 and is dedicated to the spirit of Adventure and of Conservation through Entertainment. This heartfelt and unusual event has been celebrating legendary movies and artists for 20 years in Paris and Los Angeles.

The Jules Verne Award was created in 1992 and was historically presented to accredited actors and actresses and movies symbolizing the spirit of Jules Verne. Some of these classic films include Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Empire Strikes Back, Up!, Star Trek Begins among others. Prior hosted honorees include James Cameron, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Tony Curtis, Roy E. Disney, Omar Sharif, Jacques Cousteau, Jane Goodall and Buzz Aldrin.

John Wayne (1907-1979) was an American actor, director and producer and regarded as a Classic American Legend. Wayne has played the lead in 142 of his film appearances (1926-1976) and is best known for his roles in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Quiet Man, The Searchers, Rio Bravo and True Grit. He is the only actor that appears every year on Harris Poll's list of America's Top 10 favorite actors since 1994.

The special one night screening of 1969’s True Grit stars John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper. This Paramount Picture Film was directed by Henry Hathaway and music score by Elmer Bernstein. This years’ Jules Verne Festival is being sponsored by Land Rover.

NOV 10 @ 7pm - General admission: $25 / VIP tickets: $45
INFO & TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WWW.JULESVERNE.ORG

Thursday, October 13, 2011

ETHEREAL VOICED SINGER, SONGWRITER AND PIANIST SHAUNA BURNS PUTS A COMPELLING FOLK-ROCK CELTIC TWIST ON SEASONAL FAVORITES WITH HER NEW RELEASE, “A W



One of the most dynamic and critically acclaimed multi-talents on today’s indie music scene, singer songwriter Shauna Burns continues on a spiritually driven musical adventure that blossomed on her breakthrough 2008 recording The Moon and The Fire Circle and continued on 2009’s Anamnesis EP.

Inviting longtime fans and newcomers alike to celebrate the holiday season, Burns describes her latest musical venture, the Celtic flavored A Winter Gathering, as a new journey for her—a collection of newfangled carols and original songs performed by her with her husband, drummer James Clark (who also co-produces) and guest performers Caroline Kemper (Celtic harp), Rick Kemper (Uilleann pipes & pennywhistle), Lindsey Springer (cello), Ryan Whyte Maloney (guitar, backing vocals) and a five piece vocal choir.

Bringing unique new elements and sounds to her trademark style, Burns offers new twists to classic songs like “Carol of the Bells,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Silent Night” and includes three short original “breath point” pieces she calls “Songscapes.” She includes “White Christmas” as a tribute to her mother Joyce (who always played and sang it at holiday times when Burns was growing up) and also a compelling rendition of Clark’s favorite song “What A Wonderful World.”

The singer describes the concept this way: “Winter Star,” the first “songscape,” is the star in the East that the shepherds see in “The First Noel”; Burns sings Gaelic words that speak about this bright new presence. The star travels through the other songs starting with “Carol of the Bells,” descends to earth in “White Christmas” through fire and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” through desert. “Luma,” the second songscape, is loosely based on “Ave Maria” and represents the “light” breath. Silent Night” holds the grounding axis of the album with its everlasting melody and frequency. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” holds the place of the strong anchor.

“The Gathering,” the third songscape, “gathers” the songs, family and friends near and leads the listener into “What a Wonderful World,” the resolution. Speaking whimsically, Burns considers the instrumental versions of “Carol of the Bells” and “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” as the end as “little cherries on top.”

The Las Vegas based singer’s blend of ethereal vocals and sweeping piano and percussion driven atmospheres launched her early singles “Pink Girl” and “Petunia” to major success in the Triple AAA radio format. “Pink Girl” was also chosen as the #1 indie single from the MAACP Radio show. Burns’ debut album Every Thought, which Smother.net declared “a newfangled fusion that will ignite a spark that will be hard to replicate,” was also selected as one of the Top CDs of 2005 by Collected Sounds, a popular taste making website celebrating independent musicians. It was chosen for “Best of the Batch” from the Music Industry News Network and featured on TowerPod.com, Indie-Music.com, Billboard, VH1, Artist Direct, AOL Music and Fox TV, among other outlets.
The Moon and the Fire Circle, a richly thematic and ultimately healing work that offered an emotional bridge between darkness and light, met with similar success. Its first single “Around You” reached #7 on the FMQB AC Chart, was one of WCH Radio’s “Top Songs for 2008” and hit #1 on “Song Vault Radio.” The collection was selected “Best of 2008” by Collected Sounds and The Promise Live. Radio Crystal Blue also chose Burns as one of the “Top Recording Artists of the Year 2008.” Conceived as an extension of the music on The Moon and the Fire Circle, Burns’ follow-up five track EP Anamnesis included songs that relate in some way to each of the five senses (including “Smell”).

Over the past few years, Burns has enchanted audiences at clubs and Borders Stores across the U.S. and in the U.K. (where she toured early in 2007) with songs from her debut and its follow-up five song EP Desert Tune, which featured songs that overflowed from the first album’s sessions. Her first tour in support of her debut was 40 dates and she embarked on a subsequent jaunt of 20 dates from coast to coast during the summer and fall of 2007. The success of The Moon and the Fire Circle—and its vibe of folk rock with Celtic influences--opened up exciting new opportunities on the festival circuit. She has performed at Renaissance Fairs in Utah and Texas; the Phoenix Faerie Festival; Green Girl Music and Arts Festival in Las Vegas; Celtic Festival in Texas; and Medieval Mayhem in Show Low, Arizona.

Shauna Burns on the web:
Official Artist Website: http://www.shaunaburns.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shaunaburnsmusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/shaunaburns
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/shaunaburns

TOBY KEITH DECLARES NATIONAL MEZCAL DAY OCT. 21

Countdown Clock, Drink Specials, Contest, Recipes & More Planned
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Toby Keith recently topped the charts again ... with his signature spirit Wild Shot, which was named the No. 1 premium mezcal in the U.S. So it's no coincidence that Wild Shot is leading the charge for National Mezcal Day, planned for Oct. 21, which just happens to be the Friday prior to his upcoming album release.
The campaign includes a countdown clock posted at www.wildshot.com, and it's all leading up to a big Friday of special drinks, promotions and fun. For those fans who really get into the spirit (pun intended), a contest is offering autographed copies of the new disc, Clancy's Tavern, to the most active Wild Shot Facebook and Twitter contributors. The effort is underway now through Oct. 22.
As for the big day itself, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill restaurants will offer Wild Shot drink specials (Boston excluded because of local ordinance). Many of those beverages are likely to be the Blue Mezcalita, which is the most popular Wild Shot drink offered at Keith's establishments.
More than a few Wild Shot purchasers want to know how the man whose name is on the label takes his mezcal. The answer: Straight from the freezer as Wild Shot takes on a syrupy texture that makes it great for sipping. And, as you'd expect from drinks distilled in different ways from the agave plant, Wild Shot is an excellent substitute in any cocktail that calls for tequila.
While many-a-glass will be raised on National Mezcal Day, you can bet a few toasts will be thrown out the following Monday, too, as Clancy's Tavern hits stores around the world Oct. 24. The collection's first single, "Made In America," recently hit No. 1 on all the major charts and has become one of the fastest rising releases of his career. Keith's international tour in support of the album release kicks off in late October.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

JOURNEY’S GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 SPANS HIT SINGLES, ALBUM TRACKS AND RARITIES FROM 1978 TO 1996


Journey’s Enduring Appeal Is Affirmed Everywhere From Rock Band
To The Sopranos, from Broadway’s Rock Of Ages to Television’s Glee

CD and gatefold double 180-gram virgin vinyl edition of GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 – AND gatefold double 180-gram virgin vinyl edition of original GREATEST HITS – available everywhere starting November 1, 2011



GREATEST HITS VOL. 2, a brand-new collection of original recordings by the mega-platinum band Journey will be available as a single CD, digital download, and special gatefold double-vinyl edition (which includes a code for a free digital download of the vinyl remastered album), available starting November 1, 2011. This new package from Columbia/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, spans singles and album tracks recorded between 1978 and 1996.

Journey’s original Greatest Hits collection is one of the top-selling American rock albums of all time with worldwide sales in excess of 25 million. In conjunction with the double-LP version of GREATEST HITS VOL. 2, the original Greatest Hits will also be issued as a gatefold double-vinyl edition on the same date, November 1 (which also includes a code for a free digital download of the vinyl remastered album).

Journey, founded by guitar virtuoso Neal Schon in 1973, has achieved iconic pop culture status that has earned the band cumulative sales of more than 62 million albums, singles, and digital tracks in the U.S. alone. Their enduring appeal is affirmed everywhere from Rock Band to Tony Soprano’s musical daydreams on HBO’s The Sopranos, from Broadway’s Rock Of Ages to FOX’s Family Guy. Most notably, the cast of Glee celebrated Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” on the series premiere episode of 2009. The kids later paid homage with three songs on 2010’s Journey to Regionals (“Faithfully,” the medley of “Any Way You Want It / Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin’,” and the new Regionals version of “Don’t Stop Believin’”).

When asked about his experience in the remastering back to vinyl of the original recordings of the Journey Greatest Hits and the new GREATEST HITS VOL. 2, Steve Perry replied, “I truly forgot how sonically exciting and just plain better these Journey tracks sound back where they originally lived…on Vinyl. The stereo separation, the center imaging and the sonic depth of the tracks themselves is more true to what we all loved about these original final mixes. All the instruments and voices, to me personally, sound so damn good that all I want to do is reach for the volume and turn it up!”

“I’m very excited to be releasing this compilation,” said Neal Schon. “Many of these songs were written in our earlier days by Steve Perry and myself, and hearing them again brings back great memories. “Little Girl” has an extra special meaning for me because it’s one of the songs my father, who worked with us for many years, worked on with us. All our songs have stood the test of time, and I hope our fans will enjoy this collection.”
Jonathan Cain added, “Escape was my first album with Journey in 1981 and I never looked back. A lot of the songs in those days were in pieces -- like a puzzle to figure out. The connection we had was magic - and like a Super Bowl team - we always found a way to get it right."

Covering 18 central years in the Journey saga, GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 includes tracks from the band’s fourth album, Infinity (1978), produced by Roy Thomas Baker, which marked the entry of Steve Perry’s distinctive lead vocals into the lineup (“Feeling That Way,” “Anytime,” “Patiently”).

Their next album, Evolution (1979) was also produced by Baker and features “Just The Same Way”. Departure (1980) was the first of seven consecutive studio albums by Journey to reach the Top 10, and platinum or multi-platinum, over the next 16 years (“Walks Like A Lady,” “Good Morning Girl,” “Stay Awhile”).

One of the cornerstone bands in radio’s new Album Rock format, Journey’s popularity was so overwhelming that they were able to release a single from their double-LP concert set, Captured (1981). “The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love)” broke inside the Top 40, and was the #2 song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

Journey’s hold on the charts continued with Escape (1981), the band’s first #1 album. Escape spent nearly three years on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and produced four hit singles - “Who’s Crying Now,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms” (all on Greatest Hits) and “Still They Ride” along with the rock staples, “Stone In Love,” “Mother, Father” and the title track “Escape” (all on GREATEST HITS VOL. 2).

Escape was produced by Mike Stone (Queen, Kiss, America and others) and Kevin Elson, who went on to produce the next album, Frontiers (1983). Frontiers (“After The Fall,” “Chain Reaction”) debuted the week before Michael Jackson’s Thriller hit #1 – thus the LP had the distinction of being one of many albums to occupy the #2 spot (for nine weeks) during Thriller’s reign at the top.

Raised On Radio was released in 1986, featuring an assortment of top studio musicians including noted jazz-funk-R&B bassist Randy Jackson (of American Idol) who went on to tour with Journey through 1987. Raised On Radio was another double-platinum album for Journey, spending 67 weeks on the album chart, and spinning off the Top 20 hit “Suzanne.”
In 1992, Journey became one of the first American rock bands to release a deluxe multi-CD box set, Time3. Comprised mostly of hit singles and key album tracks from the band’s first dozen albums, Time3 also contained a number of previously unreleased tracks and rarities. Among these was “Little Girl,” from the original motion picture soundtrack of Dream After Dream, an obscure foreign film whose entire score was performed by Journey, issued on Columbia in 1980.

A Journey reunion took place in the ’90s, and the recording of Trial By Fire (1996) was the result, with Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory, and Steve Smith all on-board for their first album together since Frontiers. Featuring “When I Think Of You,” Trial By Fire rose to #3 and continued Journey’s platinum streak.
GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 wraps up with a live concert version of “Mother, Father” - a highlight of Live In Houston 1981 - Escape Tour, a Columbia/Legacy archive release in 2005 which featured both video and audio versions of the same 75-minute program.
As Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild wrote, “Whether on the radio or on some stage, these well-built tunes remain sturdy crowd pleasers to this very day, in their second century of airplay. Some DJ is playing a Journey song somewhere right now and many more are out there singing along – you can bet on it.”


GREATEST HITS VOL. 2 by JOURNEY (Columbia/Legacy 88697 77986 2)
Selections:
1. Stone In Love
• 2. After The Fall
• 3. Chain Reaction
• 4. The Party's Over (Hopelessly In Love)
• 5. Escape
• 6. Still They Ride
• 7. Good Morning Girl
• 8. Stay Awhile
• 9. Suzanne
• 10. Feeling That Way
• 11. Anytime
• 12. Walks Like A Lady
• 13. Little Girl
• 14. Just The Same Way
• 15. Patiently
• 16. When I Think Of You
• 17. Mother, Father (Live In Houston, 1981).


Greatest Hits Vol. 2 vinyl and CD meticulously remastered to vinyl by Robert Hadley and Steve Perry at The Mastering Lab in Ojai, CA.

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 vinyl meticulously remastered to vinyl by Doug Sax, Robert Hadley and Steve Perry at The Mastering Lab in Ojai, CA.

Friday, September 23, 2011

LEGACY RECORDINGS AND POPMARKET.COM KICKSTART HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING WITH THE NEW LINEUP OF THE COMPLETE ALBUMS COLLECTIONS



NEWLY CREATED BOXED SETS OF ORIGINAL ALBUMS BY
ELO, EARTH, WIND & FIRE, DEXTER GORDON,
NINA SIMONE, CHEAP TRICK AND MORE
ALL AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT POPMARKET.COM
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 13

* * * * *

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is giving music fans early inspiration for the holiday shopping season this year, announcing a great assortment of iconic jazz, pop, rock, blues and soul artists to be showcased in the next round of The Complete Albums Collections, a new product line for serious listeners offering new releases throughout the year available exclusively through PopMarket.com. Newly designed box sets containing the original album catalogs of Sony Music Artists have been created especially for The Complete Albums Collections line and will be available starting September 13, just in time for the 2011 holiday season. The diverse lineup of artists being featured includes: ELO, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dexter Gordon, Woody Shaw, Nina Simone, Paul Desmond, Leonard Cohen, Wynton Marsalis, Billie Holiday, Judas Priest, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Harry Nilsson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather report and Taj Mahal.

Each of the sets offers music fans and collectors the chance to own complete official discographies of classic albums on CD (with many out of print and rare titles finally available). Individual discs come sleeved in 5x5 mini-jacket reproductions of the original album cover art alongside a stand-alone booklet with discographic information and photos, all housed in a beautifully packaged clamshell box. The Complete Albums Collections will showcase a diverse selection of iconic artists each month, offering fans and collectors a rare opportunity to own complete classic discographies on CD (with bonus tracks and rarities).

The Complete Albums Collections are available exclusively on PopMarket.com, the first online daily deals site created for music fans by Sony Music Entertainment. PopMarket offers the hottest daily deals on premium music, rare collectible albums, boxed sets and memorabilia. Free PopMarket.com membership gives music fans unprecedented access to hot deals on the coolest music.


* * * * *


SEPTEMBER 13 - ELO — The Classic Albums Collection $79.99 England's Electric Light Orchestra, better known to its fans as ELO, went from cult status to arena-level superstardom in the 1970s, evolving from eclectic classically-influenced prog-rockers to state-of-the-art hitmakers. At the peak of their popularity, they were one of the world's biggest-selling recording acts, and also one of the most unusual. Combining rock instrumentation with a full string section, ELO couldn't help but stand out, both musically and visually. Each album features rare bonus tracks, including numerous alternate versions and unreleased tracks, and includes such enduring ELO hits as "Can't Get It Out of My Head," "Evil Woman," "Telephone Line," "Livin' Thing," "Sweet Talkin' Woman," "Mr. Blue Sky," "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Hold on Tight."

SEPTEMBER 13 - EARTH, WIND & FIRE — The Columbia Masters (15 CDs) $119.99
15 newly mastered CD encompassing their astonishing recording career on Columbia Records plus a bonus disc of rarities, instrumentals and unreleased tracks supervised by EW&F’s founder and spiritual guide Maurice White. Earth, Wind & Fire's horn-powered hit machine represents the best in pop melodies, harmonizing voices, funky syncopation and rhythms of the world. The set includes:15 of the band's classic albums, newly mastered for superior sound, original LP jackets, meticulously reproduced, a 40-page booklet with photos and commentary by Maurice White. The Columbia Masters also features a newly compiled bonus disk with two unreleased tracks from the Touch the World sessions, two scintillating live performances ("Getaway" and "In the Stone") recorded in Rio de Janeiro in 1980 and rare instrumental versions of "Let's Groove" and "Boogie Wonderland" (with The Emotions).

SEPTEMBER 13 - The Complete Dexter Gordon Columbia Albums Collection (7 CDs) $55.99
“There are no second acts in American lives” wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald, a man who never would have put those words to paper had he lived to see Dexter Gordon’s triumphant late career revival. Actually, the great tenor saxophonist had a number of “second acts” during his lifetime. Yet the late 1980’s flourish that found Gordon (1923-1990) an international star and an Oscar nominee could hardly be topped for a dramatic finale. With a remarkable career spanning over five decades, Gordon may have come of age in the Swing Era, but he made his mark during the subsequent rise of bebop, translating Charlie Parker’s revolutionary rhythmic and harmonic language to the tenor saxophone. In 1976, Gordon was signed by Columbia Records following several years in Europe, who documented him on the celebratory Homecoming: Live At The Village Vanguard. Gordon’s ultra hip manner and regal bearing made him a natural for films, and in 1986, he starred in Round Midnight in a role loosely based on both Bud Powell and Lester Young, ultimately garnering a deserving Academy Award nomination.

SEPTEMBER 13 - The Complete Woody Shaw Columbia Albums Collection (6 CDs) $55.99
Encountering the name Woody Shaw (1944-1989) in print or conversation, it’s not uncommon for a phrase much like “ the last original trumpet voice” to follow. For Shaw was just such a player: a daring horn stylist with an utterly personal and technically advanced approach that has yet to be matched since his untimely death. After a memorable stint with the hard bop maestro, Horace Silver, Shaw leaped head first towards the post bop firmament, collaborating with such visionary player/composers as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, and Larry Young. On such landmark Columbia albums as Woody lll and For Sure! -- projects that represented a career peak for Shaw in terms of both personal creativity and commercial exposure -- his impressive compositions and arranging skills for expanded ensembles are brought to the fore. Let Miles Davis have the last word about Shaw: “Now there's a great trumpet player. He can play different from all of them."


SEPTEMBER 22- The Complete Nina Simone RCA Albums Collection (9 CDs) $71.99
As unclassifiable as she was forthright, Nina Simone (1933-2003) went her own way; it was up to her devoted audience to keep pace with her stylistic wanderings. Defiantly outspoken and willfully eclectic in her music, Simone electrified listeners with artfully intense performances.



SEPTEMBER 27 - The Complete Paul Desmond RCA Albums Collection (6 CDS) $55.99
For the bulk of the 1950s and 60’s, Paul Desmond had one of the sweetest gigs in jazz history. As the featured alto saxophonist in the Dave Brubeck quartet, Desmond was a central figure in the most commercially successful jazz ensemble of the time. The sole horn in the group, Desmond attracted considerable critical and public acclaim for his supremely lyrical, sublimely melodic playing. His dulcet phrases couched in what he himself dubbed a “dry martini” tone, Desmond’s alto was a defining sound of the era.


NOVEMBER 22 - The Complete Weather Report / The Jaco Years Columbia Albums Collection (6 CDs) $55.99
Rarely has an individual player so radically transformed an already established band as Jaco Pastorius (1951-1987) did upon joining Weather Report in 1976. Not only did the electric bassist set a new direction for the band, leading it to unprecedented commercial success, he also rewrote the rules for his instrumentHis work with Weather Report is among the very finest of his truncated career. It may be a long while before we encounter the likes of a musical unit such as Weather Report, or an audaciously brilliant player akin to Pastorius, again.


NOVEMBER 22- The Complete Original Mahavishnu Orchestra Columbia Albums Collection (5 CDs)
$44.99
The Mahavishnu Orchestra, in its original incarnation, lasted just four years, but in that brief time, the pioneering quintet set both the template and the high-water mark for fusion music. No band ever rocked as hard in a jazzy place as guitarist John McLaughlin’s charging ensemble.

www.popmarket.com


Thursday, September 8, 2011

Hidden Beach Signs Jazz Legend Ramsey Lewis



Hidden Beach Signs Jazz Legend Ramsey Lewis
“Ramsey, Taking Another Look”
slated for release September 20, 2011

September 8, 2011 (Los Angeles, CA)

Los Angeles based boutique label Hidden Beach Recordings announced earlier this month the signing of legendary jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis. The three time Grammy® winner who rose to prominence in the early 1970’s will release his 80th collection on September 20, 2011 entitled Ramsey, Taking Another Look.,  On the ten song CD  Lewis and his Electric Band breathe new life into many of Lewis’ favorite tunes including a  new rendition of  the Stevie Wonder penned “Living for the City” and a new edit of the original “Sun Goddess” recording featuring Earth, Wind & Fire.

“We are thrilled to have forged this partnership with such a legendary Jazz icon as Ramsey Lewis and his Mapenzi Recording family. From his contemporary Jazz explorations in the seventies all the way to the Orchestral  pieces currently featured on PBS, Ramsey Lewis remains as relevant today as ever. We are excited to be bringing this music to market.” Stated Steve McKeever, Hidden Beach CEO

"I am glad to join Steve McKeever, a fellow Chicagoan, and the Hidden Beach family to release Ramsey, Taking Another Look. Hidden Beach is known for it's commitment to excellence in music and respect for artistry, a unique position in today's music landscape." Stated Ramsey Lewis.

“Living for the City” will be accompanied by a music video created at Chicago’s Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, with Film & Broadcast and Recording Arts students taking the lead on production.  Featuring an energetic performance by Ramsey Lewis and his Electric Band, the clip celebrates the visual vibrancy of Chicago at night time.

A noted advocate for Steinway pianos, Ramsey, Taking Another Look represents Lewis’ first return to playing the Fender Rhodes piano in Fifteen years.

Ramsey Lewis on Ramsey, Taking Another Look
"The idea of the electric quintet came up and having played mostly in an acoustic trio arrangement for twelve-fifteen years, I decided to get together with the guys to see how it felt. The rehearsals went so well that I called in my engineer, Danny Leake and my producer/son, Frayne Lewis to come in and roll tape. I've recorded maybe 65-70 albums, and this album is definitely among the top five."

About Hidden Beach
Hidden Beach is an American independent record label and entertainment company specializing in Urban Alternative, R&B, Soul, Inspirational and Contemporary Jazz music genres. Hidden Beach was formed in 1998 as the vision of its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Steve McKeever and currently holds a distribution deal with Universal Music Distribution Group. In addition to a catalog that includes Jill Scott, The Unwrapped series, Darius Rucker, Kindred the Family Soul, Dr. Cornel West and BeBe Winans, artists currently signed to Hidden Beach include Mike Phillips, Naturally 7, Glen Scott, The Tony Rich Project and Ramsey Lewis.

About Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy
Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, a two-year, high-end digital media college in Chicago’s Loop, offers nationally accredited, full-time Associate’s degree programs in five digital media disciplines; Film & Broadcast, Recording Arts, Animation & Visual Effects, Game & Interactive Media, and (newly announced for Fall 2011) Design & Visual Communication.