KEN HUSBANDS TRIO "KEEPIN' IT GOING"

Keepin’ It Going is Ken Husbands’ third release as a leader and the second with this group, featuring Aaron Germain on bass and Otto Huber on drums. It moves fluidly from the funk inflected opening track to the fast samba of the closer, passing through swing, odd metered grooves, African influences and out-and-out fusion on the way. This group has been working together in the San Francisco Bay area for several years and they have developed a cohesive ensemble approach. The original compositions are formally rigorous while leaving room for each of the musicians to display team-oriented virtuosity. Contemporary influences such as John Scofield and Wayne Krantz can be heard in Husbands’ guitar playing, and the title track evokes the world fusion of Weather Report, but this trio has its own sound and compositional approach that incorporates a wide range of musical styles, integrating odd time signatures and complex harmonies seamlessly into energetic grooves. KEN HUSBANDS
 

NAT BIRCHALL QUINTET "LIVE IN LARISSA" DIVINE HARMONY IN DUENDE JAZZ BAR

Nat Birchall is one of the UK’s most special musicians, a spiritual, soulful saxophonist who has drunk deeply from the endless well that is the music of John Coltrane. A modest man, Birchall is happy out of the limelight but nonetheless has found international acclaim for a series of fine albums on Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana label as well as more recently his own Sound Soul and Spirit imprint. This, his sixth album, is his first ever live recording and is released on vinyl and download only. A decision Birchall took on listening to the tapes and thinking the music really suited the warmth of vinyl. It features the core band from his last recording World Without Form: pianist Adam Fairhall, vibist Corey Mwamba, bassist Nick Blacka (GoGo Penguin) and drummer Paul Hession. They all bring something to the music as Birchall explains: “Adam has been in the band since the beginning and he's there because he understands the music and plays with conviction. Corey is in the band because of his unique approach to playing, it doesn't actually matter that he plays vibes. I asked him to play because of his playing, not his instrument. He is a free spirit but knows when to play and when not to play. Nick is a great bassist who has a great ability to improvise strong melodic lines within his accompaniment, which is actually pretty rare. Paul is a very great drummer who can play seamlessly throughout a piece if it goes from "time" to free tempo and back again, and makes it sound natural”. The recording came about when Birchall played two nights at the Duende Jazz Bar in Larissa, Greece in May 2013 – where, despite the tiny stage, the warm welcome and overwhelmingly positive reaction to the music inspired the band to reach deep within themselves for two nights of truly inspired music. Thankfully the tapes were rolling and despite the tiny stage and proximity of the mics (a nightmare for mixing) the music was really happening. As Birchall recalls: “There was such a positive atmosphere at the gigs, with people so obviously coming to hear the music with open arms ( and ears ) that we felt very blessed to be on stage. I think the record documents how the band sounds on a given night, with original songs, and one or two by other people, played in an extended way. With everyone able to stretch out and play as long as they like”. NAT BIRCHALL QUINTET
 

BEAT FUNKTION "VOODOOLAND"

Beat Funktion was born in 2007 in the Swedish town of Uppsala, just north of Stockholm, as a temporary five-piece constellation for a number of spontaneous club gigs where traditional jazz music was needed for a young dancing audience. To shape the band's repertoire of old jazz standards, pianist Daniel Lantz took the liberty of borrowing inspiration from musicians and bands within groove-based genres in the 70s and late 60s, such as James Brown, Bob James, Eumir Deodato, Herbie Hancock, Roy Ayers, Fela Kuti, Curtis Mayfield, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley and others, not to mention film music by composers like Lalo Schifrin and Bill Conti. This resulted in a series of original arrangements of jazz standards tailor-made for the band, which utilized the stable, dance-friendly and lush-sounding framework of pumping disco funk and R&B paired with the rhythmic and harmonic freedom of jazz improvisation. It became an immediate success with audiences, and accordingly, the very special jazz-funk sound of the band was born.After a number of overwhelmingly successful performances, enjoyed by listeners as well as dancers, the band became a permanent working unit and since 2008 it is an impressive six-piece-band consisting of Karl Olandersson on the trumpet, Olle Thunström on the tenor sax, Johan Öijen on the electric guitar, Daniel Lantz on the Fender Rhodes, Pal Johnson on the electric bass and Jon Eriksson on the drums. Although keeping a few classic funk cover tunes as part of the repertoire, pianist Daniel Lantz nowadays provides the band with new, groovy original music in the vintage 70s vein. Additional musicians like percussionists and vocalists occasionally join the band for more powerful live performances.In the autumn of 2010, Beat Funktion released their debut-album THE PLUNGE for Do Music Records, a production that has culled takes together from multiple previous studio and live recordings to form a whole. On the album, the sound of the band is enhanced with percussion, live acoustic strings, vocals and Moog synthesizers. It features a majority of Lantz' own compositions, plus a funk version of George Gershwin's classic jazz standard ”Summertime”. The disc has received praise worldwide with agents and reviewers of jazz, funk, soul and rare grooves, not to mention DJs. The band is currently scheduling their fourth album, MANDY'S SECRET, to be released in August of 2014, which will be co-produced by Daniel Lantz and pianist and producer Mats Björke from famed rock band Mando Diao. BEAT FUNKTION

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NY CONNECTION "URBAN GRIOT"

NYConnection
The always imaginative saxophonist Jussi Kannaste accompanies the quartet as if he is the piano player. Pianist Roy Assaf often doesn’t play chords, but instead uses his melodic gift to create a dialogue with drummer Jaska Lukkarinen, who adds multiple colors in addition to his already extraordinary rhythmic approach. The band courageously explores this instrumentation, playing solo, duos, trios and full quartet with bassist Antti Lötjönen, who brings it all together in a unison sound full of melodies, dialogues and stories. Never having experienced this kind of natural freedom of music in any other group, the members of NYConnection decided to start a fresh concept that benefits the music and brings a new sound to the audience. When the new songs were first played in public, some people referred to their music as “folk jazz.” The compositions have the intellectuality, harmonies, and swing flavors that originate from the jazz tradition, combined with the simplicity and lyricism of the folk world. Picture four artists who work on the same canvas and paint the most simple and beautiful Finnish landscape in its midsummer peace. Each one of the painters has a slightly different artistic view of colors, lights and landscape. NYConnection paints this picture with compositions, in which interplay and listening connects the worlds and visions together.The origins of NYConnection, as the band’s name implies, date back to New York City in 2007, where Roy and Jaska shared some of their most influential moments as young musicians. The foundation for the group is drummer Jaska Lukkarinen's Finnish trio, which includes Jussi Kannaste and Antti Lötjönen. This is a trio that has worked together since 2005 and has created a personal band sound without a harmonic instrument.Their new album Urban Griot introduces the band members as composers and instrumentalists, today's jazz-griots. Griots were West African poets and storytellers and were known for their ability to picture current events and improvise based on traditional songs. The original songs on Urban Griot are based on experiences and stories that the four share together. The songs are mixed with a menu-like concept. The original music serves as main courses, and it is mixed with great jazz standards that serve as the tasty appetizers.The bond between Roy and Jaska, both on and off the stage, keeps NYConnection evolving as a true band, not just another music project. Having the four of them together is meant to be. Urban Griot is the start of a life long journey to be explored, developed and shared with the audience. NY CONNECTION
 

MIGHTY MIGHTY "SEE THE LIGHT"

The British band Mighty Mighty developed a larger following in Japan than they did in their native country. However, the group's Japanese fan base evolved posthumously; the band was actually only active for a few years. Mighty Mighty was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1986 by Hugh Harkin (vocals, harmonica), Mick Geoghegan (guitar), Peter Geoghegan (organ, guitar), Russell Burton (bass), and David Hennessey (drums). They made their debut at the NME/ICA Rock Week concerts and were even included on a C-86 cassette compilation. Mighty Mighty released their first single, "Everybody Knows the Monkey," in 1986. Often compared to Orange Juice, Mighty Mighty only recorded one LP, 1988's Sharks, before splitting up. The band's jangly singles and B-sides were collected on The Girlie Years, the title referring to the name of the group's own label. Vinyl Japan also released Mighty Mighty's BBC sessions in 2001. The band's popularity in Japan resulted from a keen interest in U.K. guitar pop among indie collectors. MIGHTY MIGHTY
 

ALEX PUDDU "THE GOLDEN AGE OF DANISH PORNOGRAPHY VOL.2"

Alex Puddu, was born in Rome, Italy, in 1967 but moved to Denmark at the age of 19 and quickly established his reputation as a musician in a number of indie rock bands. he Recorded he's first E.P with the band Excess Bleeding Heart" followed with The album "Libido".In the early 1995 he formed the Band "Nerve" with he's mate Morten Varano and 3 members of the band Sandman .They got sign with EMI and release one EP and the Album Speeed Freak Jive. Nerve got along by touring in DK and even a opening support show for David Bowie i Valby Hall.In 1997, The Band spilt up ,Alex Puddu and Morten Varano founded the groundbreaking electronica duo Puddu Varano and released three albums and a number of singles before splitting up in 2002.Today Alex puddu is one of the most direct and creative artist and composer of our days, truly devoted to the italian vintage sound of the giallo/horror movies from the early seventies. Alex take inspiration for his writing from the soundtracks music maestro Piccioni,umiliani,morricone,ferrio,demasi.Alex puddu release is first solo album 'Chasing The Scorpions Tail' with his cinematik band Alex Puddu and the Butterfly Collectors on the danish label April records followed later on with fouralbums.During the latest years 2010/11 Alex is been very productive working on new sounds and composotions for soundtracks writing arranging and producing no more less then 4 soundtrack.The Eastern Army,Mosaic,Hell is other people and the latest The Golden Age of Danish Pornography. ALEX PUDDU

ELIAS HASLANGER "LIVE AT THE GALLERY"

Cherrywood Records is proud to announce the release of LIVE at the Gallery the latest recording from critically acclaimed jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger Elias Haslanger. A follow up to the Elias’s successful 2012 release Church on Monday, LIVE at the Gallery captures 2 nights in front of a packed house at Austin’s famous Continental Club Gallery on S Congress. Featuring long-time musical director for Ray Charles, Dr. James Polk on Hammond B3 organ as well as former Joey DeFrancesco band-mate Jake Langley on guitar, the band delivers a classic live jazz recording with an energy and enthusiasm that electrifies the audience. Building on their 17 month weekly residency at the club, where the crowds have grown as has the band’s intensity, Elias and company play inspired, no doubt driven by their passionate listeners, many of whom show up week after week to get recharged by the music. Church on Monday, as the band and the Monday night residency is now called in Austin, started off 2014 by playing Alejandro Escovedo’s acclaimed United Sounds of Austin show produced at the ACL Moody Theater. The band shared the bill with Joe Ely, Lucinda Williams and others and “brought down the house” says Rolling Stone in their review of the show. Elias was profiled in the June 2013 issue of Downbeat for Church on Monday and the band’s first CD spent 11 weeks on the JazzWeek radio charts, climbing to #14 at its peak. Elias Haslanger has played and recorded with Ellis Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson, The Temptations, Asleep at the Wheel, Alejandro Escovedo and countless others. He has released 5 critically-acclaimed recordings as a leader which have been played on radio stations around the world and reviewed favorably in DownBeat, JazzTimes, Billboard, Cadence, Texas Monthly and the Austin Chronicle. He is an active performer performing over 150 shows a year at venues across the United States. “Haslanger is now a major talent, both as a composer and instrumentalist whose future has almost unlimited potential and should be regarded in national terms.” -Michael Point, DownBeat. ELIAS HASLANGER
 

LOIDE "IN TIME"

Washington DC-based jazz vocalist LOIDE (pronounced "loy-deh') has roots in Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau though born in France and raised in California. Serving up a mix of contemporary jazz and warm afro-lusophone rhythms, Loide's music is reflective of her own eclectic roots. She has spent the last 10 years honing her musical craft in some of the nation's hippest speakeasies and jazz clubs at night.Within the last few years alone Loide has had the privilege to perform in Hollywood for a star-studded televised event, open for the legendary Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi, and perform at a Miriam Makeba tribute in New York on the same stage as Paul Simon, release the self titled album "Loide, Live at Bohemian Caverns" and most recently be taped for an one hour live special on The Africa Channel.Loide cites Sarah Vaughn, Cesaria Evora and Miriam Makeba as some of her greatest musical influences, but believes it is her African heritage that has provided her with a fresh musical perspective, a unique sound, and her native tongue. LOIDE

HIDEAKI AOMORI "GLUE"

As a classical clarinetist, Hideaki Aomori has recorded two classical albums as the Pierce-Aomori duo,is a member of y Music, and has worked with the Philip Glass Ensemble, Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra, The Knights, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, and ACME (American Contemporary Music Ensemble). As a multi-instrumentalist, Hideaki mostly works in jazz, indie, theater, and film music.  Some of his recent activities include recording his jazz album, Glue (tenor sax, clarinet) , a tour with Gabriel Kahane (clarinets), playing Ghost the Musical (saxes, clarinets, flute, piccolo) and performing Schonberg's Pierrot Lunaire and Messiaen's End of Time Quartet with ACME. Hideaki has conducted masterclasses and individual lessons at universities and schools in the US and abroad.When he is not touring, Hideaki can be heard playing Matilda on broadway. Hideaki did his bachelor's and doctoral degrees in clarinet performance and his master's degree in jazz saxophone. HIDEAKI AOMORI