Blues guitar phenom Eric Gales was born and raised in Memphis, learning
to play at age four from older brothers Eugene and Manuel in imitation
of their upside-down, left-handed style (a tradition actually passed
down from their grandfather, Dempsey Garrett Sr., who was known to jam
with the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf). Winning his first
blues contest at 11, four years later Eric signed to Elektra to issue
his 1991 debut LP, recorded with Eugene on bass; Picture of a Thousand
Faces followed in 1993. Manuel (who previously performed under the alias
Little Jimmy King) reunited with his siblings for 1995's Left Hand
Band, credited to the Gales Brothers.A newly matured Gales returned in spring 2001 to release his debut for
MCA, That's What I Am. Often billed as the second coming of Jimi
Hendrix, Gales, an adequate singer at best but a dynamite guitarist,
suffered for the comparison. With Gales always influenced by Hendrix and
the power trio format, his next albums, 2006's Crystal Vision and
2007's Psychedelic Underground, both released by Blues Bureau Records,
seemed like facsimile Hendrix albums, right down to the album art. His
next two releases from Blues Bureau, 2008's The Story of My Life and
2009's Layin' Down the Blues, found the Hendrix influence muted
somewhat, but Gales, a breathtaking guitarist at times, still seemed to
be looking for a way out of the Hendrix shadow and into his own voice.
Gales returned in 2010 with Relentless, a collection of 13 originals,
and followed it with the passionate Transformation a year later in 2011.
Theall-instrumental Ghost Notes arrived in the fall of 2013. ~ Jason
Ankeny & Steve Leggett, Rovi ERIC GALES BAND
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Venson further proves her endurance on her
latest set, The Light In Me, which bursts with traditional blues
aesthetics but upholds melodic soul for a rich blend that is tailor-fit
for her spunky and witty style. As a fellow South Texan myself, she's
pretty much kinfolk as she's knows that everything is in fact bigger
here, and her sound reflects it in pounds as numbers such as the pew-stomping "Always Free," horn-peppered sway of "Best For Last" and
her single "The Love I Give," are bold and infallible entries. And if
it's subdued that you want, then Venson can whisper loving poetics this
side of "Beauty Of Your Love" and the cushy acoustic title track to
place you in the calm of her storm. Though there are many vibrant voices
that come our way daily, a lot don't get to stand on a table and shout
out loud, but Venson, on the other hand, has the boisterous attitude as
well as the creative drive to create tunes her way without bending to
any so-called rules, and those elements will spark and have her elbow
her way to the front of the line without a misstep. JACKIE VENSON
Discerning urban jazz fans searching for something new to get jazzed and
groove about don’t need to have A Vicarious Experience to make it
happen—they just need to get hip to the melodic and cool old school soul
meets contemporary funk of veteran saxophonist Reggie Codrington. While
the Fayetteville, North Carolina native is new on many people’s radars,
he’s actually been performing and recording since the early 90s and has
eight previous CDs, several under the name Reggie C; the most recent of
these are Sunny Days (2008), Vision of Dreams (2010), Christmas With
Pops (2009) and Journey Back Home (2005), which was produced by Phil
Davis, who has worked with Stanley Clarke, George Duke and Al Jarreau,
among many others.Produced by and featuring the tenacious bass playing of Brian Morgan
(whose many credits include George Benson), A Vicarious Experience finds
Codrington—whose primary voice is the curved soprano sax--in a
romantic, optimistic mood, using the changing vibes of the songs (and
the listener’s imagination) to chronicle the ups, downs, excitement and
challenges of a romantic relationship from track to track. While many
artists cite their parents as prime influences on their careers,
Codrington takes that one step further, inviting his father Ray—who
helped Codrington develop his skills and learn improvisation—to play
trumpet throughout the recording.“When I make a record, I always want to have a warm sound with
harmonies,” he says, “and in this case that means having dad play a lot
of horn parts and percussion. When we were making the album, I found
myself in a 70s and 80s type groove, inspired by everyone from De La
Soul funk rhythms to Sade and Parliament. I grew up listening to old
school R&B/funk so that’s a pretty natural influence for me. The
process began with Brian sending me some great tracks and me putting
melodies to them, then arranging harmonies and atmospheres around my
lead sax. The romantic story thread emerged from the emotions I was
experiencing at the time with the lady I was dating. I thought it might
be fun to invite people into my musical heart this way.” REGGIE CODRINGTON
Carmen Lundy began her professional career in Miami, FL as a jazz
vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and
aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon. Over four decades later, Ms.
Lundy is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is
highly regarded for her jazz innovation.Currently on the Afrasia
Productions label, Carmen is releasing her 14th album in the Fall of
2014. Almost two years in the making, “Soul To Soul” consists of new
original songs by Lundy, and a few very special collaborations. The
album features legendary artists - specialists on their respective
instruments - including Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Randy Brecker, Ada
Rovatti, Warren Wolf, Bennie Maupin, harpist Carol Robbins, and Simphiwe
Dana, a stunning South African vocalist and composer, among others.The
highly regarded 2012 release “Changes” (Afrasia Productions) is on
several ‘Top 10 Albums of 2012’ lists, and continues to garner both
critical and popular acclaim. Said James Nadal of All About Jazz, “With
her release of Changes, veteran singer Carmen Lundy rises to that
proverbial summit to enjoy the rarefied air of the chosen few.” Terri
Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project - Grammy Winner for Best Jazz Vocal
Album of 2011- features the Carmen Lundy composition “Show Me A Sign”,
with Ms. Lundy’s original performance from the album “Solamente”
reinvented on the arrangement. CARMEN LUNDY
Vocalist, saxophonist and songwriter/arranger, bluesman Bobby
Hurricane Spencer started his musical career in Oakland but now calls
Los Angeles home. He cut his teeth in the Chitlin’ Circuit of the Bay
Area, anchored dead center in the horn section of the funk bands of
Johnny Tolbert and De Thangs and Marvin Holmes and the Uptights.Spencer played in such historic 7th Street soul pumping clubs as Al's
House of Smiles, the Showcase, the Sportsman, Ester's Orbit Room and
the Continental Club. Later came the Shalamar and Troyce Key's famous
Eli's Mile High Club.One night on the bandstand, after a particularly hot sax solo, J.J.
Bad Boy Jones turned to the tenor man and said, "Bob, you the
Hurricane!". It stuck and that’s what he’s been called ever since.His trademark sound can be found on records by Timex Social Club,
Sonny Rhodes, JJ Bad Boy Jones, Jimmy McCracklin, just to name a few and
his original music appears on the Grammy nominated Force of Nature
album by Koko Taylor.When not busy as a session player in Oakland, recording for Fantasy
Records’ Ray Shanklin with Little Johnny Taylor, Rodger Collins and
others, you could find Spencer playing behind such legends as Etta
James, the Whispers, Carla Thomas, Lowell Fulsom, and ZZ Hill and
opening for musicians like Bobby Blue Bland, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye,
The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson. A little known fact, Rolling Stone magazine recently revealed that an
early festival where Spencer performed was an historic event as
documented in the Untold and Deeply Stoned Story of the First U.S. Rock
Festival where the Doors, Byrds and nearly 30 other bands made history
at Fantasy Fair & Magic Mountain on Mt. Tamalpais. BOBBY HURRICANE SPENCER
TONY LEVIN: Since graduating from the Eastman School of music, Tony has become the bass and Chapman Stick voice for Peter Gabriel
and King Crimson. In addition, he has played on notable recordings for
John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Dire Straits, Carly
Simon, Judy Collins, and many others. Tony has major jazz credentials,
having worked with Buddy Rich, Steps Ahead, L'Image, Gary Burton, Chuck
Mangione, and Herbie Mann. He currently records and tours with Peter
Gabriel, King Crimson, Stick Men, and The Crimson ProjeKCt. PETE LEVIN: As a French Horn major, Pete earned a master’s degree from
the Juilliard School. In the early ‘70s he switched to keyboards,
becoming a synthesizer specialist in the New York City recording studio
scene. Over the years, he has graced hundreds of jazz and pop recordings
and performances by the likes of Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Jimmy Giuffre,
Dave Brubeck, David Sanborn, Joe Louis Walker, Don Elliott, Freddie
Hubbard, Annie Lennox, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius and Wayne Shorter.
He currently records with his organ trio with Dave Stryker and Lenny
White. LEVIN BROTHERS
Electro swing projekt with old jazz and a positive vibe. Members: Per Ebdrup and Karina Kappel. The debut album "Electro Swing Republic" was released 7th feb 2011 on Freshly Squeezed. The album second "Midnight calling" was released 5th november 2012,
also on Freshly Squeezed. The tracks on this album are original
compositions written and performed by Swing Republic and additional
musicians. Produced and mixed by Per Ebdrup. Co-produced and Co-mixed by
Jakob Sejer-Nielsen.
Swing Republic combines the spirituality
and emotional expressions from the past with the electronic technology
of the future. Open-mindedness of the hippie culture and hypnotic
rhythms of industry. A globalized and worldly mindset. "Emotional
Technology" is one of the leading principles in the approach to the
musical landscapes and cities of Swing Republic. In the city
Techville the machines live with beautiful manipulation and physical
rhythm. In Emotia the sound and shades from the past live in the shape of legendary jazz artists, old movies and with complexity in emotional communication. Ethnico City is home of percussion and many other
instruments. They live in beautiful disharmony and mutual inspiration.
Giant parties where inhabitants from the cities get together and mix
with each other in a relaxed - yet intense atmosphere. SWING REPUBLIC
Some of the jazziest, most spiritual music we've heard from Nostalgia 77
in years – a great return to territory they started hitting towards the
end of the last decade – and a record that's got a rich, organic sound
right from the start! The album's a jazz set through and through –well-conceived with lots of modal rhythms, topped with soaring lines on
saxes, trumpet, and flute – which are all held together by these
richly-colored piano lines that create a lot of warmth, without ever
softening the edges of the music. The approach is quite similar to some
of the recent Gondawa recordings by UK contemporaries Matthew Halsall
and Nat Birchall – and titles include "Measures", "Apple", "Thoughts To
Geoff", "Scallywag", "Rules", and "Island In The Sun". NOSTALGIA 77
Acclaimed indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan and Melbourne rhythm combo The PutBacks come together to bring you Dawn,
an LP of hard hitting and heartfelt soul songs telling stories of
grief, struggle and redemption. Dawn is a gritty, uniquely Australian
record, simultaneously classic and contemporary. The songwriting is in
turns optimistic, angry and melancholic, and on occasions bruisingly
honest. The music is fluid, live and raw, recorded in one room on eight
channels of analog tape and the electric connection between Emma and the
band comes through in every beat.The PutBacks have established themselves as one of the premier funk outfits in Australia. In their career they have opened for
The Bamboos, Electric Empire and Clairy Browne & The Bangin’
Rackettes, as well as international funk and soul icons The Menahan
Street Band featuring Charles Bradley, and Booker T Jones. In May 2012
The PutBacks were chosen as the house band for the infamous Prince after
party at the Hi Fi Bar. The PutBacks were also house band for Arts
Centre Melbourne’s 2011 and 2012 Big Notes production, featuring the
likes of Emma Donovan and Mantra. EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS
