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Urban Jazz, Page 7

Marcus Miller | Afrodeezia

Marcus Miller - Afrodeezia
 
Marcus Miller
Afrodeezia
(Blue Note)
Album Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
 
Africa has been a river running through the music of Marcus Miller since he began his sojourn into the art form – as literally as from “Maputo” (his composition made famous by Bob James and David Sanborn) and “Gorée” (his mediation on the portal through which Africans were shipped as property to other lands far away, from his previous CD Renaissance) to the figuratively emphatic manner in which he percussively speaks his soul through the electric bass.

Manhattan’s Cafe Noctambulo is New Hot Spot for Jazz Vocal Loving Night Owls

Jazz Great Andy Bey Kicked Off First Season for New Nostalgically Intimate Manhattan Performance Space Café Noctambulo
 
by A. Scott Galloway
 
The atmosphere is quaint and hushed as revered jazz vocal veteran Andy Bey slides in behind the ivories to premier music from his brand new CD, Pages From an Imaginary Life. In a space as cozy as a living room, the master is comfortable enough to speak candidly about his music by way of introducing songs – sometimes reflecting, other times joking. Amid his loving tributes to Billie Holiday which he rendered floating from his warm natural baritone to his high plaintive falsetto, Bey penetrates deepest with his more recent original compositions that offer keen insight into his mind’s inner workings at that more important life juncture – today. Songs like “Bad Luck May Be Good Luck,” “Worried Life Blues” and “Humor Keeps Us Alive.” These are songs so new that even though Andy wrote them, he stumbles occasionally in performing them perfectly. What master would ever allow this to happen in front of an audience in a New York City nightspot? It is only because of THIS particular nightspot that Andy feels free enough to “try” things as opposed to sticking to his tried and true.
 
AndyBeyAtCafeNoctambulo PhotobyJamesGavin
(Photo: James Gavin)

The Stanley Clarke Band | Up

Stanley Clarke Band - Up
 
The Stanley Clarke Band | Up
Mack Avenue Records
By Peggy Oliver
 
(Advance Review | CD to be released on Sept. 30th, 2014)
 
The more a musician sustains a career with a level of shear excellence, the bigger the increase of impressive musical colleagues at one’s disposal. At this point in his illustrious career, Stanley Clarke can thoroughly enjoy the fruits of his labor. In his association with jazz fusion pioneers Return to Forever and the rock fusion trio Animal Logic (though only for two albums), film and television soundtrack contributions (Soul Food, Romeo Must Die, i.e.) and collaborations with rock, pop, jazz and R&B’s elite, including George Duke, Clarke remains firm to his high integral artistry who has managed to balance the mainstream market in his forty-plus year journey.

Al Jarreau | My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke

Al Jarreau - My Old Friend George Duke
 
Al Jarreau – My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke
(Concord Records)
Album reflection by A. Scott Galloway
 
Al Jarreau’s tribute to George Duke, his longtime friend and one-time partner on the jazz club stages of San Francisco, has been one of 2014’s most anticipated CDs. The eclectic project – with three sets of producers – works best when Cousin Al is pushing his creative envelope or indisputably touched with pure raw sentimentality.

Dianne Reeves | Beautiful Life

Dianne Reeves - Beautiful Life
 
Dianne Reeves | Beautiful Life
Concord Music Group – 2014
by Peggy Oliver
 
Sometimes the element of surprise conceived by the creative minds of musicians remind me of the hook from an inspirational pop hit: “Everything is beautiful in its own way.”   Growing up versed in jazz but always willing to cross musical boundaries, Dianne Reeves completely invested in whatever genre she could adapt to her inimitable vocal style.

Brian Culbertson | Another Long Night Out

Brian Culbertson - Another Long Night Out
 
Brian Culbertson | Another Long Night Out
BCM Entertainment, Inc.
by Brent Faulkner
 
In 1994 – then a 21 year-old DePaul student – Brian Culbertson recorded his smooth-jazz debut album, Long Night Out. A talented multi-instrumentalist and composer, Long Night Out would mark the beginning of an incredible career for Culbertson. Now twenty years later, rather than recording a completely new album, Culbertson returns with Another Long Night Out, a re-recording of Long Night Out that finds the seasoned musician adding a “lil somethin’ somethin’” extra.

Sheila E. | ICON

Sheila E. - Icon
 
Sheila E. | ICON
Moosicus (2013)
Review penned by Brent Faulkner
 
After a hiatus of more than a decade, multitalented veteran musician Sheila Escovedo –best known as Sheila E. – releases her latest album ICON via Moosicus, an independent label based in Germany.  Icon proves to be a captivating album showcasing Sheila E.’s tremendous musicianship and eclecticism at work, although its availability solely is an import in the U.S (as of yet).

Robert Glasper Experiment | Black Radio 2

Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio 2
 
Robert Glasper Experiment | Black Radio 2
Blue Note
By Peggy Oliver
 
When an artist commits to a sequel that rides on the extremely successful
previous work, the expectations to top its predecessor are exceedingly
high, certainly when the predecessor was recognized with a Grammy Award.
With a wealth of musical co-horts at his disposal and a tight band
under his leadership, Robert Glasper was ready to meet the needs of fans
and critics to follow-up the R&B Grammy Awarded 2012 release, Black Radio.

Najee | The Morning After: A Musical Love Journey

Najee - The Morning After - A musical Love journey cover
 
Najee | The Morning After: A Musical Love Journey
Shanachie Records
by Susan Mutharia
 
If the achievements, accolades and millions of fans fail to give one enough insight into Najee’s musical journey, then the new album by this 3x Grammy- Nominee will set you straight. Get your passport ready and prepare to depart on Najee’s The Morning After: A Musical Love Journey.

Jonathan Butler | Merry Christmas To You

Jonathan Butler - Merry Christmas To You
 
Jonathan Butler | Merry Christmas To You
Artistry Music
By Peggy Oliver
 
Just like the department stores who prepare in advance to entice shoppers
for Christmas, so do the music marketers who are just as attuned to
sharing good cheer for the year end fanfare.  That season of Christmas
offers one of its first major releases with Jonathan Butler, the latest
to join others with their inspirations centered around the most
celebrated commercial time of the year.

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