Cat. No.: 179 7331
Barcode: 0602517973312
Label: ABC Jazz CD
Release Date: February

THE RUSSELL HOLMES TRIO | FIRE & RAIN: The James Taylor Project

ARTISTS

The Russell Holmes Trio
Russell Holmes piano
Matt Willis bass
Daniel Susnjar drums

TRACK LISTING

JAMES TAYLOR:
Fire and Rain
The Secret of Life
Is That the Way You Look
Carolina in My Mind
Close Your Eyes
Shower the People You Love with Love
How Sweet It Is...
Something in the Way She Moves
Long Ago and Far Away
Steamroller Blues

CAROLE KING: You’ve Got a Friend

In 2003, American song-writing legend James Taylor played a magical gig at Western Australia’s Leeuwin Estate, where the support act was local jazz hero Russell Holmes. There was a meeting of creative minds and now the Russell Holmes Trio has recorded its own ‘James Taylor project’ – an extraordinarily inventive album of jazz improvisations based on classic Taylor tunes like Carolina In My Mind, How Sweet It Is, and of course the title track Fire and Rain. Always respectful to the original, but featuring daring flights of creative fancy, Holmes’ lyrical piano style weaves filigree around the Taylor tunes, revealing all their poignancy and beauty while offering fresh insights into these instantly familiar songs. The poignant lyricism of Close Your Eyes is a particular standout.

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Cat. No.: 179 1136
Barcode: 0602517911369
Label: Emarcy CD
Release Date: February

John Scofield | Piety Street

ARTISTS

John Scofield

TRACK LISTING

1 That's Enough
2 Motherless Child
3 It's a Big Army
4 His Eye Is On The Sparrow
5 Something's Got A Hold On Me
6 The Old Ship of Zion
7 Ninety Nine And A Half
8 Just A Little While To Stay Here
9 Never Turn Back
10 Walk With Me
11 But I Like The Message
12 The Angel Of Death

13 I'll Fly Away

I've always wanted to record and tour a blues project...that's where I started as a guitarist and I'm feeling that music more than ever of late. This is a notion that's been gelling in my mind for decades. I launched a personal search for musical inspiration beyond the standard 12 bar blues and rediscovered "old time gospel" music — the closest relative to and progenitor of the R& B that we all know and love. I've always treasured that music (from a more secular perspective) but never really dug deep into it. My search has led to countless songs that really move me and I realize that this great and heartfelt music remains unheard by most of the world outside of churches here and there. It's really powerful stuff. Hence, the Piety Street Project. Of course, I've gone at it in my own way. I think my sound is pretty consistent no matter what I'm playing or who I'm playing with. When it comes to music genres — jazz, R&B, funk, and even country music tinges, I love all of it. I don't change my guitar playing from one style to another and if anything, I use all of these musical styles within most of what I do. I've just shifted the balances for this one. I really got a kick out of playing music with one of my favourite pianists/singer Jon Cleary, the legendary George Porter, Jr and rock-steady Ricky Fataar. In the footsteps of Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia etc, these tunes offer all the swing and blues needed to finally make a true jazz/funk fusion project...and we had a great time feeling it out.

www.johnscofield.com

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Cat. No.: 723 0827
Barcode: 0888072308275
Label: Concord 2CD
Release Date: February

Chick Corea & Hiromi | Duets

TRACK LISTING

CD1

1. Very Early

2. How Insensitive

3. Déja Vu

4. Fool on the Hill

5. Humpty Dumpty

6. Bolivar Blues

CD2

1. Windows

2. Old Castle

3. Summertime

4. Place To Be

5. Do Mo -Children's Song #12

6. Concierto de Aranjuez/Spain

Chick Corea is not only a highly imaginative and prolific recording artist, but the world-renowned pianist also loves to walk the tight wire without a net. His latest project of jazz daring-so is Duet, a two-CD live performance with up-and-coming pianist Hiromi, recorded live in 2007 at the Blue Note in Tokyo.

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Cat. No.: 723 1121
Barcode: 0888072311213
Label: Concord CD
Release Date: February

Benny Golson | New Time, New ‘Tet

TRACK LISTING

1. Grove's Groove

2. Airegin

3. From Dream to Dream

4. Whisper Not

5. Epistrophy

6. L'Adieu

7. Love Me in a Special Way

8. Gypsy Jingle-Jangle

9. Verdi's Voice

10. Uptown Afterburn

Concord Jazz announces the debut of Benny Golson's "new jazztet,' a stellar sextet that revives that legendary group's highly regarded three-horn front line along with its classic, tight ensemble work and sophisticated sound.

Led by Grammy "Lifetime Achievement" award winning saxophonist-composer Benny Golson, this version of the jazztet features heavyweight jazz musicians on each instrument: trumpet master, Eddie Henderson; trombone virtuoso, Steve Davis; the brilliant Mike LeDonne, piano; bassist extraordinaire, Buster Williams; and percussion ace, Carl Allen.

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