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From Hungary comes today’s Try It Out Tuesdays offering: MM7 Secret Jazz is an electronica/jazz project of trumpeter Miklós Mákó. Miklós records for Beagle Beat Records, a jazz-focused micro-label in Budapest. Check the label out on MySpace to sample their artist roster, which covers a range of contemporary jazz styles.
Click the play button to hear “Bond Express” from the MM7 Secret Jazz project. If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy it from Amazon.com.
Try It Out Tuesdays offers a free full MP3 of an artist. Today’s track is from guitarist Jack Broad. Drumolator at The Forum recently asked if there are any fusion fans. It’s been a popular post. There are a number of jazz fans who miss that rock-jazz sound. Fusion fans, as well as fans of jazztronica, will find something they like on Jack’s recording, Current. This track, “Emanations,” spotlights Broad’s electric guitar playing and has a bit of drum ‘n’ bass. Like every track on the CD, it was composed, programmed, recorded, and mixed by Broad.
Click the play button to hear “Emanations.” If you like what you hear, click the Shopping Cart icon to buy it from Amazon.com.
Tuesday, August 12, is a big day for contemporary jazz fans. It’s the day that several legends will drop new music – and all of them on two recordings. In fact, four of the five artists who were on the Legends tour about a decade ago are on them.
You’ve read the review – now it’s time to experience three bass masters collaborating on one recording. S.M.V. – Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten – together on Thunder. Read more about it.
Listen and buy the CD from Amazon.com!
Download it from iTunes
David Sanborn is back with an album that likely will serve as a highlight in his career. What upfront was to funk, Here and Gone might be to soul and blues. Sanborn pays homage to the music that inspired him, especially the music of Hank Crawford. “Hank was the great saxophonist and arranger for Ray Charles in the 1950s and early ’60s, and his arrangements and playing were central to me in forming my ideas about what music was and should be,” states Sanborn. “He had such a wonderful economy in what he did: He didn’t waste any notes, and there was nothing superfluous about his playing.” To help realize the vision he had for this recording, the saxman brought in some names: Christian McBride and Steve Gadd are the rhythm section and Eric Clapton sings and plays “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town.” Also contributing are Joss Stone, Sam Moore, Gil Goldstein, Russell Malone, and Wallace Roney. I didn’t receive an advance on Here and Gone but I did hear three cuts. I don’t know if it’s a word but I’m describing it as “rootsy.” I mean, it’s Sanborn playing the style that influenced him, and it doesn’t sound like it’s a slick, overly polished record. Rootsy.
Listen to, buy (for $9.99) and watch Sanborn discuss his career in an exclusive Amazon.com video.
Download it from iTunes
Sanborn talks about the recording and his influences:
Thunder. Rhythmic, melodic, rock you out, funk you up. Thunder! Back in the spring when I interviewed Marcus Miller, I asked him what was in the pipeline. He mentioned that there was a bass trio recording that he Stanley and Victor were working on – and oh what a recording it’s turned out to be. I can’t imagine a better name for this all-star collaboration between these three Bass Masters of the Universe. The thunderous power that is conjured up by SMV is awe-inspiring, not just in the low and middle registers, but in the compositions and arrangements as well. This isn’t some ego driven free-for-all that’s all chops and no meat. In my opinion, it’s the compositions that drive this recording, with each bassist unselfishly contributing for the benefit of the whole. I have to admit that of the three players, I’m least familiar with Victor Wooten; but I was easily able to identify each distinctive voice, in fact, this is probably the best setting I’ve heard Stanley play in in quite sometime. To have three of today’s leading bassists, each of which bring much more to the table than just being a recording artist, creating such a cohesive project, speaks volumes of their talents and obvious kinship. One could only hope that this doesn’t end up being a one-off project. Also, kudos to Heads Up for having the guts to release this project, in a year that has been extremely lean for anything remotely approaching quality jazz, yet alone fusion. One last opinion if I may: I’ve purchased maybe five actual physical CDs this year, but I’ve purchased at least 60 downloadable, complete jazz recordings thus far. How come they don’t come with downloadable digital booklets?
John Luciano, top-notch ContemporaryJazz.com reviewer, has launched his own blog. iJazz Therefore I Am covers music John loves including 70s and 80s jazz fusion. Among the acts he’s posted about already include Jeff Lorber Fusion, Spyro Gyra, and Tom Browne.
A fellow 37-year-old spinning nu jazz music? Sounds like my kind of guy! The surprising part of it: DJ Santo’s show is on terrestrial radio here in the States!
Be my friend! ContemporaryJazz.com has a page on MySpace.
MM7 Secret Jazz – Bond Express
Jack Broad – Emanations