It is hard to believe that at the tender age of 82, pianist/composer and arranger Bob Acri is debuting with his first full length Southport CD, as a leader. A fixture on the Chicago scene for 7 decades, Bob Acri attended the famed Austin High, an institution that created its fair share of remarkable "Chicago-schooled" musicians. At age 17, Acri had already stepped up from free-lancing in Chicago's many saloons to having one of the most prestigious musical jobs around - staff pianist with the ABC / NBC Network Orchestra. In his impressive career he once held court at Chicago's famed Pump Room and Mr. Kelly's working with people like Barbra Streisand, Shecky Greene, and Carmen McCrae.

Chicago born in 1918, pianist/composer Acri is a Chicago original. On this recording, he offers a collection of all original songs that span many forms of American song style, from the romantic ballad, to the bossa nova and the blues, with hints of swing and bebop. Acri lists the late great Bill Evans as one of his main musical champions. With sons Bob Acri, Jr. (drums and percussion) and Jim Acri (drums) the essence of a musical family can be felt and heard. Rounding out the ensemble is Ted Schmuldt (a long time ally) on guitar and Scott Mason on the acoustic bass.

"Tribute to Buddy" is a flashy up-tempo romp that swings and bops Chicago style. "Sleep Away" was released previously on the ABC label on track 12 (from Jamie and the Jays-Encore-ABC-592-1959). The Latin-tinged "Linda Rose" will make you dance with its hypnotic winding melody. "Lonely Lonely Girl" repeated with full ensemble, has the elegance of an Ellington tone poem. Bob's piano weaves between the melodic phrases like a mellow wind. "Bossa Nova Viejo" will prove to be the party stopper, another Latin track that builds into an intense frenzy, featuring both of Bob's sons, with Jim on set, and Bob, Jr. on conga and percussion.

Bass – Kohichi Yamazaki, Yasushi Yoneki
Drums – Akihiro Ishiwatari, Kenichi Kameyama
Piano – Shoji Aketagawa
Producer – Shoji Aketagawa
Tenor Saxophone – Kazunori Takeda

In April 2019, 22a boss and multi-instrumentalist, Tenderlonious embarked on a trip to Pakistan to work with Lahore based instrumental quartet, Jaubi. Following on from the highly acclaimed, three track limited edition 10” vinyl release of ‘Tender in Lahore’ earlier this year, 22a presents the full suite of improvised ragas from a one day recording session in Lahore, Pakistan. The pure sounds of Indian and Pakistani
classical music act as a framework for deep and spiritual improvisations between Tenderlonious on flute & soprano saxophone and Jaubi band members, Kashif Ali Dhani on tabla and vocals, Zohaib Hassan Khan on sarangi and Ali Riaz Baqar on guitar. This cross cultural collaboration also features Polish composer and keys player Marek Pędziwiatr on synth drone.
Like most of us, Ed ‘Tenderlonious’ Cawthorne has had to overcome troubles in life. Music however has always been a guiding light leading him onto the right path. It was whilst in his darkest place that he taught himself to play the soprano saxophone; bringing much needed focus and discipline back into his life. Much like his musical heroes John Coltrane and Yusef Lateef - who were both inspired by eastern spiritualism and the deep tradition of Indian classical music - Ed has always been searching for something different and much deeper.
The seeds for a young Tender to embark on this musical path were planted during his father’s secondments to the East as a Ghurkha Officer. However it was after hearing the North Indian Classical flautist Ronu Majumdar’s ‘Raga Mangal Bhairav’ that Tender knew this was a musical style that he had to explore.
Ironically it was in a grimy London pub, after a few too many beers that the reality of this record started to come to life. Whilst reminiscing about previous musical journeys in Poland with Lukasz Wojciechowski from Astigmatic Records, we were reminded of an instrumental quartet from Pakistan - Jaubi. We later discovered that Jaubi is an Urdu
word for “whatever/whoever”. Creating whatever sounds good, with whoever feels good, is the groups guiding principle - a vibe we could relate to. Drinks continued to flow and we further explored the idea of a trip to Lahore in Pakistan, where the band resides.
That evening after getting home from the pub, we told our families and friends that we were planning to go to Lahore and record an album with Jaubi. We were met with heavy resistance from family and government travel advice. Our families and friends regularly fed us articles about why it is dangerous to travel to Pakistan due to the risk of terrorism, kidnappings, tropical diseases, etc. - the list was endless. The Pakistani
embassy also showed resistance by rejecting our visas. Twice! The project felt destined for failure, however we persevered with the Lahore dream. We learned not to believe everything people tell you. This was more than a musical quest now - it was about breaking down cultural misconceptions.
Through many hours of hard work and planning we arrived in Lahore on the 9th of April 2019, greeted with nothing but love and humility. Lahore is something special; full of positivity, care and hope. It was, thankfully, all a stark contrast to the negativity we heard about Pakistan before arriving. It was not long into the first day and that first studio session that we realised this trip would be a real awakening. Nothing whatsoever was written down during the recording sessions - no sheet music, no song titles. It was sincere. All egos were left behind and hearts and souls were open and poured into the music.
Opening track ‘Shalah Bagh’ is inspired by the Mughal gardens in Lahore we visited one morning on our trip. It is a fully improvised track guided by Kashif Ali Dhani on tabla and vocals, with Tenderlonious on soprano saxophone. Raga Chandrakauns acts as the basic framework, evolving into a free conversation between tabla and saxophone.
‘Azadi’ is the Urdu word for freedom and is a pure raga composed in the beautiful and devotional pentatonic Raga Bairagi, also based in the 12 beat rhythmic cycle (Ektaal). Like everything during these sessions, this raga was shown to Tender moments before the one take recording and what ensued was an improvised conversation between the musicians. Featuring Jaubi members Zohaib Hassan Khan on sarangi - Zohaib is a 7th generation sarangi maestro and one of only 5 professional sarangi players left in Pakistan practicing this ancient art form. Plus Jaubi guitarist and band leader Ali Riaz Baqar, providing the guitar accompaniment. ‘Kirwani’ is a musical scale in Hindustani classical music. It is an Indian raga specially suited for instrumental music. The scale is the same as the harmonic minor in western music. Kashif Ali Dhani on tabla and Tender on flute join for a spontaneous and therapeutic exchange.
Side two begins with ‘Azeem’, which provides a peaceful moment for reflection with Tender on alto flute, Kashif Ali Dhani on vocals and Zohaib Hassan Khan on sarangi. ‘Kirwani part ii’ is an alternate take of the aforementioned original, this time featuring Tender on soprano saxophone in conversation with Kashif Ali Dhani on tabla. The album finishes with ‘Impressions’ a pure raga (Raga Ba Khizer), the taala (rhythmic cycle) is Ektaal (12 beat cycle). It is similar to the raga that Tender first heard Ronu Majumdar play. This beautiful scale, that Tender would often practice back home, becomes the musical framework for rich improvisations. Joined by Zohaib Hassan Khan on sarangi with Kashif Ali Dhani providing the stunning backdrop on tabla, weaving in and out of complex rhythmic patterns. Marek Pędziwiatr, from EABS & Astigmatic Records, provides the synth drone backdrop on all of the tracks.
This album fulfils part of a dream for Tenderlonious and 22a. It would not have been possible without the help of Łukasz Wojciechowski and Astigmatic Records, who helped us bring this idea to life. The next stage is bringing these wonderful musicians from Pakistan over to the UK and Europe to record, perform and fulfil their dreams – Inshallah.
credits
releases November 27, 2020
Ed ‘Tenderlonious’ Cawthorne; flutes & soprano saxophone
Members of Jaubi:
Kashif Ali Dhani; tabla & vocals
Zohaib Hassan Khan; sarangi
Ali Riaz Baqar; guitar
also featuring:
Marek Pędziwiatr; synth drone
Recorded at Riot Studios, Lahore
Mixed by Rhys Downing
Executive Producer; Oliver Reeves
A&R; Łukasz Wojciechowski
Special thanks to:
Khalid Salimi, Mohammad Riaz Baqar, Uzma Rao & Farad Humayun

In February 2018, Roy Ayers performed four sold out shows in Los Angeles as part of the Jazz Is Dead Black History Month series. It wasn’t until 2020 that fans of Ayers discovered that in addition to those shows, the legendary vibraphone player had also recorded an entire album of new material with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.
Over the course of its eight original compositions, written collaboratively by Younge, Shaheed Muhammad & Ayers and recorded at Younge’s Linear Labs in Los Angeles, the resulting album sounds both like an unearthed an unreleased album from Ayers’ classic period in the 1970s (which produced the oft-sampled “Red, Black & Green,” “We Live In Brooklyn, Baby,” “Everybody Loves The Sunshine,” and “Running Away), as well as something startling, new and unexpected.
Joining Ayers, Younge & Shaheed Muhammad on this musical journey are drummer Greg Paul, vocalists Loren Oden, Joy Gilliam, Saudia Yasmein, Elgin Clark & Anitra Castleberry, as well as Phil Ranelin & Wendell Harrison of the legendary Spiritual Jazz label Tribe Records.
The 8 tracks on this album testify to the love not only of a legendary musician’s legacy, but to the vitality & necessity of this music and these sounds in the present era, a thread that will likely run throughout all of the upcoming releases from Jazz Is Dead Records.
credits
releases June 19, 2020

The follow-up to 2018's underground jazz milestone from Los Angeles-based musicians Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes. Music for Saxofone & Bass Guitar More Songs collects nine additional songs from the duo.

John Paul Pizzarelli Jr. (born April 6, 1960) is an American jazz guitarist and vocalist. He has recorded over twenty solo albums and has appeared on more than forty albums by other recording artists, including Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Rosemary Clooney; his father, jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; and his wife, singer Jessica Molaskey.

Various - 《Pure Cool》《爵士惊艳》
由京文引进的“Blue Note”（ 蓝调之音）厂牌的经典合辑《Pure Cool》以《爵士惊艳》之名在国内终于上市了。许多权威人士认为“Blue Note”是最杰出的爵士音乐品牌。“Blue Note”唱片公司由Alfred Lion于1939年创建了如今，具有六十年历史的爵士经典厂牌“蓝调之音”为听众奉献了永不会过时的16首经典爵士曲，经典的爵士巨星超越时空地隽永演出，使熟悉的旋律带给人留下最念念不忘的浪漫记忆。
专辑《Pure Cool》汇集了“Blue Note”旗下众多的杰出音乐家的作品，Chet Baker、Miles Davis、Charlie Hunter、 Earl Klugh,、Stanley Turrentine.、Julie London、Sarah Vaughan和Dexter Gordon等众多爵士音乐家的加盟，使其成为了一张异常珍贵的爵士音乐合辑。开篇曲是冷爵士小号演奏家Chet Baker用一曲《My Funny Valentine》（《我甜蜜的情人节》）进行诱惑，其忧郁的歌声也正是代表了他的一生——英俊的外行酷似一名电影明星，然而他却在50年代中期染上了吸毒，1988年，他在阿姆斯特丹坠楼身亡。冷爵士的始作俑者、也在Fusion等多种爵士音乐曲风中都有着杰出贡献的Miles Davis演绎的《It Never Entered My Mind》，是不会不根植于你头脑之中的。爵士乐历史上无与伦比的次中音萨克斯演奏家、先锋派爵士乐中的杰出代表John Coltrane，为我们献上了《I’m old Fashioned》，或许其勇于在音乐上探索的一生正好与他的这首曲目的名称背道而驰。最令布鲁斯吉它大师Stevie Ray Vaughan喜爱的爵士吉它演奏家Kenny Burrel可谓Bebop中的领军人物，他的一曲《Asphalt Canyon Blues》会让你体会技巧与意境的完美结合。
总之，这是一张完美而充满诱惑力的专辑！当爵士乐散发出性感而慵懒的情绪，此时却产生出一种令人依恋的的曲调，紧紧依附在你的心灵深处，敏若游丝地滑动。在将近70分钟的音乐享受中，音乐绝不让你有一丝的不安。你可以在音乐的诱惑下，静下心去细细品味Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Earl Klugh, Julie London, Jacky Terrasson等人的音乐。热烈的萨克斯、冷静的钢琴以及充满热带风情的吉他，都散发出天鹅绒般的质感。演奏者精心挑选了曲目，使我们在面对爱、希望以及其他种种美好的情感时，在音乐中得到升华。这是张没有任何拼凑成份的好专辑。音乐静静地流淌着，一丝不乱。当你沉浸其中，电话铃声只会让你厌烦。在炎热的夜晚，音乐会让你燥热的心倾刻间平静如水。你也会在那一瞬间成为爵士乐最亲密的伙伴和最忠实的倾慕者。
曲目：
01. Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine
查特.贝克 (演唱/小号) -可笑的情人节 电影[天才雷普利]
02. Miles Davis - It Never Entered My Mind
迈尔.戴维斯 (小号) -我从不在意它 电影[落跑新娘]
03. Nat King Cole - (I Love You)For Sentimental Reasons
纳京高 (演唱)-(我爱你)因为一个感伤的理由 电影[爱在心里口难开]
04. Dexter Gordon - Don t Explain
德斯特.戈登 (萨克斯风) -不要解释
05. June Christy - Something Cool
珺.克莉丝提 (演唱) -清凉事物
06. Jacky Terrasson - I Fall In Love Too Easily
杰基.泰瑞森 (钢琴) -我太容易跌入爱河
07. Julie London - Cry Me A River
茱莉.伦敦 (演唱) -哭泣成河
08. Stanley Turrentine - God Bless The Child
史坦利.图伦汀 (高音萨克斯风) -老天保佑孩子
09. Sarah Vaughan - Round Midnight
莎拉.佛汉 (演唱) -午夜前后 电影[午夜旋律]
10.John Coltrane - I m Old Fashioned
约翰.寇川 (萨克斯风) -我是老古板 最具影响力一代宗师的抒情角落
11. Earl Klugh - The Shadow Of Your Smile
厄尔.克鲁 (吉他) -你微笑的影子 电影[艳阳天]
12. Dianne Reeves -You Taught My Heart To Sing
黛安.瑞芙 (演唱) -你教我的心如何歌唱
13. Charlie Hunter with Stefon Harris -People
查理.杭特 (吉他)/史帝冯.哈里斯 (钢琴) -人们
14. Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley - Save Your Love For Me
南西.威尔森 (演唱)/加农炮.艾德利 (萨克斯风) -把你的爱留给我
15. Kenny Burrell & Grover Washington, Jr. -Asphalt Canyon Blues
肯尼.布瑞尔 (吉他)/小葛鲁佛.华盛顿(萨克斯风) 柏油峡谷蓝调
16. Cassandra Wilson -Tupelo Honey
卡珊卓.威尔森(演唱) 茱萸蜜汁 蓝调之音当家首席女歌手迷离经典

In the early-1970s, Roy Ayers started his own band called Roy Ayers Ubiquity, a name he chose because ubiquity means a state of being everywhere at the same time

Arranged By – Rudolph Johnson
Artwork By – Bud Doty
Bass – Kent L. Brinkley*
Drums – Douglas J. Sides*
Piano – Kirk Lightsey
Producer – Gene Russell
Saxophone [Tenor] – Rudolph Johnson
From rear of sleeve:
"One of the factors that keeps creative black music alive and changing is the ability of the musicians to blend their experience and emotions into the actual fibers(sic) of the music. RUDOLPH JOHNSON is a black musician who has reached that plane where spirit and techniques fuse to form free creative energy. This second album for Rudolph is like the transition between these two states, releasing the energies of rebirth.....THE SECOND COMING."
Published by Creative Music and Black Jazz Music/ASCAP.
1973 Ovation Incorporated.

2008 has been the year of Herbie Hancock! Some of his achievements and high profile appearances include: Grammy Award winning album of the year, Down Beat's Artist of the Year and more. In an illustrious career that spans five decades, Hancock has become a cultural icon and the world’s most recognizable and highly respected instrumentalist. His recent releases and extensive catalog create an astounding body of seminal and groundbreaking recordings with combined CD sales of 2.5 million units! This 12 track compilation features two previously unreleased live recordings as well as 10 Hancock classics.

Flautist and saxophonist, Chip Wickham returns with Blue to Red, his most absorbing and cosmically-charged offering to date. Soaring flute melodies, lush harp arpeggios and glistening Rhodes keys interact across six journeying, spiritual jazz compositions, leaning on a rich palette of sounds beyond borders, space and time.
Channeling the spirit of Alice Coltrane and Yusef Lateef via the lens of a hip-hop, electronic and club music educated ear, Blue to Red encompasses Wickham’s disparate set of production influences with his Manchester and spiritual jazz education.
The album, not only seeks to forewarn Earth’s possible Mars-like future but seeks to tap into the interplanetary, cosmic nature of music. “It’s a culture crisis rather than a climate crisis, one that can only be solved if we go right to the core of how we live as human beings”.
Born and raised in Brighton, UK, Wickham moved to Manchester to attend college. He soon moved into music going on to perform and record with a formidable and diverse list of artists from his Manchester base including Nightmares on Wax and Andy Votel as well as regular funk excursions with The New Mastersounds. However it was upon his meeting of Mancunian trumpeter/bandleader of Gondwana Orchestra, Matthew Halsall, and other influential... more
credits
released May 8, 2020
Chip Wickham, Flute and Sax
Jon Scott, Drums
Simon ‘Sneaky’ Houghton, Double Bass and Cello
Dan ‘JD 73’ Goldman, Keys
Amanda Whiting, Harp
Rick Weedon, Percussion
All songs written and arranged by Chip Wickham
Recorded at Big Noise Studios in Essex +
Recording Engineer: Simon ‘Stingray’ Davies
Mastering: Pete Maher
Mixed & Produced: Chip Wickham

Herbie Hancock于1940年4月12日出生于芝加哥的一个音乐之家.
Hancock七岁开始学习钢琴,两年以后就开始他的第一次公开演出.高中和大学时期他在一些半专业的乐团中演奏,偶尔有机会为一些造访的爵士乐手伴奏,其中就有Donald Byrd.1961年,Hancock第一次在纽约演出就是和Donald Byrd合作,后来自己建乐团时也和Donald Byrd合作过. 他声名鹊起获得广泛承认的是他加入Miles Davis的五重奏以后.他与Miles共同呆了五年多,在与Davis合作的后期,乐队开始演奏Jazz-rock的风格,Hancock对这种风格十分适应,1968年他自己组了一个六重奏追求自己的演奏观念.他们演奏Hancock原创的作品,乐队成为70年代早期最受欢迎和最具影响力Jazz-Rock乐队. 从1969年开始,Hancock广泛使用电钢琴和其他电子乐器,包括合成器.1973年迫于经济压力Hancock将他的乐队削减为四重奏,其中包括特色乐手Bennie Maupin.新乐队的风格还是Fusion,但这次更多偏向于Jazz-Funk.Hancock四重奏的首张专辑Head Hunters被刚萌芽的Disco乐界广泛接受而且赢得巨大的销量.整个七十年代其余的时间，Hancock的音乐始终关注于这个领域.期间他也制作了数张传统爵士专辑,其中有与Chick Corea一起的以及他自己乐队V.S.O.P.
Hancock在音乐中展现了一种影响深远的创造性,为流行唱片工业设立了一个标准.音乐在形式上是理性的产物,但其内容却是无法缺少热情的, V.S.O.P.乐队的作品一向以其完整性、强烈的情绪和原创性着称.尽管Hancock最初的兴趣在传统爵士上,但他非常有技巧地将其音乐的探索推向其他的领域,创作出一组激动人心的作品.

《迈尔斯戴维斯·泛蓝调调》是20世纪顶尖爵士乐手最完美的一次经典录音，透过重新数位制作呈献细腻感动的质素；也是认识史上最伟大爵士巨人Miles Davis的入门推荐，与爵士乐迷收藏的必备经典！

素有“黑暗王子”之称的小号巨擘 Miles Davis （1929-91）是一位奠定50年代酷派（Cool School）冷调风格，开创60年代末期Jazz-Rock 融合（Fusion）新乐风的先锋；受到波普（Bop）时期最具代表性萨克斯风大师Charlie Parker提携，Miles Davis由纽约52街的酒吧表演跨入大乐团，而后自组五重奏的历程，不仅绽放个人深刻色彩，更跨越肤色藩篱成就后起之秀。这张专辑除了获得企鹅爵士五星最高评价，也是各家乐评一致推荐的世纪不朽作品；自1959年发行至今届满四十周年，美国当地销售超越七十万张，全球销售高达两百万张。

“Kind Of Blue”谱写酷派爵士时期，调式爵士（modal）经典代表；由Miles Davis与作曲及钢琴家Bill Evans共同蕴织出主要行进线，以贯穿整张专辑的概念为主轴，藉着其他乐手的加入而渲染蔓延转化层次分明的无际空间。参与本专辑的乐手们在日后皆成为爵士乐界要角，而“Kind Of Blue”也是 Miles Davis五重奏巅峰时期的专辑，每一位乐手表现超高水准。中音萨克风手John Coltrane与Miles共有的灵巧思绪以纯熟的默契化作柔畅的旋律，在最具代表性曲目“So What”中，可以发现两人即兴演奏的精彩绝伦。而高音萨克斯风手“Connonball” Adderley、贝斯名将Paul Chambers和鼓手James Cobb在Miles穿针引线的前导带领，凝聚演绎技巧绝妙境界的最高张力。只出现在“Flamenco Sketches”一曲的钢琴大师Wynton Kelly，同样跟乐手们演出完美契合的对话，专辑还有未曾在黑胶唱片时收录的版本！

01 那又如何 So What
02 不速之客弗莱迪Freddie Freeloader
03 绿中蓝Blue in Green
04 绝对布鲁斯All Blues
05 弗拉门高素描Flamenco Sketches
06 弗拉门高素描（黑胶唱片未收录版本）