GA Russell

The thing about Soul and Inspiration was that Spector did not allow his books to be audited, so S and I was their first Certified Gold record.

Certainly The Mothers!

Spin Cycle Further Refines Its Adventuresome Sound on Sophomore Album "Assorted Colors," Set for Release April 6 on Sound Footing Records Co-Led by Drummer Scott Neumann & Saxophonist Tom Christensen, The Quartet Also Includes Guitarist Pete McCann & Bassist Phil Palombi CD Release Gig Scheduled for April 13, Smalls, NYC February 22, 2018 One of the freshest sounding bands to emerge on the jazz scene in this or any decade, Spin Cycle follows up its critically acclaimed eponymous debut from 2016 with the release on April 6 of Assorted Colors(Sound Footing Records). The new recording, coming after two years of intensive touring that further refined their distinctive take on jazz, sustains the praise bestowed by DownBeat's Ed Enright in his rave review of their first album that hailed the band as "a cohesive unit that commands an exceptional stylistic range and exhibits a go-for-broke attitude." On their sophomore release, the piano-less quartet delivers more of the "bright melodic lines, deep-seated grooves, catchy rhythmic devices and sophisticated harmony" cited by Enright, who praised them for "improvisations run wild, as soloists embrace aggressive and daring ideas from the realms of modal jazz, free-jazz, second-line and soul, not to mention good old-fashioned swing." Founded in 2014 and co-led by drummer Scott Neumann and saxophonist Tom Christensen, who have known and played with each other in various settings for well over 25 years, Spin Cycle is rounded out by guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Phil Palombi. The four musicians are mainstays of the New York jazz scene. The title Assorted Colors alludes in part to the broad and eclectic stylistic palettes Christensen and Neumann each draw upon while crafting the compositions that define Spin Cycle's musical direction. (Christensen contributed six tunes to the session, Neumann five.) "One of our aims was to develop the songs not by adding sections but by building on the form itself via solos or concepts," Neumann says. "We wrote things that got to the heart of the matter, but also were vehicles that allowed us to stretch," Christensen adds. L. to r.: Phil Palombi, Tom Christensen, Scott Neumann, Pete McCann. Spin Cycle's decision to use a guitar rather than a piano in the band enables the creation of unusual blends of airy textures that are a trademark of the band's tonal tapestries. "Guitar chords are more sparse than piano chords, they're more open sounding," says Christensen. Among the Christensen tunes on Assorted Colors are the arresting minor-key "Possum Dark," in his words a "swaggering bad ass blues" named after the enforcer in the post-apocalyptic novella Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus, and the stripped-down, minimalism-streaked "Two Pan Man," on which he lets it rip on tenor while guitarist McCann, according to the composer, "sounds almost like a second wind player." Neumann's compositions include the sharp-angled, Monk-inspired "Break Tune," whose infectious swing and sense of fun provide a spirited introduction to the album. Neumann, who spent a week in Cuba in 2017 studying with Cuban drummers, also composed "To the Puente," an intriguing blend of the son montuno and modern mambo accents à la Chick Corea. "Affirmation" has a cool, rolling vibe recalling some of Pat Metheny's classic recordings. Tom Christensen (b. 1961, Ventura, California; at right in photo) studied classical music and jazz at both undergraduate and graduate levels at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and moved to New York in 1989. For eight years, he was a member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, appearing on five of their albums. He also has played on such notable recordings as Joe Lovano's Celebrating Sinatra, Rufus Reid's Quiet Pride, and the David Liebman Big Band's Tribute to Wayne Shorter. His 2000 debut, Gualala, and 2002 effort, Paths, team him with multi-reedist Charles Pillow. His other recordings include Americana (2003) and Kailash (2007), on which he joins the Kailash Trio. Scott Neumann (b. 1962, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; at left in photo above) attended North Texas State and, before moving to New York in 1988, played with the Woody Herman Orchestra for a year. On his 2006 album, Osage County, he led a quartet including pianist David Berkman and saxophonist Sam Newsome; he recorded Blessed in 2014 as part of the Neu3 Trio, with Michael Blake and Mark Helias. A busy player on the New York scene who has collaborated with such luminaries as Kenny Barron and Ben Allison, Neumann has also accrued impressive credits as a vocal accompanist, a Broadway musician, and educator (he directs the drum studies program at Lehigh University). Spin Cycle will be performing a CD release show at Smalls, NYC, on Friday 4/13. They've also scheduled several appearances in Ohio, including a concert and master class at Youngstown State (Bliss Hall), in Youngstown, 1-4pm on 4/5; concert at Andrews House, Delaware, OH 4/6; concert with Denison University Jazz Band, Granville, 8pm on 4/7; and the Bop Stop in Cleveland, 4/7. Photography by Dennis Connors CD graphic design by Fanny Chiari-Gotschall Web Site: spincyclemusic.org

The movie of A Wrinkle in Time will open March 9. Sade has recorded a song for it called "Flower of the Universe." https://www.avclub.com/sade-returns-from-hiatus-to-write-new-song-for-a-wrinkl-1823165661

She remains one of my favorites! What a voice!

Happy Birthday Mike!

Happy Birthday Hans!

Happy Birthday Alan!

Happy Birthday John!

Happy Birthday Sandy!

Happy Birthday Joe!

Happy Birthday BfB!

Happy Birthday Victor!

Happy Birthday Zen!

Happy Birthday mr jazz!

I really, really like this one.

Sounds great! Break a leg Allen!

RIP Didier Lockwood!

Happy 65th Birthday June Jones! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Jones

Here is this morning's top 20 still available... http://3downnation.com/2018/02/17/whos-left-top-20-remaining-cfl-free-agents/#comments ***** Here are more memories of Leo Cahil. http://canoe.com/sports/football/cfl/toronto-argonauts/simmons-former-argos-coach-leo-cahill-dies-at-89/wcm/c8538f63-6c16-4c48-891d-4e52c14639c2 https://www.tsn.ca/former-argos-coach-gm-cahill-dies-at-89-1.1001648 http://3downnation.com/2018/02/17/davis-leo-lip-gone/#comments http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/argos-leo-cahill-obit-1.4539317

Shatner has signed to record a country record. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/16/william-shatner-inks-deal-with-country-music-label/

I'm confident that there will be more Leo Cahill obits tomorrow. ***** Today's signings... Kyries Hebert - Ottawa http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/als-cut-lb-kyries-hebert-upon-his-request/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/als-release-veteran-linebacker-kyries-hebert/ http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/former-alouettes-lb-kyries-hebert-signs-with-redblacks/#comments http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/hebert-makes-guarantee-reed-fine-squandering-feb-1-bonus-paid-to-linebacker/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/hebert-goes-back-roots-signs-redblacks/ Craig Roh - Winnipeg http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/bombers-sign-former-lions-dl-craig-roh/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/bombers-add-craig-roh-d-line/ Juron Criner - Edmonton http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/eskimos-add-former-redblacks-receiver-juron-criner/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/criner-esks-agree-one-year-deal/ Johnny Augustine - Sask http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/riders-sign-canadian-rb-johnny-augustine/#comments Derek Dennis - Calgary http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/back-to-calgary-ol-derek-dennis-rejoins-the-stampeders/#comments https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/stampeders-re-sign-ol-derek-dennis/ Keelan Johnson - BC https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/lions-ink-db-special-teams-ace-johnson/ ***** The league has released details of this year's CFL Week. https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/cfl-unveils-detailed-run-marks-cfl-week/

Pianist Roberta Piket Revisits Jazz Trio Format With the April 6 Release of "West Coast Trio" Featuring Drummer Joe La Barbera & Bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz Nine-Track Recording Includes Two New Originals; Standards by Richard Rodgers, Michel Legrand, & Walter Donaldson; A Samba by Djavan; & Inspired Interpretations of Works By Fellow Modern Jazz Pianist-Composers Chick Corea, John Hicks, & George Shearing CD Release Shows at Mezzrow, NYC, Thursday, April 19 (With Harvie S, Billy Mintz) & Maureen's Jazz Cellar, Nyack, NY, Saturday, April 21 February 16, 2018 Roberta Piket, one of the most virtuosic and versatile pianists on the current international jazz scene, revisits the iconic jazz piano trio format with the April 6 release of West Coast Trio on her label 13th Note Records. Joining Piket is the consummate rhythm section of drummer Joe La Barbera and bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz -- part of the vibrant West Coast jazz scene centered in metro-Los Angeles and whose presence inspired the album's title. Guitarist Larry Koonse guests on two tracks. In addition to debuting two new Piket originals ("Mentor," "A Bridge to Nowhere"), West Coast Trio includes inspired interpretations of an eclectic set of songs ranging from standards like "Falling in Love with Love," "Windmills of Your Mind," and "My Buddy" to the samba "Flor de Lis" by Brazilian singer-songwriter Djavan, as well as works by fellow modern jazz pianist-composers Chick Corea ("Humpty Dumpty"), John Hicks ("Yemenja"), and George Shearing ("Conception"). Serendipitously, West Coast Trio's release comes almost 22 years to the day that Piket entered the studio to record her debut album as a leader -- 1996's Unbroken Line (Criss Cross), primarily a quintet session, with Donny McCaslin, Javon Jackson, and Michael Formanek, among others -- and embarked on a career path now in its third decade. Along the way the pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader has explored with equal ease and equanimity a spectrum of stylistic settings ranging from the mainstream to the avant-garde, from acoustic to electric, from the solo recordings Solo (2012) and 2015's Emanation (Solo: Volume 2) to 2016's critically acclaimed One for Marian: A Tribute to Marian McPartland, a loving homage to one of her champions and mentors and, until now, the crown jewel of a multifaceted discography. A sextet project featuring Steve Wilson, Virginia Mayhew, Harvie S, Bill Mobley, and Billy Mintz, One for Marian celebrated McPartland's underappreciated body of work as a composer while offering Piket meaty material as an arranger. Piket's first love and the format that inspired her early love for jazz was the piano trio, and she is at her most relaxed and commanding when she's stretching out with a bassist and drummer -- something she demonstrates with authority throughout West Coast Trio. "I definitely feel the most at ease in a trio," Piket confides. "What the trio means to me is intimacy. There's such a directness of communication between the three musicians. It's all about interaction and not knowing what's going to come next. It's the essence of jazz." "The last few records I've done had more of an agenda with regard to the repertoire," Piket reflects. "On the two solo records I was thinking of ways of challenging myself. I wanted to choose pieces that force me to stretch, not just a bunch of standards. West Coast Trio is the first record in a while where I chose several tunes that are simply fun to blow over. Our only agenda was to make some beautiful music." Born in Queens, New York in 1965, Roberta Piketinherited a passion for music from both of her parents. Her father was the Austrian composer Frederick Piket, who made significant contributions to both the musical liturgy of Reform Judaism and the concert hall. Her mother, Cynthia, introduced her to the treasures of the Great American Songbook, and she learned by ear the tunes of Porter, Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers, and Berlin. Piket enrolled in the joint five-year double-degree program at Tufts University and New England Conservatory, graduating with a degree in computer science from the former and in jazz piano from the latter. After a year as a software engineer, she realized that her calling was music and returned to New York, where an NEA grant set her up to study with pianist Richie Beirach. Piket made her recording debut on an album by jazz legend Lionel Hampton and gained invaluable experience during the formative years of her career performing as a side-woman with David Liebman, Rufus Reid, Mickey Roker, Benny Golson, and Ted Curson. She performs regularly with the Scott Reeves/Jay Brandford Tentet and the Virginia Mayhew Quartet, in duo with Mayhew, and with Mintz's quintet/quartet with saxophonists Tony Malaby and John Gross, and bassist Hilliard Greene (with whom she also plays in his In & Out Ensemble) as well as focusing on solo piano performance. Roberta Piket will perform with her trio -- bassist Harvie S and drummer Billy Mintz -- at Mezzrow, NYC, on Thursday 4/19. She'll also be appearing at Maureen's Jazz Cellar, Nyack, NY, on Saturday 4/21. Photography by John Abbott "West Coast Trio" EPK Web Sites: robertajazz.com & thirteennoterecords.com/west-coast-trio/ (with audio samples)

Leo Cahill passed away today at 89. RIP. I had the pleasure of having lunch with him in '96! https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/16/cfl-argos-mourn-passing-legendary-coach-leo-cahill/ http://3downnation.com/2018/02/16/former-argos-head-coach-leo-cahill-passes-away-age-89/#comments I recommend his book Goodbye Argos. I enjoyed it very much. https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Argos-Leo-Cahill/dp/0771090625/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1518814793&sr=1-1&keywords=goodbye+argos

Some late news... Keelan Johnson - BC http://3downnation.com/2018/02/15/former-redblacks-special-teams-ace-signs-on-with-lions/#comments Ronnie Yell - Toronto http://3downnation.com/2018/02/15/argos-nab-former-lions-db-ronnie-yell/#comments Rory Kohlert - Edmonton http://3downnation.com/2018/02/15/canadian-receiver-rory-kohlert-moving-down-highway-2/#comments