More Artists Announced For Jazz Festival 55

It was announced today that more artists have been announced for George Wein’s JAZZ FESTIVAL 55. The festival takes place, August 7 - 9 in Newport, RI.

Mos Def and Ernest Ranglin have been added to the stellar line-up of artists. Other additions to the 2009 line-up are Vandermark 5, Branford-Joey Duo, Claudia Acuña, North Carolina Central University Big Band, Millennial Territory Orchestra, Rashied Ali-Charles Gayle-William Parker’s “By Any Means” and Alfredo Rodriguez.

The Line Up

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 ~ 8:00 pm
International Tennis Hall of Fame, 194 Bellevue Avenue

• Etta James and The Roots Band

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 ~ 11:30 am – 7:00 pm
Fort Adams State Park, Harrison Avenue

• Mos Def
• Branford Marsalis Quartet
• Joshua Redman Double Trio
• Esperanza Spalding
• Cedar Walton All-Stars with Lew Tabackin & Curtis Fuller
• Hiromi’s SonicBloom
• Ernest Ranglin
• Vandermark 5
• Christian McBride
• Vijay Iyer Trio
• Marsalis Music Presents Miguel Zenón
• North Carolina Central Big Band
• Branford-Joey Duo
• Claudia Acuña

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 ~ 11:30 am – 7:00 pm
Fort Adams State Park, Harrison Avenue

• Tony Bennett
• Dave Brubeck Quartet
• Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band
• Michel Camilo
• Joe Lovano UsFive
• The Bad Plus with Wendy Lewis
• Conversation with Christian McBride
• Millennial Territory Orchestra
• Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
• Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Indo-Pak Coalition
• Rashied Ali-Charles Gayle-William Parker’s “By Any Means”
• Alfredo Rodriguez
• The Rodriguez Brothers

www.jazzfestival55.com

2009 Playboy Jazz Festival

For all of you left coast groovies or those planning on being out that way, the 31st Annual Playboy Jazz Festival will take place this year on June 13 and 14 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

They've got renowned trumpeter Jon Faddis with his quartet scheduled. Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings are on the bill too. I like them! Bill Cosby will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The Line Up

Saturday

• The Neville Brothers
• Kind of Blue @ 50: ~Remembering the Miles Davis Classic ~Jimmy Cobb's So What Band featuring Wallace Roney, Vincent Herring, Javon Jackson, Larry Willis and Buster Williams
• Summer Storm starring Norman Brown, Wayman Tisdale, Eric Darius, featuring Gail Johnson
• Jon Faddis Quartet
• The Jack Sheldon Orchestra
• Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
• Pete Escovedo Orchestra featuring Sheila E., Peter Michael and Juan Escovedo
• Esperanza Spalding
• Cos of Good Music featuring Dwayne Burno, Ndugu Chancler, Anat Cohen, Luis Conte, Tanya Darby and Geoffrey Keezer
• Direct from New Orleans, New Birth Brass Band
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jason Goldman

Sunday

• Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez
• Kenny G
• Patti Austin
• King Sunny Ade
• Dave Holland Big Band
• Monty Alexander's Jazz & Roots
• Oscar Hernandez and the L.A. Salsa All Stars
• Anat Cohen Quartet
• Quincy Jones presents, Alfredo Rodriguez
• North Hollywood High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Jonathan Kenion

www.playboyjazzfestival.com

On Sale Dates For The Week of April 19

Tickets go on sale this week for upcoming shows in the New York Area.

On Sale Wednesday, April 22, 2009

May 20 -- Will Dailey / April Smith & The Great Picture Show at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com

On Sale Thursday, April 23, 2009

May 27 -- Hill Country Revue (pictured) at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com

On Sale Friday, April 24, 2009

June 9 -- PJ Harvey & John Parish at Beacon Theatre
www.beacontheatre.com
June 18 -- Phoenix at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
June 20 -- The Juan Maclean at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
June 23 -- Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
June 24 -- Patterson Hood & The Screwtopians at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
June 24 -- Hank III & Assjack at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
June 26 -- Aerosmith / ZZ Top at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
www.jonesbeach.com
July 1 -- Harlem Shakes (pictured) at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com


On Sale Saturday, April 25, 2009

June 22 -- The Enemy UK at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com

Chester French: Love The Future

I picked up Love The Future, the debut full-length release from D.A. Wallach and Max Drummey, better known as the duo Chester French. It should be noted that I have a soft spot for Chester French. How could I not? I look at them and think, 'they look like my somewhat nerdy, younger brothers who happen to make music, are smart and damn good at marketing.' Well, that is if I had younger brothers! At any rate you just wanna hug 'em and give 'em ice cream. But, I digress.

Love The Future lets the world in on what fans already knew, Chester French doesn't really fit into a predefined category. The Tejano? styling's of their "Introduction" kicks things off. If you didn't already know, then you were pretty much clued in at that point that you were in for some sort of musical diversity. "C'mon (On My Own)" is up next and it's a solid pop rock bit. It's what comes after that, that's worth the price of the album on it's own. "Bebe Buell," is hands down my favorite song on the album. This addictive number mixes dirty guitar work some serious clap along keyboard driven pop music. If I weren't already hooked on Chester French, this song would have hooked me.

"Fingers," another favorite of mine, is like a cross between The Beatles and Tony Orlando. What? Am I the only one who thinks that? Well, this wouldn't be the first time that I've made questionable comparisons. Something about the song reminds me of 70's TV variety shows. They've managed to create imagery in my head that can only be found in those old variety shows. I can just see them now, fully costumed, dancing around a sound stage in some delightfully cheesy choreographed musical skit that has nothing to do with the song. One would reckon I'm going to say that's a bad thing but, I'm not! I have very fond memories of watching all 750 different music/comedy variety shows that aired in the 70's during my formative years. Hold up, that makes me sound really old! At any rate, it's a bang up orchestrated pop song.

Where the brilliant "String Interlude" is a brief but dramatic string filled break, the equally brilliant "Country Interlude" is anything but country with it's various effects and instrumentation's. Musically, it's rather creepy sounding going from mad guitar to what sounds like a xylophone (vibraphone?) that beckons you to soft shoe, back to the mad buzzing guitar. Yeah, there's a trip that's just waiting to happen with this song and a good pair of headphones.

"Beneath The Veil" has a rockabilly vibe. At the same time, it has a bit of a retro "these boots are made for walking" dance beat to it. I'm not sure I've ever heard a tap dance solo in a song that didn't involve a Broadway show and $150 tickets. But there's one in this song. This is where that somewhat nerdy part comes in. People go to shows and yell out guitar/bass/drum solo but NOBODY ever yells out tap dance solo! Are D.A. and Max trying to start a trend? If anyone can inspire people to go to a show and start yelling out for someone to bust a mad tap dance solo, it's Chester French. I do like the song, by the way.

"Beneath The Veil" is followed by two other goodies, "Neal," with it's sax and piano bits and "Not Over You." Everyone knows the catchy "The Jimmy Choos" and "She Loves Everybody." They're both here and just as catchy as ever.

Love The Future is a enjoyable piece of work. It embraces many styles, mixes them all together and does so without sounding like a train wreck.

Track Listing

• Introduction
• C'mon (On My Own)
• Bebe Buell
• String Interlude
• The Jimmy Choos
• Time To Unwind
• Fingers
• Country Interlude
• Beneath The Veil
• Neal
• Not Over You
• She Loves Everybody
• Sleep

www.chesterfrench.com
www.myspace.com/chesterfrench

Around New York ... April 20 - April 26, 2009

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

April 20 -- The Bronx / Trash Talk at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
April 20 -- Brookeville / Tinted Windows at Mercury Lounge (sold out)
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
April 20 -- Lily Allen at Roseland Ballroom
www.roselandballroom.com

April 21 -- Tall Black Girls (pictured) at The Annex
www.theannexnyc.com
April 21 -- Larune at The Living Room
www.livingroomny.com


April 22 -- Starfucker / Guidance Counselor / Mancino at Union Hall
www.unionhallny.com
Aprill 22 -- Ratatat at Terminal 5
www.terminal5nyc.com
April 22 -- Jack's Mannequin at Irving Plaza
www.irvingplaza.com
April 22 -- Quintron & Miss Pussycat / Psychedelic Horseshit / Drink Up Buttercup at Santos Party House
www.santospartyhouse.com
April 23 -- An Evening with Issa, Amy Ziff & Peter Jöback at City Winery
www.citywinery.com
April 23 -- Shiny Toy Guns (pictured) / Semi Precious Weapons at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com
April 23 - 24 -- Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio at Blender Theatre At Gramercy
www.blendertheater.com
April 24 -- Adam Taylor at Roots Cafe
www.myspace.com/rootscafebrooklyn
April 24 -- Talking To Walls at Red Star
www.redstarny.com
April 25 -- The Dead at Madison Square Garden
www.thegarden.com
April 25 -- Handsome Family / Marissa Nadler at Highline Ballroom
www.highlineballroom.com

Talking To Walls Are Brooklyn Bound

Connecticut band Talking to Walls are heading to Brooklyn. Yep, that's right folks, the gang will be at Red Star this Friday, April 24. Head on over and check them out!www.talkingtowalls.com

www.myspace.com/talkingtowalls
www.redstarny.com

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio To Play NYC

Back in July of 1975, Lou Reed released the double album Metal Machine Music. Reed is now revisiting the concept of that work with his Metal Machine Trio. On Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 at Blender Theater at Gramercy, Reed (guitar/electronics), along with Ulrich Krieger (tenor sax/live-electronics) and Sarth Calhoun (live processing/Fingerboard Continuum) will be performing A Deep Night of Noise. You're not going to get the typical "Sweet Jane," "Walk On The Wild Side," "White Light/White Heat" or other legendary songs that made him a music icon. These will be improvised non-vocal shows. Fans of Lou Reed and avant-garde works should enjoy these gigs.

Tickets for both shows can be purchased HERE and it should be noted that they're half-price with a valid student ID when purchased at Blender Theater at Gramercy or Irving Plaza.

Download samples of "Night 1" and "Night 2" from The Creation of the Universe for an idea of what you'll be hearing at these gigs if you're not already in the know!

www.loureed.com

On Sale Dates For George Wein's FOLK FESTIVAL 50 & George Wein's JAZZ FESTIVAL 55

I mentioned in an earlier post that dates for folk and jazz festivals in Newport had been announced by music impresario George Wein. Today, ticket sale dates have been announced for George Wein's FOLK FESTIVAL 50, which will take place July 31 – August 2, and George Wein's JAZZ FESTIVAL 55, which will take place August 7 – 9, in Newport, RI.

Tickets for FOLK FESTIVAL 50 go on sale Wednesday, May 6, at 10:00 am at www.folkfestival50.com.

Confirmed artists for FOLK FESTIVAL 50 are festival co-founder Pete Seeger, The Decemberists, Arlo Guthrie, Fleet Foxes, Joan Baez, Neko Case, Judy Collins, Campbell Brothers, The Avett Brothers, Josh Ritter, Gillian Welch, Del McCoury, Iron & Wine, Tao Rodriguez Seeger, Balfa Toujours, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers, Langhorne Slim, Ben Kweller and Low Anthem.

Tickets for JAZZ FESTIVAL 55 will go on sale Thursday, April 23, at 10:00 am at www.jazzfestival55.com.

Confirmed artist for JAZZ FESTIVAL 55 include Tony Bennett, Branford Marsalis, Etta James, Esperanza Spalding, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Vijay Iyer Trio, Cedar Walton with Lew Tabackin & Curtis Fuller, Christian McBride Group, Roy Haynes Quintet, Joshua Redman Double Trio, Hiromi, The Bad Plus joined by Wendy Lewis, Michel Camilo, Joe Lovano, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Miguel Zenon, Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band and the Rodriguez Brothers.

www.folkfestival50.com
www.jazzfestival55.com

Hill Country Revue To Release Make A Move

Southern blues rock band Hill Country Revue, Cody Dickinson (guitar/drums/piano/washboard), Chris Chew (bass/vocals), Ed "Hot" Cleveland (drums), Daniel Coburn (vocals/harp) and Kirk Smithhart (guitar/vocals) will release their debut studio album, Make A Move on May 12.

Download "Alice Mae" from the upcoming album.

Track Listing

• Alice Mae
• Hill Country Revue
• Dirty Shirt
• You Can Make
• Let Me Love You
• Let’s Talk About Me And You
• Georgia Women
• Highway Blues
• Ramblin’
• Growing Up In Mississippi

www.hillcountryrevue.com
www.myspace.com/hillcountryrevue

Better Than Ezra Set To Release Paper Empire

Fans of Better Than Ezra have new music to look forward to. The band, Kevin Griffin (vocals, guitar), Tom Drummond (bass) and Michael Jerome (drums) will release their new album Paper Empire on May 12.

For those in the New York area, Better Than Ezra will be at Irving Plaza on June 19.

Download the single "Absolutely Still" from the upcoming album.

www.betterthanezra.com
www.myspace.com/betterthanezra