The Long Night Out Story

While attending DePaul University in Chicago, IL as a jazz studies major, I would listen to the contemporary jazz radio station in town, WNUA 95.5FM (which is no longer by the way). I loved listening to David Sanborn, Bob James, The Rippingtons, The Yellowjackets, Spyro Gyra, Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour, Joe Sample, Tom Scott, Jeff Lorber and many of the other jazz artists that were on the air in the early 90’s and I started thinking that I should write some music like this. I was always writing music and doing my own… Continue reading →

After a long hiatus, the Eric Starr Group is back with a brand new album entitled Such is Life. The album includes 10 new tracks by Eric and features Nelson Starr on vocals, piano, and guitar, Iain Ballamy on tenor saxophone, Ike Sturm on bass, and Eric on drums, vibes, and percussion. Also, special guests ETHEL (string ensemble) appear on five tracks. All of the songs, lyrics, and orchestrations are by Eric.

At its core, the Eric Starr Group (ESG) is a collaboration between brothers, Eric and Nelson Starr. Third-generation musicians from Western New York, the Starr brothers have performed… Continue reading →

Following the success of Chucho’s Steps and a series of world tours, Cuba’s foremost pianist has developed a brand new repertoire, the culmination of his ceaseless explorations within the world of Afro Cuban music, which he cherishes so much.

Boasting a new line up for his band, The Afro Cuban Messengers, and a guest appearance from legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis on three tracks, his new album takes us through an eclectic range of pieces, which are technically complex yet instantly captivating. His dazzling virtuosity as a pianist, his prodigious talents as a composer and his ingenious arrangements unite to create… Continue reading →

Matthew Shipp touches on the core of that which is unquantifiable in great art in this masterwork that he has titled Root of Things. Released by Relative Pitch Records, the acclaimed pianist’s expressions of form are the equal of extended classical pieces and with his limitless imagination, Shipp and his trio – Michael Bisio on bass, Whit Dickey on drums – beautifully play the invisible process of spontaneous improvisation as it occurs spontaneously from its ‘roots.’ Shipp’s musical creativity and expressiveness is his genius and he shares his unique voice on six great songs.

Opening with the title track, the… Continue reading →

Former San Diego bass great Nathan East has performed on more albums than almost any other bassist in the past 30 years. His recording partners have included Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, George Harrison, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Whitney Houston, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Joe Satriani, Kenny Loggins and literally hundreds more. This summer, he was featured on several songs on Daft Punk’s album “Random Access memories,’ including “Get Lucky,” one of the biggest records of the year and a likely contender for multiple Grammy nominations later this week.

A graduate of Crawford High School and UC… Continue reading →

Chris Standring returns with another musical left turn with Don’t Talk, Dance!, a deep European progressive soul-jazz-dance influenced project featuring the best funk and soul studio musicians in Los Angeles. This 13-track set (with 2 bonus cuts) features Chris as arranger, orchestrator and producer, along with his signature solo jazz and fusion guitar sounds.

Drawing on 70′s style funk and soul inspiration, Chris raises the bar once again with an album that is impossible to sit still to. The first radio single “Sneakin’ Out The Front Door,” features Chris on guitar talkbox, and harks back to a time… Continue reading →

Dianne Reeves is set to release her Concord Records debut, Beautiful Life, this month.  The album showcases Reeves’ sublime gifts by melding elements of R&B, Latin and pop within the framework of 21st Century jazz. “At its essence,” says Reeves, “Life is beautiful and I wanted to celebrate that which is too often overlooked.”There should be no overlooking Beautiful Life, a journey of 12 songs which includes singularly memorable covers of Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You” and Ani DiFranco’s self-empowering “32 Flavors.”

Included… Continue reading →

Thhis new release features Brian McCarthy on sax, Ray Vega on trumpet, Justin Kauflin on piano, Evan Gregor on bass and Quinn Blandford on drums.

This release contains eight swinging, straight-ahead jazz tracks infused with modern elements.

An accomplished performer and formidable composer and arranger, Brian saxophonist is emerging as a prominent example of the modern day instrumentalist. Seven Days called him “…a staple of the New England jazz scene.” Jazz trumpet marvel, Ray Vega, called him plainly, “one of the most important jazz musicians to the Vermont scene,” a sentiment echoed by mentor and saxophone guru Dr. David Demsey,… Continue reading →

Two years ago, Sofia, Melanie, Amanda, and August von Trapp came to Portland to perform with the Oregon Symphony, and soon thereafter were drawn into the orbit of Thomas Lauderdale. Thomas, who believes The Sound of Music was the last great American film, found these real-life descendents of that legendary family to be as magical as the movie itself, and it didn’t take long until The von Trapps had moved to Portland and cultivated a lasting bond with Thomas and Pink Martini.

Dream a Little Dream is the culmination of this collaboration. The album features the crystalline four-part harmonies of… Continue reading →

Cheryl Barnes has recorded a program that exemplifies who she is as an artist. Listen To This takes the acclaimed jazz vocalist in all the musical directions her spirit and voice have lead her throughout the years as a performer. Produced by Rahn Coleman (who also arranged several tracks), Cheryl is accompanied by a coterie of stellar musicians including orchestrator John Beasley, saxophonists Brandon Fields, Pete Christlieb and Rickey Woodard, Rickey Minor on bass, and pianist Phillip Cabasso, among others.

The program consists of 12 great songs written by an assortment of composers including John Hammond, Mark Winkler, and Joni… Continue reading →