“It is profoundly different from everything he’s released before; Alexander’s playing is less showy and more settled-down than his previous work. The record emphasizes his original compositions, which have broadly singable, surprisingly approachable melodies, and grooves that slide and saunter far from typical swing.”
From LaFarge’s upcoming album Rock Bottom Rhapsody, “End of My Rope” is the next glimpse into the genre-blending singer’s first album in over three years. “This album is about the story of who I used to be,” LaFarge asserts, detailing his motivation for the concept of the record.
The Soul Rebels won big at OffBeat Magazine’s 2020 Best of the Beat Awards. Delivering the star performance of the ceremony, the pop/hip hop brass ensemble received accolades for Best Brass Band, Best Music Video, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year.
From This Place, Pat Metheny’s new upcoming album, is featured on the cover of the March 2020 issue of DownBeat Magazine. In a telling interview with Metheny, DownBeat explores the distinct new songwriting approach that the renowned guitarist is employing on the record.
Ranky Tanky have achieved many firsts for South Carolina’s West African-rooted Gullah community since their formation, earning yet another milestone at last night’s GRAMMY Awards by taking home the Best Regional Roots Album prize for their sophomore release, Good Time. The album, which also hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart over the summer, combines songs carried down through generations in the Sea Islands of the Southeastern United States with the band’s own original compositions in the Gullah tradition. In Ranky Tanky’s hands, this style of music has been described as “soulful honey to the ears” (NPR) while being covered by the New York Times, NPR’s Fresh Air and The TODAY Show, who had the band on for a performance earlier this year.
Watch Ranky Tanky accept their GRAMMY for Best Regional Roots Album
Watch Ranky Tanky perform “Freedom” on The TODAY Show here
In anticipation of Alexander’s forthcoming Verve Records debut Warna, Joey goes live with WBGO to showcase his “exciting and bold” new music.
“Everybody loves a good fruit song, right,” says Kathleeen Parks, lead singer and fiddler of Twisted Pine. Papaya is the first video and single off the pop/bluegrass string band’s forthcoming album, set for release July 10, 2020, on Signature Sounds Records.
Congrats to Jontavious Willis, Bobby Rush and Walter Trout on their 2020 BMA nods!
Willis is nominated in three categories: Best Emerging Artist, Best Traditional Blues Male Artist, and Best Traditional Blues Album for his 2019 release Spectacular Class
Rush is nominated for the prestigious B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Best Soul Blues Album for his record Sitting on Top of the Blues.
Trout is a contender for both Best Blues Rock Artist and Best Blues Rock Album, for his covers album Survivor Blues.
Catherine Russel’s album Alone Together landed the number one spot in JazzWeek’s 2019 top 100 chart. The album spent five weeks at No. 1, from March 18 to April 15, 2019.
“Alone Together offers a welcome reminder that there’s no one else in jazz doing what [Catherine] does, and that the scene would be immeasurably poorer without her.” – JazzWeek
Sunny Jain talks about his experience writing and record his Smithsonian Folkways debut album Wild Wild East.