Mike Metheny
(USA)
Composer, flügelhorn

Released in 2001 "Close Enough For Love" is a delightful recording crafted with grace and feeling by five great jazz musicians. At the heart of the music is the delicate sound of the flugelhorn beautifully performed by Mike Metheny. The lyrical intimacy of his compositions and playing is far from the "cookie cutter" jazz smoothies. Listening to the superb ballads included on this album you're not wrong if you think you hear echoes of Ennio Morricone! One of the highlights is an atmospheric duet played with his brother Pat and it's regrettable that these talented musicians don't have their duo-album yet!
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Multi-instrumentalist from Jakarta, Indonesia currently a California resident. Influenced by great bass players such as Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Reza developed his own improvised fusion oriented smooth jazz-funk style. His first recording "Bassment" is coming out soon. Listen to few cool sample tracks of this album we feature on our programs.
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A swing stylist and a key figure of his generation, young guitar virtuoso Lee Barbour brings new life to gipsy swing, infusing it with bossa nova and flamenco.
His trio Caravan, recorded in 2006 a wonderful set of 13 fascinating tunes in the modern swing key. Performed with creative imagination and technique their music sounds fresh and warm.
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Vince Delgado
(USA)
Drums/Percussion

An important force in the world music universe, Vince Delgado was an early pioneer of this genre. He gained recognition as a specialist in Middle Eastern percussion. His latest recording "Beginnings" (2005) is a wonderful fusion of colorful and innovative Eastern and Western themes.
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Lamine Touré and Group Saloum
(Senegal/USA)

Listen and dance to the mistery of Senegalese ethnic rhytms intertwined with funk, reggae, jazz and Afrobeat themes mixed audaciously by master percussionist Lamine Touré and his original band. An unique and imaginative recording rich in polyphonies and joyful rhytms.
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AfroMantra
(USA)

New York City based AfroMantra latest release, "Uplifting Spirit" is a superb recording rich in surprising improvisations built around afro latin themes, high energetic rhytms and experimental sonorities, everything played with extreme clarity and emotion by drummer/composer Alex Garcia and his bandmates.This is not Latin fusion "as usual", but another brilliant work of greatest creativity from this extraordinary band.
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There's a remarkable clarity in his playing that gives a fresh feeling to all compositions. Throughout the album the music evokes a land of joy and harmony captured in beautiful improvisations blended with authentic lyricism. Listen to his music of this virtuoso, it will bring the sun in your heart!
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The Why Because
(USA)

An album with appeal to fans of improvisational eclectic soundscapes and deep mysterious rhytms. It is hard to define or label the sonic sensation of this album rich in experimental acoustic-electric explorations performed by six magicians playing a multitude of instruments. We are in the middle of a musical happening where a secret ritual is delivered through individual and collective participation. Reflective, introverted passages morphing in exuberant fascinating crescendos reminding a shamanic Ravel's Bolero create unique moments of vibration and tension transposing the listener beyond surrealism toward a twilight musical zone.
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ABCD Gears
Chuck D'Aloia & Art Bernstein
(USA)

If you are not sure about how a duo of guitar and drums, may sound, let Chuck D'Aloia and Art Bernstein give you a unforgettable lesson. Not just because they are both educators with years of experience behind them, but simply because the result of their synergy and perfect coordination recorded on the three CDs they have released is amazing. For this duo, being a veteran doesn't imply losing the feeling and soul after hours and hours of gigs and recordings, anybody listening to their music will be impressed by the joyous, fresh and sincere atmosphere revealed by their excursion in the world of jazz, blues and rock. The pure sound of Chuck D'Aloia's guitar(he also plays bass) and the energy of Art Bernstein's drumming will last for many time in your ears.
As for technique, any student should have this collection!
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Stan Toval
(USA)
Multi-instrumentist, Composer, Producer

The fact that Stan Toval can play horns, guitar, bass, drums, percussions, keyboards, synthesizers and he's a composer of jazz, R&B, hip hop music doesn't mean that he's "just" a talented musician, although this is enough to realize that he is in fact one of a kind. Listening to his latest album there's no need to read the liner notes first. Just pop the CD into your player and enjoy the ride. One filled with a so human and warm ambience that will captivate even superficial listeners. Because Stan doesn't play background music but a fluid musical story about places, people, emotions, experiences and sentiments performed in a beautiful personal manner by an artist who understands that music and soul come together.
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After listening to his two albums, you will understand why along his career Dean Brown played with musicians including Bill Evans, Michael Brecker, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Marcus Miller(+many many others). A solid mastery of various genres from rock to soul, from blues to jazz, gives him the skills and the freedom to play HIS music as he likes it. The result can hardly be categorized although its ingredients can be recognized. These two albums showcase a so dense, broad selection of musical expressions mixed with superb arrangements, new ideas, that makes you think that Dean has material left for at least 6-7 albums!
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Jim Weider
(USA)
Composer, guitarist

If you didn't listen to some great jazz-rock lately, it's the right time to listen to Jim Weider's last recording. One doesn't have to know that the artist is one of the masters of the guitar who played with The Band, Graham Parker, Dr John or other big names. The album is simply a world class piece of power-jazz-progrock-funk fusion rich in high intensity guitar solos mixed with tumultuous drumming, organ textures and bold bass playing. The sound is complex and well crafted, built on imaginative layers of dynamics and tempos that make the whole album fluid and atttractive.
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Paul Jackson
(USA)
Composer, bass

Bassist Paul Jackson is one of the legends of Funk. He was one of the founding member of the Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and he played with a long range of jazz masters.
His latest release "Funk on a Stick" is a hot piece of hard core funk at its highest power. The CD is in fact a wonderful musical meeting of master musicians whose contribution to the album is remarkable.
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Bossa Nova for the soul.
A beautiful collection of less known Bosa-Novas performed with elegance and freshness by a fine musician and his band. James Stapleton's contemporary free playing takes us to a beautiful and soothing Brazilian journey without losing the seductive clarity of the melody. Although the overall atmosphere is warm and relaxed, the compositions are touched by that intense joy of the Brazilian sonorities.
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Jon Lax
(USA)
Composer Multi-Instrumentalist and Independent Producer

Moving easily between lyrical themes to modern, dynamic grooves, Jon Lax is one of those inventive musicians who has the ability to mix with great taste various musical styles such as jazz, new age, classical, world music. His music captures the sounds of nature, converting them into beautiful melodies charged with emotion and spirit.
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Gino Foti
(USA)
Composer, arranger, bass and keyboard player

"The Noble Soul"
Playing world music fusion demands understanding and respect of the cultures involved in the creational process. Capturing the essence of the various musical heritages, is another challenge. And here comes Gino Foti! He is one of the rare musicians whose sensitivity to spiritual and magical is mixed with unparalleled musical skills. His profound understanding of cultures and world's main philosophies is embedded in his compositions rewarding the listener with an amazing palette of melodies, sounds and rhytms.
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David Wright
(USA)
Composer, guitar player

A virtuosic performance
Guitarist David Wright's debut recording, Dajinosaurus, (July 2006 - Dinosaurus Records DR 001) let us discover a gifted sound craftsman. There is a lot of variety on this album: soaring guitar solos, dynamic improvisations reminiscent of McLaughlin, lyrical melodic effects, aerial textures fused with more dense, passionate, rockish progressive sonorities. The overall concept is perfect balanced keeping the listener curious until the end of the album.
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Jam Camp
(USA)

Get thrilled with a bright shiny piece of jazz rock music that...rocks. Rich in virtuosic guitar solos interplayed with bold saxophone grooves, "Live" is a collection of memorable hits such as: "Mr. Bliss", "West 8" or "Groove Monkey". "Live" it’s also a sample of effective arrangements able to capture the individuality and crystal clear sound of each instrument(no rough surfaces here!) but also the seamless fusion between all these brilliant musicians.
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Label:
Petroglyph Records
USA

"Blending traditional South American folk with jazz, contemporary blues and electronica, Petroglyph Records is the independent record label bringing you Chile's finest award winning musical talent. Our recording artists are masters of their craft, creating some of the most innovative latin jazz, jazz fusion and world music of today."
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Jonathan Kreisberg
(USA)
Guitarist/Composer

"He plays the hell out of the guitar, that's for sure." John Scofield

"Kreisberg has the ability to adopt any voice on the guitar. He is a student of the jazz masters....his true style and voice takes center stage and it is wonderful."
Matt Mathis-Richmond Times Dispatch

"Kreisberg improvises with an innate, organic sense of structure, ...with uncommon fluidity"
Adam Perlmutter, GUITAR ONE Magazine
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Keyboards/Composer
"On the basis of resume alone, Polish born jazz pianist Bartosz Hadala seems primed for a brilliant future. He won scholarships to Berklee and Western Michigan University. While majoring in jazz studies at Western Michigan University, he played festivals everywhere from Cracow to Kalamazoo, won an outstanding performance award from Downbeat and was invited with his Group to the IAJE Conference in Toronto. He's also studied with Fred Hersch, taken Master Classes with everyone from Russell Ferrante to John Abercrombie and has performed with numerous groups on the NYC club circuit. No doubt, he'll be teaching an upcoming generation before long."
Jonathan Widran
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The Blur Division
(USA)
Jazz / Progressive / Rock

Blending in their sound pallette various jazz and rock themes the three band members deliever an imaginative freeform of music where melodic paths play a central role. The trio combines the energy of the rock with innovative jazz themes in the most natural way not just because of the impressive instrumental prowess of each musician but also due to the warm yet dynamic interplay between them.
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David Mora
(USA)
Drummer, Jazz / Latin

David Mora's "Conga Love" album is a great work of subtle and balanced Latin and jazz fusion where the melodies, rhytm and improvizations are blended in the most beautiful, natural way. The drumming and percussion of David Mora, is definitely the soul of the party. Each tune on the CD is so well crafted and his virtuosic presence is so well weaved together with the other instruments in the band that it gives you the impression of a perfect and melodic symbiosis
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Al Garcia
(USA)
Composer, arranger, producer.
Bass, acoustic & electric guitars

A brilliant composer and guitar player, Al Garcia released what we can call an excelent example of jazz rock oriented fusion although the material on the CD goes beyond narrow classifications. Unexpected and stimulating, the music on "Alternate Realities" is a journey through the universe of jazz rock and progressive fusion blended by a master musician. From monumental compositions, lighting guitar solos, latin percussion interventions to sophisticated ethereal textures, this album has everything to delight fusion fans.
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Modern Groove Syndicate
(USA)
Funk, Jazz, Latin, Soul Hip Hop fusion

A high energetic quintet from Virginia mixing different styles of modern music in a robust, distinctive way. Their power of innovation is impressive and the result is fascinating: the sound is dense, complex yet fluid and full of passion.
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Courtney Williams
(C-Will)
(USA)
Drummer, Percussionist, Producer and Songwriter

A master composer and arranger of an eclectic mix of styles C-Will drumming is just one of the highlights of his album "Frustrated". The whole set of songs reveals a multifaceted wizard musician who is moving freely from jazz to nu-jazz and rock, from soul to an original electro-pop-funk and...reggae! Although the rhytms are intense and deep C-Will has an evident flair for fine melodies and catchy orchestrations. Press "Play" and you'll find yourself dancing!
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