Welcome to the A-Train Newsletter

Ah, Autumn. The leaves are turning, the kids are back in school, and the US Congress is back in session, duking it out in the debate over Universal Health Care.  But don't let all that partisan bickering get you down. Turn off the cable news chatter and dig into some new releases brought to you by A Train.  Studies have shown that listening to your favorite music can increase your blood flow, calm your nerves, and improve your heart health.  

Do you find yourself knotted up with pain and tension?  Take a deep breath and relax with the new record from Bill Douglas and Ty Burhoe.  Trying to stave off the cold or flu?  Scare it away with the dissonant sounds of Henry Kaiser and Bob Bralove's Ultraviolet Licorice.  With new music from Al Stewart , Go Home (Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola and Ron Miles), Mocky and Ray Luv, plus reissues from Wadada Leo Smith, Bebel Gilberto, and TJ Kirk, Dr. A Train's got a prescription for whatever ails you.

- The A-Train Staff

Every year, the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation presents an event that recognizes Asian American pioneers in a certain field — people who are passionate trailblazers in their careers, who are paving the way for the next generation. This year's theme is music, and amongst the honorees is A Train's own Deems Tsutakawa.  Tsutakawa began his career in classical music, then later found his passion for jazz.  He has established himself internationally as a distinctive and imaginative writer, arranger, producer, and bandleader and has performed worldwide at concert halls and clubs, from Tokyo, Japan to London, England.

Deems Tsutakawa is amongst ten musicians selected by the Northwest Asian Weekly, which recently held a gala to honor the award recipients.

For more information on the awards, go HERE, or visit Northwest Asian Weekly's profile on Tsutakawa.

Look for a new release from Deems Tsutakawa in early 2010.

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A Train is proud to announce the signing of Canada's Victo Records to exclusive worldwide digital distribution. Victo Records, better known in their home country as Les Disques Victo, was launched in 1987 with the Fred Frith/Rene Lussier release 'Nous Autres.'  With over 100 records of avant artists ranging from Anthony Braxton and Cecil Taylor to Thurston Moore and Wolf Eyes, the Victo catalog has never been made available digitally. Starting in early 2010, A Train will start rolling these titles out incrementally until the entire catalog is available online.  Stay tuned for more information as we develop our release schedule.  To view the entire Victo catalog, visit their website.

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Forever expanding their media empire, Emcee T and Ray Luv have teamed up with the Sly Show to present Pushin' The Bay Radio, the latest enterprise of the partnernhip that has already spawned a record label and Youtube sensation Pushin' The Bay TV.  

Emcee T is one of the most sought after journalists in the Bay Area and a veteran in the entertainment scene. The combination of T and Ray Luv, a Bay Area rap icon, helped PTBTV achieve millions of views on their YouTube channel and thousands more on Channel 26 (1st and 3rd Fridays in the East Bay) with their Show “Pushin’ The Bay TV."  Ray Luv, who some of you may remember performing and writing for 2Pac in the early days in a group called " Strictly Dope", was also part of the legendary record label Strictly Business & Young Black Brotha where he worked closely with bay area producer Khayree and the late Mac Dre.

Pushin’ The Bay Radio (PTBR) can be streamed live from theslyshow.com.  The show airs every Wednesday at 4pm, with an encore broadcast on Sunday and a podcast available for download.  

Emcee T and Ray Luv are also celebrating the launch of Pushin the Bay Records, with its first release 'Deathwish,' and future titles to follow.

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So exotic, so erotic, he comes from the Planet Paprika.  Shantel continues to mix up disco beats with the flavors of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and his new single, "Citizen of Planet Paprika," is no exception.  Watch the video, directed by Michaela Kessler from Desres Design Studio.

"Unique among musicians, Shantel has his own planet ... where music is a force for good and it's fun, fun, fun all the way ... it's high camp versus Romani cool, and there's never a dull moment" - Word

Planet Paprika has also received some kind words from lefty political bloggers on the Huffington Post.  While they're not bashing Sarah Palin or calling for single-payer Health Care, Huffington Post bloggers are apparently listening to the music of Shantel:

"Planet Paprika (Essay/Crammed), Shantel's latest, features similar integral components of his previous work: handclaps, call-and-response chants, blaring tuba lines tweaked to hip-hop bass frequencies (and plenty of bass guitar to fill in holes), and the key feature of Balkan music: horns. Tons of horns. Horns that reminds you this is not subtle music, nor can you ignore it." - Dan Beres, Huffington Post

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The world is enamored of Staff Benda Bilili, the group of Congolese street musicians who recently nabbed the Womex Artist Award for World Music.  They are scheduled to hold a press conference and perform at the Womex Awards in Copenhagen with  Crammed Records taking home the award for Best Record Label.  Details of Womex Awards and performance schedules can be found HERE.

Adding to their already impressive list of international acclaim, Staff Benda Bilili and Crammed Discs are featured in a 2-page spread in the September 09 issue of MOJO magazine.  Staff Benda Bilili also has a track on the accompanying compilation CD, "Africa Rising."

"With their four frontmen in wheelchairs but in hats and shades looking hep as blaxploitation street hustlers, Staff Benda Bilili may be the reason so many are here tonight, and respond by blowing the entire crowd away.  The beat is frantic from the off, with the "sex-a machine" chant of Je T'aime leaving James Brown's "original" (which he played in Kinshasa in 1974) sounding pedestrian...Played by anybody, this would be brilliant, brilliant music, but SBB's drive goes far beyond their determination to prove themselves equals of the affluent and able-bodied." - David Hutcheon, MOJO

The story of  Staff Benda Bilili, which roughly translates to "Open Your Mind," is equally as compelling as their music.  Get an intimate look at the band in their home of Kinshasa, with video footage of interviews and live performances

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Amazon editors have recently compiled their list of the "100 Greatest World Music Albums of All Time" and Crammed has nabbed three spots:

Congotronics  by Konono N1 #5
Camping Shaâbi  by Think Of One #36
Alone At My Wedding  by Koçani Orkestar #74

We'll give Amazon a little time to discover the new record from Staff Benda Bilili.  To view the full click HERE.

In other best of news, "Paradiso" by Konono N°1 has made it into Pitchfork's list of the 500 Best Tracks of the Decade.   

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We're getting close to awards season and Canyon Records is poised to sweep.  Having already picked up two from the Indian Summer Music Awards, Canyon has also received 14 first round Grammy nominations, fifteen nods for the Native American Music Awards, aka, the "Nammys," and seven nominations for the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.  Additionally, A Train artist Jeff Golub has recevieved a first round Grammy nod for his latest album "Blues for You," while Johnny Whitehorse, who took home the Grammy in 2008, has been nominated again for "Riders of the Healing Road."  We'll be crossing our fingers come awards night!

Grammy Nominees

Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses (Canyon)
- Best Engineered Album, Classical - Jack Miller and Alexis Santos
- Best Classical Album
- Best Opera Recording
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Gabriel Ayala - Portraits (Canyon)
- Best Classical Album
- Best Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)

Best Native American Music Album:

Johnny Whitehorse - Riders of the Healing Road (Silverwave)
Bear Cree - Through Thick and Thin (Canyon)
Elk Soldier - The Elk Dreamers (Canyon)
Louie Gonnie - Rhythms Within A Turquoise Dream (Canyon)
Northern Cree - True Blue (Canyon)
Sullivan & Day - Love, Lies & Lullabies (Canyon)
Tha Tribe - The Quiet Storm (Canyon)
Toppah & Yazzie - Awakening of Life (Canyon)
Warscout - Many Tribes, One Nation (Canyon)

Jeff Golub - Blues For You
- Best Traditional Blues

Indian Summer Music Awards - Winners

Native American Music Awards - Nominees

Gabriel Ayala - Portraits (Canyon)
- Best Male Artist
- Best World Album

Gabriel Ayala - Allegro (Canyon)
- Best World Album

Gabriela Ayala - Tango! (Canyon)
- Best Instrumental Album
- Best World Album

R. Carlos Nakai - Talisman (Canyon)
- Flutist of the Year
- Best New Age Album
- Best Producer (Robert Doyle)

Black Lodge Singers - Spo'Mo'Kin'Nan (Canyon)
- Duo or Group of the Year
- Best Pow-Wow Album

Tha Tribe - Tha Quiet Storm (Canyon)
- Duo or Group of the Year

Northern Cree - Red Rock (Canyon)
- Best Pow-Wow Album

Blackstone - Bring Your Feathers In (Canyon)
- Best Pow-Wow Album

Kevin Yazzie - Faith (Canyon)
- Best Native American Church Album

Tiinesha Begaye - Night of the Northern Lights (Canyon)
- Best Female Artist

Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards - Nominees

R. Carlos Nakai - Talisman (Canyon)
- Best Traditional Flute Album

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A Train has partnered with EZTakes.com to sell film content via digital download, which can be burned to DVD and watched in the comfort of your home. 

Jim Flynn, CEO of EZTakes, commented, "By partnering with A-Train, we have expanded our collection of concerts, documentaries, and other music-related titles." Flynn continued, "One especially great series they offer is 'Solos: The Jazz Sessions' featuring musicians such as guitarist John Abercrombie and pianist Matthew Shipp."

"We are always looking for new ways to make our films instantly available to fans, and the consumer-friendly download-to-burn (D2B) distribution model from EZTakes is a great option," said Bob Williard, Digital Distribution Manager at A-Train. Williard added, "We were attracted to EZTakes because their platform is not only easily accessible for consumers, but it also offers them a variety of viewing options."

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Wadada Leo Smith recently joined art-pop band Deerhoof for a show at the Echoplex in Los Angeles.  Already fans of Wadada's music, singer Satomi Matzukazi and drummer Greg Saunier met Wadada at a poetry reading where he was playing the trumpet, and dreamed of the day that they could collaborate.  On Deerhoof's myspace page, Greg reflects:

"I first heard of him reading that incredible book about Anthony Braxton called Forces In Motion. I was a fan of the few examples of his recorded work I could find. But then suddenly about 8 years ago there was a special concert happening at a church near our apartment in SF. It was Satomi's favorite poet, Kazuko Shiraishi, reading from her new collection, and Wadada playing along on trumpet. Wow, this was an incredible show. It was in a pretty tiny room, and we were just a few feet away from what was happening, which was unamplified and extremely sparse. I don't know that I've ever heard so few notes contain so much intensity and emotion as what I heard Wadada do that day. Speaking became music and music became speaking. That borderline has always fascinated me so this concert meant the world to me.

After the show we nervously went to thank him for the show and he was very kind. He even gave us his then-new CD Reflectativity. Ever since then we cursed the fact that we didn't have any Deerhoof on us, but harbored a fantasy of playing together someday."

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Southern rockers Bloodkin were recently featured on a local news broadcast at Colorado's KDVR/KWGN, Channel 2.  In the short video clip, Daniel Hutchens and his bandmates discuss the history of the band and their latest release, "Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again."

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NEW RELEASES

Bill Douglass & Ty Burhoe
Sky (Tala)

'Sky' features the music of composer/pianist Bill Douglas, together with the rich and heartfelt tabla playing of Ty Burhoe. They are joined by the brilliant bass playing of Kai Eckhardt and the genius of Steve Smith on drum set.
'Sky' is an inspired and daring blend of world fusion with elements of jazz, classical and funk. In this unique recording, the soulful sounds of Indian tabla blend seamlessly with the uplifting melodies of the piano and the deep groove of bass and drum. From lyrical ballads to world groove to J.S. Bach, this unique collaboration traverses a diverse soundscape which touches the spirit of creativity.

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Di Donna
Tantra (Alcione)

Italian composer, Hector Di Donna ( popularly known as simply "Di Donna" to his fans worldwide) was introduced to music at the early age through his mother, a piano teacher When she noticed young Hector singing along to Nestor Zavarce's " La tarde gris" ( Grey Aternoon)," she began giving him introductory classes on musical theory and melodic structure; soon, Di Donna was composing simple songs influenced by a wide variety of cultures. " At home," Di donna explains, " we had an old vertical English piano that was originally a pianola. After school, I would spend long hours improvising melodies and simple songs; it seemed to me that music came from space or other dimensions.

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Henry Kaiser & Bob Bralove
Ultraviolet Licorice (Blove)

When Bob Bralove asked his old pal Henry Kaiser about doing a recording together, Henry remembered the forgotten backing DATs that Bralove had prepared for the Grateful Dead to use as a transition between drums and space, back in the band's final years. It turns out that Bralove still had the long forgotten recordings that he had made with synthesizer and sampler back in the 90s, so the duo went into Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and played live over the backing tracks: Henry with electric or acoustic guitar and Bob with a grand piano. What resulted is an odd, yet pleasing, combination of psychedelic space music, jazzy piano, tortured-timbre electric guitar, and Derek Bailey inspired acoustic guitar. These are not normally things that one finds in the same acoustic space; even in a psychedelic space, this is unique... Beautiful and scary, virtuoso and cheezy, loud and quiet, transcendent and grounded, fast and slow... many things at once. No prisoners were taken, yet no animals were harmed during the recording. ~ Abstract Logix

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Ray Luv Deathwish (Pushin' The Bay) Following a 7-year hiatus from the music scene, old school Bay Area hip-hop legend Ray Luv is back with his sixth album, 'Deathwish,' released on his own Pushin’ the Bay record label. 'Deathwish' starts off phenomenally strong with “Swing Low”, a poignant look at Ray Luv’s career – and American society in general – over the past 20 years.  The production is superb, all bouncy keyboards, handclaps and catchy hooks, and Ray Luv flows like a beast.  “Slick Talk” takes a different (approach), with an off-kilter beat and flow…  “Pushin’” is also a banger, featuring Mr. Jonesin, a hungry-sounding emcee… ~ Out of Print Hip Hop   Back to top

Scott Colby
Slide of Hand (Scott Colby Music)

This blast of slide guitar genius deserves to be heard by every rock and jazz guitarist on the planet -- twice. Scott Colby plays with extraordinary intelligence, inventiveness, and taste, with material ranging from jazzy blues to frantic hard rock. This is not a typical guitar-hero album; Colby gives his sidemen room to shine, especially agile bassist Willie Lapin, who gets almost as many brilliant lead lines as Colby on tracks like "The World Owes Me a Living." Other noteworthy sidemen also do their part, notably trombonist and Captain Beefheart alumnus Bruce Fowler, guitarist Jesse Ed Davis, and sax player Ben Clatworthy. The ensemble playing is tight and enjoyable, though meditative pieces like "Staring out the Window" show that Colby is perfectly capable of extending the range and mood of his chosen instrument all by himself. The album was produced by Zoogz Rift, whose own work is heavy on provocative discord and weirdness for weirdness' sake. Thank heavens he had the intelligence to do whatever he did to bring out these marvelous and lyrical performances from Colby, who sets the bar for all electric guitarists with this album. ~ Richard Foss

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Henry Kaiser
Where Endless Meets Disappearing (Balance Point Acoustic)

'Where Endless Meets Disappearing' is the new solo album from Henry Kaiser, featuring free improvisations with a few overdubbed guitar duets. Henry is utilizing a half dozen electric and acoustic guitars as well as numerous devices on this fantastic disc. Mr. Kaiser has recorded just a couple other solo guitar discs in his long career, so this is a cause for celebration.  Stark, cerebral, certain notes droning, a touch of the blues, those liquid notes bouncing slowly to and fro in the speakers.  Over the past decade Henry has been using and developing a most distinctive tone to his electric guitar. Like a fingerprint or a recognizable voice , you can tell instantly who is playing. By listening closely, you enter his world, the sound and playing are both quite magical. Henry spends a good deal of time scuba diving and even dedicates this disc to his friends & research divers who plunge into the Deep Blue.  ~ Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

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Everette Shock with NAME Ghost Boys  Originally released in 1988 on the renowned SST record label, Everett Shock’s lone album 'Ghost Boys' is now available digitally.  Rekindling the flames of his fledgling band, NAME, Shock is joined by former bandmates Henry Kaiser, Erling Wold and Bob Adams, all influential players in a burgeoning Bay Area avant weird scene.  “A slice of wonderful weirdness evolved from the San Francisco-based band NAME, it features some of the most poetic lyrics ever written…. Shock's deadpan delivery can be compared with that of David Byrne or Rich Stim (of MX-80). This is in contrast to his subtle lyrical humor and genre-busting musical settings. ~ Myles Boisen, All Music Guide   Back to top

Al Stewart/David Nachtmanoff Uncorked (Wallaby Trails Recordings) Long time collaborators Al Stewart and Dave Nachamanoff team up again on 'Uncorked,' a live recording taking a trip through Stewart’s back catalogs. , 'Uncorked' appeals to the fans, offering live takes on material spanning across Al Stewart’s career, such as the title track from his 1967 album Bed-Sitter Images.  “Stewart has more than 20 studio albums to his credit, and though he fell off many a musical radar in the late 1970s, Uncorked offers plenty of reasons to revisit his rich catalog, after tuning in for a listen to a man who still sounds as good in 2009 as he did 30 years ago. Time passages, indeed.” ~ Todd Whitesel, Limewire Store   Back to top

TJ Kirk
Talking Only Makes it Worse (Ropeadope)

 In the mid 1990’s, Bay Area jazz luminaries Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Will Bernard, and John Schott banded together to form James T. Kirk, an homage to Star Trek and to the three musicians whose work comprised their catalog: James Brown, Thelonious Monk, and Rashaan Roland Kirk.  After a kerfuffle with the Roddenberry estate led them to change their name to T.J. Kirk, the band went on to release two full-length albums for Warner Brothers, earning a Grammy nod in 1995 for 'If Four Was One.'  'Talking Only Makes it Worse,' originally released on Ropeadope, captures the ensemble from a 1997 live performance in Santa Cruz, just before the band split.

  “Great guitar playing may not normally be readily associated with Thelonious Monk, James Brown, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, but the three-pronged guitar monster that covered the three jazz and soul legends’ songs exclusively was anything but normal.” ~ Jimmy Leslie, Guitar Player

 "This jazz fusion supergroup existed for far too short a time, but here we have one more stunning snapshot of their stellar singular vision, bringing together the best songwriters of the past with some of the best musicians of our time." ~ Paul Kerr, Homegrown Music

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Wadada Leo Smith
Human Rights (Kabell Records)

Originally released in 1986 on Kabell Records on vinyl only, 'Human Rights' subsequently vanished and became an item for underground jazz collectors and tape-traders.   Not unlike Don Cherry recordings of the early 80’s, 'Human Rights' features a blend of jazz fusion, reggae, funk and blues, with an 8-piece ensemble rounded out by James Emery and Thurman Barker.   Performing as “Leo Smith” at the time, he later added the name Wadada and converted to Rastafarianism, an influence felt heavily on this recording.

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Henry Kaiser, Damon Smith, and Weasel Walter
Plane Crash (Balance Point Acoustic)

A tumultuous display of guitar power trio intensity led by Academy Award nominee and improvised music legend Henry Kaiser featuring drummer Weasel Walter (the Flying Luttenbachers) and bassist Damon Smith. Conceived as a posthumous release, because "everybody seems to love musicians so much more after they die," the fourteen brief, mostly improvisational tracks of 'Plane Crash' are accompanied by full obituary-style liner notes. The record vaccilates between nuclear warlike Takayanagi/Sharrock/Haino blasts of dissonant guitar pyrotechnics and viciously quiet all-acoustic tracks which will please fans of the SME/Derek Bailey/Company aesthetics. There are no licks here - just 100% abstract experimental improvisation for those who need their music to be fast, muscular, challenging, articulate and otherwordly.

 "This extreme guitar trio statement will pummel reality into a state of shock! Guitar legend Henry Kaiser gives his most intense performance in decades on this no-holds-barred studio session featuring the Bay Area's number one ass-kicking rhythm section." ~ nowave.pair.com

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Chris Standring
Love and Paragraphs (Ultimate Vibe)

On 'Love & Paragraphs,' guitarist Chris Standring puts aside his trusty longtime jazz axe, the archtop Benedetto, and digs into more earthy blues-rock territory on five tracks with two Fender Strats; he played the Strat back in the 80s until switching to the other guitar to better tackle the acid jazz grooves which caught his ear in the early 90s. Top tunes include first single, "Love & Paragraphs," "CS In The Sunshine," "Liquid Soul," "Qwertyuiop"and "As Luck Would Have It". An inspired innovator in both smooth and chill jazz Standring's newest CD will attract jazz lovers and beyond with it's fan-friendly grooves. ~ Amazon.com

Standring has a style of playing that is both strong and precise, while not being overbearing. The crispness is immediately noticeable. What’s also noticeable is the melody on each piece. It’s consistently alive and discernible. Whether you’re in a foot-tapping mood or a reflective one, he has something that will catch you clean…All in all, count [Love and Paragraphs] among Standring’s winners. ~ Ronald Jackson, Jazz Review.com

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Ben Golberg, Charlie Hunter, Scott Amendola, Ron Miles
Go Home (BAG Production)

'Go Home' is the new project of Ben Goldberg, clarinetist and composer who studied with Rosario Mazzeo, Steve Lacy and Joe Lovano.  Joining Ben are Charlie Hunter, guitar; Scott Amendola, drums; and Ron Miles, bass.
"Of course, the rapport these musicians have with each other goes back to the vibrant Bay Area music scene of the 1990's, an incredibly fertile moment when musicians from across a wide range of styles were working things out and learning from each other in clubs and concert spaces. One night might find Ben sitting in with Charlie and Scott in the Charlie Hunter Trio, followed by Charlie dropping by Scott and Ben's underground collage-based quartet Snorkel, while down the street Tin Hat Trio was developing a new kind of composition-based chamber jazz. As musicians went their separate ways and involved themselves in new projects, the lessons of this time continued to reverberate in the work of those who were part of it. Working with Ben's compositions, GO HOME brings together Charlie and Scott's rootsy, hard-driiving grooves and the astute, lyrical interplay of Ron and Ben. Spacious melody and an incisive feel combine to create a unique and compelling sound.

We already know Goldberg can drive home a solo in a jazzy context, as in the Plays Monk trio or on his Lacy-influenced The Door, the Hat, the Chair, the Fact. But it was a treat to hear him in a Charlie Hunter kind of milieu." ~ WedgeRadio

"A searching ensemble that welcomes lyrical improvisation while embracing the groove." ~ The New Yorker

Further Reviews:
Village Voice
The Boston Globe

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Miles Boisen & Henry Kaiser
Hard Left, Hard Right

Henry Kaiser continues in his mission to challenge conventional music, enlisting as his co-conspirator Myles Boisen—musician, sound engineer and writer who has numerous albums with the Splatter Trio, and has contributed to the soundtracks of David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" and "Wild At Heart."  As the name implies, the aural deconstruction of 'Hard Left, Hard Right' offers two distinct listening experiences for home stereo and headphone listening enjoyment.

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Alien Chatter
Invasion (Alien Chatter)

Alien Chatter has returned with their sophomore release entitled 'Invasion.' Alien Chatter conveys a sophisticated blend of contemporary jazz piano, and Indian music laced with electronica. The duo consists of Satnam Ramgotra on tabla, percussion and Rodney Lee on acoustic piano, synths, and electronics. Invasion, finds the duo delving deeper into their unique spin on Indo-Jazz that they now call “Indo-Jazztronica.” Additional guests include Michael Landau on guitar, Shri Aloke DasGupta on Sitar, and Jimmy Mahlis on Oud. Bassists Shawn Davis, Rico Belled, and Stan Sargeant provide the low end.

“It is our ‘Dark Side of the Moon’”, says Rodney Lee. “Over the past few years, we poured everything we had into this recording, and we are extremely proud of the results.  Listen for the unexpected…there are a lot of twists and turns in these compositions.”

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New from Crammed

Zeep
People and Things

The pairing of London-based Nina Miranda and Chris Franck is rooted in the late 90’s, when their band Smoke City scored a UK hit with the single “Underwater Love.”   Their new band Zeep, carries on with catchy escapades, space-age down tempo rock, reflective atmospheres, playful spaghetti western disco and cartoon-like narratives. 'People and Things,' their second album is an excursion into which we're irresistibly drawn by Nina's unique, seductive voice, supported by Chris' immaculate musicianship and production skills.

'People and Things' is full of fun and surprises, including a Brazilian folk rewiring of the Specials’ classic Ghost Town, which retains the British pop and Jamaican reggae influences of the original, but, with words rewritten in Portuguese, reapplies its anger and sense of foreboding to inner city tensions in modern-day Rio.

The pair's instinct for a lovely melody and Nina's vocals deliver swooning moments. Beautifully played. ~ The Observer

For more on Zeep's 'People and Things', check out the Zeep Podcast.

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Mocky
Birds of a Feather (feat. GZA)

The collaboration of Feist producer Mocky and Wu-tang legend GZA, may seem an unlikely match, but the result is spectacular.
By way of making the heaven-sent jazz-pop melodies of 'Bird Of A Feather' even more infectious, Mocky calls upon Mr "Liquid Swords" to add a signature burst of gruff street philosophy all while keeping to the song's ornithological theme - "They say the early bird gets the worm/ 'cos it never has to fight for the crumbs and then take flight and turn." The digital single package comes with two further mixes of the same track: a slightly shorter radio edit, and the 'Digital Rollerskating Jam', which finds Mocky in J. Dilla/Madlib mode, looping and chopping the original into a low-slung, tweaked-out groove for the head-nodding b-boy in us all. The track was recently featured on Pitchfork's Forkcast, go have a listen.

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Bebel Gilberto
Tanto Tempo Remixes

With its delighful marriage of bossa nova and smooth electronics, Bebel Gilberto's debut album 'Tanto Tempo' has been one of the most critically acclaimed and internationally successful albums of Brazilian music. Here, an all-star cast of remixers present their personal takes of ‘Tanto Tempo,’ track by track. Featuring reworks by Peter Kruder, Rae & Christian, King Britt, 4hero, Truby Trio, Faze Action, Château Flight, Mario Caldato Jr, Monoaural (aka Berna Ceppas & Kassin), Chris Brann & more.

“Bebel Gilberto appears to be the figurehead of 21st-century bossa nova, so it's only fitting she should be the subject of one of the biggest 21st-century trends, the remix. But when the remixes are done as well as this, it actually adds to the original album. Her languid, sensual vocals are still the cornerstone, but Rae & Christian's more upbeat take on "Bananeira" propels the song to the dance floor, while Trüby Trio evoke the shantytown favelas, home of samba, on the percussive "Sem Contencao." ~ Chris Nickson, Amazon.com

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BLACK Soundtrack
MC Jean Gab'l & Tony Allen

'BLACK' is a neo-Blaxploitation film set in Dakar (Senegal), directed by Pierre Laffargue and starring famous, provocative French rapper MC Jean Gab'1. The film was warmly welcomed on its world premiere at SXSW.  Crammed presents two songs from the original soundtrack, the first a driving Afrobeat track written & recorded by Tony Allen and featuring the inimitable vocal stylings of MC Jean Gab'1, the second an instrumental version of the song by Tony Allen.
"Black's journey from Paris to urban Dakar and from there deeper into the heart of Africa is punctuated by an amazing soundtrack. From the opening credits, where we follow Black's garbage truck through the highways of Paris, the soundtrack ably serves the film - slowly transforming from cool Parisian jazz to more African beats, mirroring Black's transformation from cool Parisian bad guy to tribal African hero." ~ IMDB

"From a modern update of Shaft in Africa to a lunatic, witchy, bastard offspring of Cat People and Ssssss. Gloriously lunatic" ~ Cinematical.com

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V/A
It's A Crammed Crammed World

 ‘It’s A Crammed Crammed World’ is a 16-track compilation featuring the latest and greatest of Crammed’s artist roster.   With their most recent releases, Crammed has taken their decades old formula of ground-breaking world music fusion and turned things up to eleven, expanding to a broader base of quirky and eccentric rock and indie pop (Mocky, Akron/Family, Megafaun), while continuing to be at the forefront of world music phenomena, like gyspy disco king Shantel and the Congolese band of parapalegic street musicians, Staff Benda Bilili.  Also included are tracks by Lonely Drifter Karen, Chicha Libre, Flat Earth Society, Balkan Beat Box, U-Cef (feat. Damon Albarn), Allá, Koçani Orkestar, Hector Zazou & Swara, Cibelle and Kasai Allstars, all neatly sequenced to create an exciting listening experience…

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New from Canyon

The Cisco Band and the Joaquin Brothers
The Cisco Band and the Joaquin Brothers

The Cisco Band and the Joaquin Brothers are two legendary bands in the history of Waila, popularly known as "Chicken Scratch". The energetic dance music of the Native peoples of southern Arizona, Waila features the intertwining melodies of saxophone and accordion propelled by the rhythms of guitar, bass and drums. Playing the Polkas and Two-Steps that are hallmarks of the Scratch sound, these two renowned bands exemplify this innovative confluence of music from Tohono O'odham and European culture. For world music aficionados, the similarities between «Chicken Scratch» and Zydeco from Louisiana are striking.

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Buried Treasure Jeff Golub Six String Santa Combing a rich love for blues, rock and pop with potent jazz chops, Jeff Golub and his band recorded their first Christmas record, 'Six String Santa.' "I’ve always wanted to do a record of Christmas music…" Golub says. "I went in the studio, and we came up with some very spirited arrangements of these classic songs that I love so much."  On this lively holiday CD, Golub lays down his own smooth and funky interpretations of holiday classics, backed by the stellar line up of saxophonist Warren Hill, Chris Palmaro on keyboards, Lincoln Goines on bass, Stephen Ferrone and Shawn Pelton on drums, and Roger Squitero on percussion.  A great accompaniment for any holiday party, sure to get your guests in the spirit!

A-TRAIN FILMS

Bossacucanova
Na Base da Bossa

Bossacucanova first tackled the electronic/bossa fusion with their milestone debut album back in '98. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of bossa nova with this new release, Na Base Da Bossa, a documentary featuring interviews a series of acoustic sessions in the comfort of an apartment in Rio, which spawned lovely, relaxed performances and some interesting insights about the early days of bossa nova.

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UPCOMING RELEASES

Rex Foster
Buffalo Zen
Believin'
The Trio Session
Artist

Superbuy
Glenn Miller
John McCormack
Andrews Sisters
Victor Borge
Maurice Chevalier
and more!

Victo
Anthony Braxton
Rova Sax Quartet
Thurston Moore
and much much more!

Phunk Junkeez - The Greatest
Chungliang Al Huang with Music By David Darling - The Zen of Poetry
Adrienne Torf - Music For Madison
Ray Luv - Unbelievable; Lifewish
Susan Mazer & Dallas Smith Catalog - 12 Releases
Deems Tsatakawa - On Irving Street
Bill Douglas & Ty Burhoe - Invocation
Chris Standring - Blue Bolero
Rova Sax and Drumming Core
French, Frith, Kaiser & Thompson

Upcoming Films

Taraf de Haidouks (title TBA)

Konono No 1, Staff Benda Bilili, Kasai All Stars (title TBA)

SOLOS: Bill Frisell

  Rhythm and Blooms

Original Spin Media:
Innovators In Music
A new series premeiring on Bravo, Canada, in January, Innovators in Music, is a short documentary series profiling the following musicians:

Mickey Hart
Levon Helms
Dave Stewart
Steve Earle
Billy Bragg
Sonic Youth

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Peter White

NOV 3 2009
Club One – Ascot, UK
 
NOV 4 2009
Concorde Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh,- Hampshire, UK              
 
NOV 5 2009
Thirty-Three Restaurant - Poole, Dorset, UK
 
NOV 6 - 12
Pizza Express - London, UK              
 
NOV 13 & 14              
Pizza Express Maidstone, UK              
 
DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS
 
NOV 27 2009
Saenger Theater - Mobile, AL
 
NOV 28 2009             
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall - Sarasota, FL              
 
NOV 29 2009
The Dreyfoos Hall, Raymond F Kravis Center For The Performing Arts -  West Palm Beach, FL
 
NOV 30 2009                           
Philharmonic Center For The Arts - Naples, FL
 
DEC 2 2009                           
King Denter For The Performing Arts - Melbourne, FL
 
DEC 3 2009
Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL              
 
DEC 4 2009
Palace Square Theatre - Cleveland, OH              
 
DEC 5 2009
Chicago Auditorium - Chicago, IL              
 
DEC 6 2009
Palace Theater - Columbus, OH              
 
DEC 7 2009
Ferguson Center For The Performing Arts - Newport News, VA              
 
DEC 8 2009             
The Palace Theatre - Waterbury, CT              
 
DEC 9 2009
Community Theatre - Morristown, NJ              
 
DEC 11 2009                           
Nob Hill Masonic Center - San Francisco, CA
 
DEC 12 2009                           
Copley Symphony Hall - San Diego, CA
 
DEC 13 2009
McCallum Theatre - Palm Desert, CA              
 
DEC 15 2009
Wells Fargo Center For The Arts - Santa Rosa, CA              
 
DEC 17 2009             
Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center El Paso, TX
 
DEC 18 2009
Radisson Hotel - Sacramento, CA              
 
DEC 19, 20 2009
Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts - Cerritos, CA              
 
DEC 22 2009             
Mesa Arts Center - Mesa, AZ

DEC 23
Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City Walk - 100 Universal City Plaza - Universal City, CA

Al Stewart

OCT 30 2009
Wildwood Springs Lodge – Steelville, MO
with Peter White
 
OCT 31 2009
Wildwood Springs Lodge – Steelville, MO
with Peter White
 
NOV 1 2009
Knucklehead’s Saloon – Kansas City, MO
 
NOV 3 2009              
Second Fret Coffee House - Statesville, NC                            
with Dave Nachmanoff
 
NOV 5 2009
Eddie's Attic - Decatur, GA              
 
NOV 6 2009                            
Sylvia Theater  - York, SC
 
NOV 7 2009
Holly Springs Cultural Center - Holly Springs, NC              
 
DEC 18 2009              
L2 Arts & Culture Center - Denver, CO                            
 
DEC 19 2009              
Freight and Salvage - Berkeley, CA              

Ty Burhoe

Wadada Leo Smith

NOV 20 2009 Madrid Jazz Festival, Madrid, SPAIN

Larry Ochs

NOV 29 2009
Dieselstrasse Kulturcentrum - Esslingen, Germany
 
NOV 30 2009
Alchemia - Krakow, Poland
 
DEC 1 2009
Divadlo 29 - Pardubice, Czech Republic
 
DEC 2 2009
WIST, Graz, Austria
 
DEC 3 2009
Porgy + Bess - Vienna, Austria
 
DEC 4 2009
Carré Bleu, Poitiers, France
 
DEC 5 2009
Le BRASS, Brussels, Belgium
 
DEC 6 2009
Le Petit Fauchaux, Tours, France
 
DEC 7 2009
JAZZ SIGÜENZA 09, Ermita de San Roque, Sigüenza, Spain

Rex Foster

OCT 21 2009
Donegal  - Dunfanaghy, IRELAND

OCT 22 2009
Sandino's Bar - Derry City, IRELAND

OCT 23 2009
The Cherry Tree - Dublin, IRELAND

OCT 24 2009
Rich Hill  - Armagh, IRELAND

OCT 25 2009
Crane Bar, Galway, IRELAND

OCT 26 2009
Mick Murphy's, Killdare, IRELAND

OCT 31 2009
River City Grille, Marble Falls, TX

Go Home - Ben Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, Curtis Fowlkes, Scott Amendola

OCT 24 2009
Chris' Jazz Cafe - Philadelphia, PA

OCT 27 2009
Regatta Bar - Cambridge, MA


OCT 28 2009
Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA

OCT 29 2009
Jazz Standard - New York, NY

OCT 30 2009
Jazz Standard - New York, NY

OCT 31 2009
Jazz Standard - New York, NY

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For More Information Contact:

Bob Williard - Digital Distribution • A-Train Entertainment • bob (at) a-train.com