Carla Diratz - voice, keyboard

Martin Archer - saxophones, clarinets, keyboards, electronics

Nick Robinson - guitars

Adam Fairhall - organ, electric piano

Dave Sturt - bass guitar

Adam Fairclough - drums

Charlotte Keeffe – trumpet

When Carla, Nick and I has completed our previous work “The Scale” in 2021, I felt this was such a unique work in its scope and feel – prog, pop, abstraction and chanson – that it would be very difficult to follow up such a definitive statement.

Then in 2022 Carla commented that if she made another album, the state of the world dictated that it would have to be a blues album. Immediately we had our brief for a new record. Each of us had out own take on this idea.  Carla sent in four jazz infected / inflected pieces for voice and keys which were recorded on her phone.  Nick came up with a sequence of progressive blues rock pieces for the band.  And I came up with a few little odds and ends with my own leftfield take on the format.

All of these were realised magnificently in the studio by our wonderful band, this time round bringing in the great improvising musician Adam Fairhall on organ.

We hope you will enjoy our modern contribution to the progressive blues rock tradition. – Martin Archer

On first hearing this album our friend the poet Carl Sonnenfeld wrote:

"Carla and her heavy voice crushed rock a whisper that blows the hot the cold a whisper that sinks snake engulfs with the alligator in a swamp of New Orleans Carla and her voice flows this Mississippi river that we go up against current back to reblues as an initiative quest towards Chicago Carla and her river voice that carries all the pain and grace Carla and her voice dries like sand that hangs on to the erratic harmonica of a mad angel Carla and her old dodge vehicle voice that tracks its way on the desert red dirt From Mojave to see Captain Beefheart and Neil Young. Carla and her voodoo voice to conjure fate and communicate with old bluesmen prayers to severe echoes of bass sax in osmosis with ambient chaos Carla gives her voice to the Blues a revisited and destroyed blues a Blues that resembles Carla"

For further information and links: Martin Archer - Discus Music

Impulse! Announces Previously Unreleased Recording Of Historic 1971 Carnegie Hall Performance The Carnegie Hall Concert - which features an all-star band including Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Jimmy Garrison, Cecil McBee, Kumar Kramer, Tulsi Reynolds, Ed Blackwell and Clifford Jarvis - will be available in full for the very first time
Release Date: March 22 2024*

February 8, 2024 — In 1971, Alice Coltrane performed at Carnegie Hall for a special gala benefiting the Integral Yoga Institute. Backed by an all-star group of musicians, Coltrane delivered a captivating set which will now be available in full for the very first time. On March 22, Alice Coltrane - The Carnegie Hall Concert (Impulse!), will finally bring the full recording of Coltrane’s Carnegie Hall performance to fans worldwide. Pre-order the album HERE. 

First track “Shiva-Loka” is out now, accompanied by a new visualizer. Watch HERE. 

The captivating performance, held four years after John Coltrane’s untimely passing and recorded by Impulse! for eventual release, marks Alice’s first performance as a leader at Carnegie Hall.  The concert arrived at a pivotal moment in both Coltrane’s career and her spiritual journey: she had just released her fourth solo album, Journey in Satchidananda, and had deepened her spiritual quest over a five-week trip to India. Her band that night added two members of Satchidananda's circle — Kumar Kramer and Tulsi Reynolds, playing harmonium and tamboura, respectively — to a large jazz ensemble comprising two saxophonists (Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp), two bassists (Jimmy Garrison and Cecil McBee) and two drummers (Ed Blackwell and Clifford Jarvis).  

Her set included two transcendental tunes from Journey in Satchidananda, followed by two compositions by John Coltrane and served as a sign of things to come, a chronicle of an artist during a musical and spiritual emergence.

This year Impulse! and Verve Label Group have partnered with The John & Alice Coltrane Home to launch the “Year of Alice,” a year-long celebration of Alice Coltrane’s profound work.

At the center of the celebration are Coltrane’s groundbreaking recordings for Impulse!, and the label will be working in tandem with The John & Alice Coltrane Home for varied activations throughout the year. To kick off the year-long celebration there will be special night of performers and speakers that include Ravi Coltrane, Michelle Coltrane, Brandee Younger and more at the legendary Birdland on February 22. 

To learn more, visit ververecords.com 

Tracklist:\

1. Journey in Satchidananda\
2. Shiva-Loka\
3. Africa\
4. Leo

Presenting the inaugural full-length album from the Danae Olano Trio, a collection comprising nine songs that signify the artist's first venture into bandleading. This album symbolizes the culmination of her artistic evolution since she relocated from Cuba to the multicultural city of Toronto in 2016. The central theme of this project revolves around capturing her original compositions, seamlessly merging a diverse range of musical styles that have influenced her during her Canadian journey, including jazz, classical, and Afro-Cuban traditions.

From a track titled "This City," born from the simple act of strolling through downtown Toronto, to other compositions that accentuate the fusion of jazz and Olano’s Cuban heritage, rooted in the legacy of Cuba's esteemed "Great Masters of the Piano" and enriched with Afro-Cuban rhythms, there is a conviction that this album has the potential to create a substantial artistic influence, resonating not only within Canada,but also across the global stage. The album features worldwide known musicians such as Jane Bunnett on flute, drummer Horacio el Negro Hernandez, singer Joanna Majoko, among others.

About the Trio

Havana-born pianist and composer Dánae Olano is known across North America and internationally as a founding member of the all-female Afro-Cuban band Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, which since its formation in 2013 has earned a Juno Award and been nominated on one other occasion, as well as earning a Grammy nomination. She is the band’s pianist and sings, composes, and arranges for this renowned ensemble. Dánae has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious jazz clubs, including Birdland, The Blue Note and Bimhuis as well as at top American festivals such as the Monterrey, Newport and Saratoga Jazz Festivals in addition to Jazz al Parque in Bogota, Colombia and JazzAhead (Bremen, Germany). In 2018 she shared the stage with pianists Jason Moran, James Francis, Booker T. Jones and Jane Bunnett as part of NPR’s Jazz Piano Christmas” which was hosted by Felix Contreras at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Dánae’s own project focuses on the roots of Cuban piano, and explores the legacy of the Master of Jazz Music.

Amhed Mitchel is a Cuban-Canadian drummer who calls Toronto home since 2006. As a session musician Mitchel has collaborated with a vast amount of artists. In 2004 he was part of the closing concert of the Tokyo Jazz Festival where he shared stage with such musical icons like the great Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves and Leonel Loueke. Amhed continues to collaborate and record with renowned artists from the music scene. These include multiple Juno Award winners and Grammy- nominated figures such as Jane Bunnett and Hilario Duran, the highly successful singer-songwriter Marc Jordan, Shawn Kellerman, the eminent Lucky Peterson, Jordan John, among others.

Born in Holguin, Cuba, bassist Roberto Riveron was a founding member of the legendary Cuban group Klimax, playing and contributing compositions to the ground- breaking ensemble’s first four CDs. He can be heard on Isaac Delgado’s 2001 Grammy-nominated album La fórmula. He is a Latin Grammy-winner as part of the compilation La rumba Soy Yo which was recognized in the folk category that same year. Roberto worked with the Grammy Award-winning Cubanismo! led by Jesus Alemañy for more than six years, touring in Japan, The United States, Australia, Asia and Canada. Riveron has performed and recorded with international artists Poncho Sanchez, Chucho Valdez, Ricardo Lemvo and Harold Lopez Nussa as well as Canadian luminaries Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett, Amanda Martinez, OKAN Penderecki String Quartet and Alexis Baro, to name a few.

Visit Danae Olano website here

A Melodic Reflection on Love and Loss.

Renowned singer-songwriter, pianist and loop artist Alessia Piermarini introduces her latest composition “Fool” a heartfelt creation born during a quiet countryside morning. The production of the track unfolded across the cultural landscapes of London and Rome, the latter being Alessia’s hometown.

The song is about a loss and about the many questions and regrets seem to appearwhen a loved person disappears. There’s a hope we can still float together, in a dimension which is not reality. Maybe that dimension is music.

Written by Alessia Piermarini, Piergiorgio Curzi, Edoardo Ravaglia 

Born and bred in Rome, Alessia Piermarini is a multifaceted artist singer-songwriter, pianist and loop virtuoso. With two solo albums, “PG Major 7” (2008) and “Synth o matic” (2005), Alessia has left an indelible mark on the music scene.

Her collaborative ventures with international artists such as Ursula Rucker, Frank McComb, and Jaguar Wright, featured on her second solo album “Synth o matic,” showcases her versatility. Alessia’s musical style seamlessly blends Nu Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, Blues, and Spoken Word, creating a unique and captivating sound.

Currently dividing her time between Italy and the UK, Alessia Piermarini is hard at work on her forthcoming album, promising an exciting new chapter in her musical journey. Her impressive portfolio includes performances at iconic venues like Jazz Café, Victoria & Albert Museum, and, most recently in 2022, The Tate Modern in London. Notably, Alessia participated in the Bologna Art City Festival as a musical performer, living sculpture and storyteller alongside theartist Tino Sehgal.

Buy and Listen here

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10PM is the second album by the London-based/ Milan-born singer-songwriter. It includes ten original songs, with music & lyrics written by Eleonora. Recorded trio, the album features Eleonora on vocals, drums & percussion, John Crawford on piano & Wurlitzer, and Andy Hamill on electric & double bass.

Milan-born/ London-based singer-songwriter Eleonora Claps released her second album 10 PM on Friday 15th March 2024, with a launch at London’s Jazz Cafe POSK on 22/03.

A collection of ten original songs, the album explores the themes of adulthood, motherhood, nostalgia for past times, and reflects on the speed and challenges of modern life. All music and lyrics are by Eleonora, with arrangements by UK jazz maestro pianist John Crawford.

10PM was recorded in a trio. Eleonora provides vocals and all backing vocals, with layered harmonies supporting the rhythm section or offering an atmospheric background. She can also be heard on drums and percussion. A steady presence on the UK jazz scene as a band leader and session man, John Crawford is on piano and Wurlitzer. Bassist Andy Hamill - a crossover figure equally at home in jazz, pop, and world settings, is on electric and double bass.

10PM follows on from Eleonora’s debut album, Stars, which was released in 2015 with positive reviews in UK and Italian media.

Read more about Eleonora and 10PM in this London Jazz News interview.

Personnel:

All music and lyrics by Eleonora Claps.

Click here to buy

Singer-songwriter and drummer Eleonora Claps was born in Milano, Italy. She started playing drums in her teenage years and was soon joining pop and rock bands on the city’s scene, recording in studio, and performing live on stages across the country and abroad.

In 2007, she moved to London and was inspired to take on new challenges – studying jazz singing among them. Joining open mics around town was her first approach to performing as a singer. Having built a repertoire, including her original material, she started gigging in London and across the country.

Her first album “Stars” (including originals as well as jazzy arrangements of pop tunes by Prefab Sprout, Cyndi Lauper, and Simply Red amongst others) was released in 2015, garnering support on UK press and radio. 

Her second album “10pm” (March 2024) is a collection of 10 original songs, featuring Eleonora as a singer and drummer, with John Crawford on piano and Andy Hamill on bass. A reflection on the speed and challenges of modern life, infused with nostalgia and memories of the past, the songs on Eleonora’s new album are a fitting continuation of a journey started with her debut album.

Eleonora Claps

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Norah Jones has shared her spirited new song “Staring at the Wall” along with an accompanying video which was directed by Jones and Kyle Paas and features studio footage as well as Norah’s handwritten lyrics. It’s the second track to be revealed from the nine-time GRAMMY winning singer, songwriter, and pianist’s vibrant ninth solo studio album Visions which comes out March 8 on Blue Note Records. A collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Leon Michels, the album was introduced last month with the lead single “Running.”

“This is one of my favorites,” Jones says of “Staring at the Wall,” which was co-written by Jones and Michels and features Norah on vocals, guitar, and piano with Leon on bass, drums, and tambourine. “It was kind of a left turn from everything else on the album. It's the first time I played guitar with Leon, we were just trying to come up with something different. I got on guitar and he got on drums and it just took off. It’s just so fun to play music sometimes, and I feel like on this album there were a lot of those times. He had a really cool guitar sound going for me so it just felt good.”

Jones will be making several TV appearances around the album release including performances on NBC The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (March 6), NBC The Today Show (March 8), and CBS Saturday Morning (March 9). She has also announced her Summer 2024 North American tour dates which kick off in late June and include sets at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (July 2) and Chicago’s Ravinia Festival (July 14), as well as shows in Seattle (Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater, July 29), San Francisco (The Masonic, August 3), and Los Angeles (The Greek Theatre, August 4). Ticket pre-sales begin February 27 with a general on-sale March 1. See below for a list of dates and visit norahjones.com for more info.

Visions is a 12-song set that finds Jones singing about feeling free, wanting to dance, making it right, and acceptance of what life brings. It’s the yang to the yin that was Pick Me Up Off The Floor, Jones’ last album of new original songs which was released early in the pandemic lockdown of 2020 and foreshadowed many of the dark emotions of that period.

“The reason I called the album Visions is because a lot of the ideas came in the middle of the night or in that moment right before sleep.” says Jones. “We did most of the songs in the same way where I was at the piano or on guitar and Leon was playing drums and we were just jamming on stuff. I like the rawness between me and Leon, the way it sounds kind of garage-y but also kind of soulful, because that's where he's coming from, but also not overly perfected.”

Michels played saxophone in Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and has performed with Lee Fields & The Expressions, Dan Auerbach’s band The Arcs, Menahan Street Band, and his own project El Michels Affair. Michels and Jones first collaborated on the single “Can You Believe” and later worked together on Jones’ 2021 holiday album I Dream of Christmas. Visions also features contributions from trumpeter Dave Guy, bassist Jesse Murphy, and drummers Brian Blade and Homer Steinweiss.

Visions is available for pre-order now, with formats including indie record store exclusive orange blend vinyl featuring an alternate cover, Barnes & Noble exclusive teal blend vinyl, as well as a Target exclusive CD with the bonus track “Until My Heart is Found” and poster.