After years of performing over a hundred shows annually as both a saxophonist and DJ, Amsterdam based Susanne Alt found her schedule suddenly empty during the COVID-19 pandemic. This presented a perfect opportunity to revisit her first love: jazz. Dedicated to trumpet icon Roy Hargrove and featuring an all star lineup of the New York scene, ‘Royalty For Real’ is set to release on February 16th on Venus Tunes.

Alt was first introduced to the music of Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, and Roy Hargrove at the age of 15, with the latter standing out as a profound influence on her musicality. Years later, Alt found herself running into Hargrove at late-night jam sessions after festival appearances in Germany, the Netherland and the US and the two played together frequently. Hargrove’s passing in 2018 came as a tremendous shock to Alt, and she felt moved to compose a series of pieces in homage to the trumpeter’s legacy, and the memories they shared.

Bringing together soul, blues, funk, and nods to the bop tradition, ‘Royalty for Real’ is an effortless, modern, and soulful exploration of groove, melody, and improvisation. Recorded at EastSide Sound in NYC, the warm, organic production presents the band in a raw, intimate fashion, giving the listener a front seat to the exchange of energy and ideas between the experienced quartet.

From the driving ‘Bel Air Bop’ - an ode to those late-night North Sea Jazz Festival jams in The Hague’s Bel Air Hotel,, the feel-good groove of ‘Rue Lepic’ - a tribute to the Hargrove classic ‘Strasbourg Saint-Denis’, a delicate rendition of ‘The Nearness of You’ - a ballad often heard in Hargrove’s repertoire, to a reinterpretation of ‘Roy Allan’ - a piece Hargove wrote for his father, the record sees Alt offer up pieces of her identity as a composer and soloist to one of her greatest heroes.

Joining Alt are notable veterans of the American jazz scene: Bassist Gerald Cannon played in Elvin Jones’ band for years and served as McCoy Tyner’s musical director and drummer Willie Jones III has toured with the likes of Milt Jackson and Arturo Sandoval - the pair played together in Roy Hargove’s own band for seven years. Keys virtuoso James Hurt is known for his versatility and has collaborated with the likes of Abbey Lincoln, Sherman Irby, and Jacques Schwarz-Bart.

Susanne Alt | Alto / Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Percussion James Hurt | Fender Rhodes, Piano
Gerald Cannon| Bass Willie Jones III | Drums Robert Glass | Percussion (Tracks 3 & 5)

 Track Listing

1. Roy Allan (Roy Hargrove)
2. Blue Notes & Fairy Tales (Susanne Alt)
3. Rue Lepic (Susanne Alt)
4. Bel Air Bop (Susanne Alt)
5. Classy Cats (Susanne Alt)
6. The Nearness Of You Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington)
7. Royalty For Real (Susanne Alt)

Artist website: https://www.susannealt.com/

Fast-emerging British singer-songwriter and guitarist Rosie Frater-Taylor has announced her new album Featherweight, set for release on Cooking Vinyl in February 2024.

The follow-up to 2021’s Bloom, which garnered in excess of 3 million streams, was nominated at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards, and made revered US radio station KCRW’s Albums Of The Year list, Featherweight marks a stylistic shift for Frater-Taylor, drawing inspiration from a broad spectrum of artists - from PJ Harvey, through Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush, to the likes of John Mayer, Meshell Ndegeocello, St Vincent, and Madison Cunningham - and presenting a fresh, unique style that showcases the 24-year-old’s ability to intertwine hard-hitting lyrical ideas with glistening melodies, consummate guitar playing and unpredictable textural contrasts. 

Already widely regarded as a virtuoso guitarist and a vocalist with a powerful emotional range and depth, Featherweight sees Frater-Taylor come into her own as a songwriter, offering up 10 sonically adventurous tracks which deftly blur the boundaries between rock, alt pop, neo soul, new-school jazz and folk whilst delving into an array of themes including self-reflection, anger and finding strength in vulnerability. Lead single Hold The Weight, an experimental, angular track that builds to an anthemic outro, expresses the feeling when no amount of words can bear the burden of the intensity of emotion attached to them. 

“The new record is grittier, rockier and more intentional for me” explains Frater-Taylor. “We went into the studio shortly after a year of touring my last album and some songs from ‘Featherweight’ - I felt it was very important to capture my live band’s energy and chemistry to do the tracks justice. I feel this is where my desire to make the album ‘punch’ stems from; the sheer strength and excitement I’ve come to feel when performing this music in front of a live audience with just my guitar and the best musicians I know.”

Introspective and experimental, Featherweight also sees Frater-Taylor grappling with self-evaluative themes framed around navigating life as a young woman. The album is an ode to the contradictions, oxymorons and internal battles that arise whilst tackling the complex issues of gender, identity, love and relationships.

"I’ve long believed myself to be an ‘HSP’ (highly sensitive person!) feeling more deeply affected by various experiences than others seem to and often finding myself overwhelmed by the emotions resulting from said experiences. Over the course of writing and finishing this record, navigating life, love and various relationships, I’ve come to take pride in and feel powerful as a result of these aspects of my personality. ‘Featherweight’ is my realisation that (ironically) there’s much strength in expressing vulnerability."

Frater-Taylor’s exploratory sound has already attracted the attention of a diverse array of artists including Jimmy Page, Jordan Rakei, Nitin Sawhney, Madison Cunningham and Everything Everything amongst many others, and with Featherweight her complex musicianship is reaching new peaks. Passionate, honest and pervaded by raw emotion, it’s an album of powerful and alluring siren songs that showcases a boundary-pushing, genre-defying young artist’s blossoming ingenuity and natural approach to storytelling.

2024 UK HEADLINE TOUR 

Feb 9 - Bristol, Louisiana 
Feb 13 - Leeds, Book Club
Feb 14 - Newcastle, Bobiks (solo show)

Feb 15 - Glasgow, Rum Shack 
Feb 16 - Manchester, Deaf Institute 
Feb 17 - London, Omeara

 Bandcamp link click here

 Rosie website click here

Oh Mother was inspired by Vancouver vocalist and composer Andrea Superstein’s own experience as a mother. Between the trauma of birthing a baby and all of the physical changes a mother goes through, coupled with balancing a job, feeling out your new role and your place within the world: contrary to popular belief, mothering can be a very isolating experience.

These dark times spurred a lot of questions that Superstein started asking. She wanted to know if the struggles she endured were universal: were they a sign of the times or just hers alone? Superstein interviewed close to 100 mothers to get at the root of motherhood. What were the common experiences, and why were people so afraid or unable to speak their truth?

Based on these conversations she wrote music: some songs are one person's story, others are of the collective consciousness. Some a stark look at loss, others describe the heart-exploding feeling a parent can have towards their child. The album represents how all of these opposing feelings can coexist and shines a true light on the complicated, delicate, beautiful, traumatic and messy journey that is motherhood.

As a singer “redefining jazz,” Andrea is one of the most versatile voices in music today. Oh Mother is an ambitious tour de force highlighting her ever growing creativity and sensitivity as a songwriter and arranger. Expect powerful vocals, evoking the gentle and the strong, lithely navigating the colours of the emotional spectrum.

Oh Mother will be released worldwide on Friday, February 9th, 2024 on Cellar Live.

Andrea Superstein website click here

All compositions and arrangements by Andrea Superstein except where otherwise noted

Known for her intense and creative approach to the saxophone, multi award-winning instrumentalist, composer and orchestra leader Pernille Bévort’s trio project Bévort 3 was recently named ‘Ensemble of the Year’ at 2022’s Danish Music Awards. Their highly anticipated new record ‘Northbound’ is set to release on February 9th.

 Inspired by the transient nature of life, the album aims to encapsulate the idea that nothing lasts forever; that much will be lost along the journey, while other things are gained. Musically reflecting the contrasting facets of life including beauty, melancholy, humor, energy, hope, and struggle, Northbound evokes imagery of the changing seasons of human existence, and more literally, the seasons of the Scandinavian countries.

Featuring a chord-less trio setup with Morten Ankarfeldt on bass and Espen Laub von Lillienskjold on drums, the ensemble shifts between cool swing, to blues, to the poetic Nordic sound of their home. Open sonic landscapes, syncopated metric intricacies, pensive moods, grooving basslines, and winding saxophone melodies come together to create a driven, confident, and intriguing sound.

Highly responsive, dynamic and interactive, the absence of a harmony instrument puts Bévort’s imaginative saxophone playing as well as the trio’s complex musical conversations in the spotlight. The intimate world of organic instrumental textures provides an aptly personal vessel through which the composer’s stories are told.

Northbound marks Bévort’s fourth release with her trio, as well as her 16th release as a bandleader/composer. She’s performed and toured internationally in big bands alongside the likes of Maria Schneider, Charlie Watts, and John Scofield, and over the years has been the recipient of the prestigious Ben Webster Prize, the JASA Prize, and numerous artist grants in recognition of her skill and vision.

Pernille Bévort | Tenor Saxophone, Compositions Morten Ankarfeldt | Double Bass
Espen Laub von Lillienskjold | DrumsBackground info / Liner Notes:

Recorded at Soundscape Studio May 2023 by Louise Nipper.

Mixed August 2023 by Louise Nipper and Pernille Bévort.

Mastered August 2023 by David Elberling.

Cover photo: Mads Fisker

Cover layout: Niklas Antonson, Notation

This album was released with support from Danish Conductors Association and ‘Jazzlegatet’ – a grant from JazzDanmark and William Demant Foundation. I also want to thank Koda’s Cultural Funds for their support.

Artist website: www.pbevort.dk

At 94 BETTY BRYANT is still going strong. She has lost most of her vision, but like the title of her new album, LOTTA LIVIN’, the beloved pianist, singer, and composer still has a whole lot of living to do. LOTTA LIVIN’ is Bryant’s 14th album. It follows her 2019 release Project 88, which celebrated her 88th birthday. JW Vibesaid, “While Betty’s vocals are pure, charming and warmly inviting throughout, the true coolness comes from her compelling soloing and harmonizing on those 88s.”

Hipness is Bryant’s métier, and like her other albums and live performances, her piano playing and singing on LOTTA LIVIN’ is effortlessly cool and reflects her blues roots. For this album, and for most of her recordings and performances for the past 10 years, she has brought along her regular band comprising dynamic, swinging drummer KENNY ELLIOT, highly sensitive and musical upright bassist RICHARD SIMON, and her old friend, saxophonist, flutist ROBERT KYLE, who not only played on this recording, but also produced it. She and Kyle have been friends and musical cohorts for over 30 years. Kyle, a mainstay on the Los Angeles jazz scene as well as a touring and recording artist, has played on and either produced or co-produced most of Bryant’s CDs. The two of them also wrote and recorded music that was featured on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” Also joining Bryant once again are HUSSAIN JIFFRY on electric bass and guitarist KLEBER JORGE on one number, and trumpeter TONY GUERRERO, who appears on two tracks.

Bryant has a long and storied career. A child of the Depression, her musical journey began in her hometown of Kansas City, MO, when at the age of four, she began studying piano with Desdemona Davis, who along with her musician husband, had moved in with the Bryants. Although it was a difficult era for most, that turn of events led to a lifelong career in music that is still going strong today. 

Dubbed “Cool Miss B” by Kyle in a 1997 song, the moniker has stuck with her for 25 years. Bryant was mentored early on by the great Jay McShann. “Betty Bryant Day” was declared in Kansas City in 1987, and she was awarded the key to the city. A famous photograph of Betty with Jay McShann hangs in the lobby of the city’s American Jazz Museum and is included on the back of the CD booklet. 

Bryant moved to the west coast in 1955 and immediately got a gig at Beverly Hills’ famed Ye Little Club. This was the beginning of mostly solo appearances in Los Angeles. As her reputation grew, she became a popular attraction in the many nightspots that dotted the beach towns from Malibu to Laguna.

Besides performing regularly around Los Angeles to packed houses, Bryant has performed internationally in the Middle East and Brazil, and for many years was a regular attraction at the upscale Tableaux Lounge in Tokyo, Japan. She had a long-term engagement at Street, celebrity chef Susan Feniger’s restaurant, when it opened in Hollywood in 2009, and in 2012 she was a featured performer at the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival in Boquete, Panama. The “Betty Bryant Birthday Bash” is a hugely popular annual event at Hollywood’s famed Catalina’s Jazz Club. 

Bryant wrote four songs for LOTTA LIVIN’. A wordsmith with a predilection for the quirky and humorous, she was an art major in college, and her lyrics also have a strong visual sense. In her song “Put a Lid on It,” she complains about her man, “When my friends come over, you don’t act right / You cop an attitude and you’re impolite / You sit around in your BVDs, guzzling beer/ On and on ad nauseum, that’s all I hear / Put a lid on it. Put a lid on it / Cuz’if you don’t, we’re through / I’m tired of telling you, put a lid on it.”

“Blues to Get Started” is an upbeat, swinging blues instrumental from her days sitting in with Jay McShann’s band. “Chicken Wings” is a funny duet about Bryant’s love of eating chicken wings. It features a duet with Bryant on vocals and Kyle playing greasy blues harmonica. Bryant was fascinated by the sound of the word katydid, a type of grasshopper, so she wrote the song “Katydid,” which is not at all about the insect. “I wrote the song about someone named Katy who did something, but I never say what it is she did.” The song features Guerrero on trumpet and Ooka on guitar.

Bryant also covers several standards, putting her own bluesy spin on them. She swings the Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler classic “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” and does a sultry version of Bobby Troup’s “Baby, Baby All the Time.” Her nearly eight-minute version of “Stormy Monday” gives her and Kyle time to stretch out and take their own seductive solos. She gives “The Very Thought of You” a Brazilian twist that features Winard’s percussion, Jorge’s guitar, and Jiffry’s electric bass. Bryant offers a poignant and swinging version of “Got a Lot of Livin’ to Do,” whose message is a perfect closer for the album.

Making an album and travelling to gigs around Southern California is hard work. When asked why she does it at the age of 94, she says “It’s what I do and have done my whole life. I’m not ready to retire. Music gets me out of bed in the morning.” Despite her age, she hasn’t missed a beat. Rather, her singing and playing show the depth and assurance that comes when inborn talent is enhanced by deep experience.

LOTTA LIVIN‘ will be available digitally on all platforms on January 26, 2024; physical CDs will be available at Bandcamp.

Betty Bryant website

From January 26th, HARLEM BEATS, the latest album by jazz artist Lucia Fodde, is available on all major music platforms, label Timezone Records. Harlem Beats is a bold sonic exploration, reflecting the experimental vision of artist Lucia Fodde. Embracing the classic repertoire of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Fodde injects a breath of fresh innovation into some of jazz's most celebrated classics.

The album features six iconic tracks, with a standout reinterpretation of Charles Mingus's "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" as a tribute to her mentor. Electric arrangements challenge conventions, blurring the lines between traditional jazz and electronic elements, paying homage to the genius of Duke Ellington.

The distinctive track of HARLEM BEATS is "In a Mellow Tone" by Duke Ellington, the only track entirely produced by Lucia Fodde, showcasing electronic production and experimentation. The collaborative nature of the track is highlighted by the spontaneous magic of Davide Incorvaia's piano/synth, Aidan Lowe's pulsating rhythm on drums, and the evocative melodies of Greg Ambroisine's trumpet, adding a timeless touch of elegance.

Among the gems of HARLEM BEATS is a moment of pure musical intimacy: Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," featuring Lucia's delicate voice accompanied by the ethereal touch of Davide Incorvaia's piano/synth. In the middle of the track, Australian trumpeter Greg Ambroisine joins with a solo, creating a delicate melodic interweaving with the voice and piano/synth played by Davide Incorvaia. It's a moment where the artist reveals herself in her purest and most vulnerable form, capturing the listener's attention with expressiveness and emotional depth. This homage track to the extraordinary composer, considered Duke Ellington's alter ego, demonstrates Lucia Fodde's versatility in exploring new sounds and musical approaches. It's an experience that goes beyond jazz conventions, immersing itself in a world of emotions through the powerful fusion of voice, trumpet, and piano/synth.

The first track of the album, HARLEM BEATS, celebrates the emotional connection between Charles Mingus and Maestro Duke. Mingus's "Duke Ellington's Sounds of Love" is an affectionate dedication to the great Maestro, a tribute that goes beyond musical notes, crystallizing the depth of affection and respect Mingus had for Duke. This track, along with the rest, "Mood Indigo," "Heaven" by Duke Ellington, and "Chelsea Bridge" by Billy Strayhorn, is performed by the full electric quintet.

The essence of HARLEM BEATS is an extraordinary creative alchemy with the talented musicians who accompanied Lucia Fodde on this fascinating musical journey. While Lucia brought ideas and arrangements to life, the electric quintet composed of exceptional musicians like Australian Greg Ambroisine on trumpet, Aidan Lowe on drums, and Italians Davide Incorvaia on piano/synth and Francesco Beccaro on bass, not only contributed to the arrangements but also infused these tracks with a unique artistic dimension.

HARLEM BEATS was recorded at the Ufo Sound Studios in Berlin, under the skilled technical direction of Fabian Knof, the same studio where Lucia recorded her previous album "TRACES OF YOU" in 2022.

Listen to Harlem Beats on Spotify here

Tracklist:

Duke Ellington's Sound of Love (Charles Mingus)

Mood Indigo (Duke Ellington)

Heaven (Duke Ellington)

Chelsea Bridge (Billy Strayhorn)

In a Mellow Tone (Duke Ellington)

A Flower is a Lovesome Thing (Billy Strayhorn)

Lucia Fodde website