New Albums - Page 196

Bassist David Pastorius and his band, Local 518, have released their second album in the U.S., Sense of Urgency. The album features Pastorius on bass with Local 518 members Al Brodeur on guitar and keyboards, Bjarne Jannik Kjaer on drums, steel drums and keyboards, Anthony Darmana on percussion and Dijeradoo and Dave Hoag on keyboards. Other performers on the CD...

Bassist Meshell Ndegeocello has just released Devil’s Halo through the Downtown record label. This is Ndegeocello’s eighth album to date and features live music energy, but thematically resting on loneliness and alcohol. Ndegeocello has explained part of her muse: “I live in Hudson, N.Y., and you can walk the whole town in about 10 minutes. The unifying factor is the...

South African psychedelic rock dub group BLK JKS (pronounced “Black Jacks”) have released a new album After Robots on the Secretly Canadian record label. The BLK JKS have been sharing performances with both Dirty Projectors and Afro-pop icon Femi Kuti. After Robots lives up BLK JKS description, you’ll hear raw township sounds mixed with reggae and blasts alternative rock. BLK...

Bassist Robin Duhe has a new album out, Life released on his own Blaise Two record label. Duhe was an original member in the band Maze, starting with them in 1974 and playing on almost all their albums. It’s his licks that open the tracks “Joy and Pain,” “Happy Feelin’s,” and “Golden Time of Day.” In 2004 Duhe stopped working...

Guitarist Oz Noy has released Schizophrenic, his latest album to feature his unique approach to music and guitar. Oz is joined by Late Show with David Letterman bassist Will Lee and SNL bassist James Genus, as well as guitarist Steve Lukather, and drummers Dave Weckl, Keith Carlock and Anton Fig. I caught a live performance of Oz Noy at 55...

Jazz bassist Scott LaFaro is being honored with the first biography on his brief but influential life, Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFaro. The biography has been written by LaFaro’s sister Helene LaFaro-Fernandez and includes contributions by notable jazz writers highlighting LaFaro’s contributions to the bass community. LaFaro made his mark on the scene with the Bill...

Bassist and composer Ben Allison will be releasing his ninth album, Think Free, on October 13th 2009, with Palmetto Records. Think Free features Allison on bass with Steve Cardenas on guitar, Shane Endsley on trumpet, Rudy Royston on drums and Jenny Scheinman on violin. The album consists of eight originals by Allison, and continues his “train of thought” from previous...

New York City jazz bassist Joe Martin has released his second CD, Not By Chance, on Anzic records. Not By Chance features eight original compositions by Martin, and a Jaco Pastorius tribute, and includes Brad Mehldau on piano, saxophonist Chris Potter (also on bass clarinet) and Marcus Gilmore on drums. “Three of my favorite musicians. They not only possess powerful...

Bassist Rufus Reid will be playing on guitarist Roni Ben-Hur’s upcoming release, Fortuna. Reid commented that “It is always a pleasure to make music with Roni Ben-Hur, anytime, anywhere!” Fortuna will be released on October 13th 2009, and is available for pre-order. You can check out some of Reid’s playing with this video of him performing “Come out and Play”:...

Jazz bassist Brani Disterheft just released her second album Second Side. Brandi took a singer/songwriter approach to her second album, where “one can hear (though not overtly) the influence of early period Joni Mitchell… and of Brazilian pop sensation Milton Nascimento.” “She has the same lope or rhythmic pulse as my bass player, Ray Brown,” Oscar Peterson said of Disterheft....

Bassist Mike Inez, from Alice in Chains, was interviewed recently by WMMR’s Matt Cord. The video is now available on YouTube: Alice in Chains is currently preparing for the upcoming release of their newest album, Black Gives Way to Blue. The music video for “Check My Brain”, the first official single released from Black Gives Way to Blue aired on...

Bassist Mimi Jones‘s debut album, A New Day, releases today. The album is a great mix of genres and features Jones on bass and vocals, Miki Hayama on piano, wurlitzer and keys, Marvin Sewell on guitar, Marcus Gilmore on drums, and special guests Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet and Lucianna Padmore on drums. Be sure to check out our early review...