New Albums - Page 199

Evan Marien has just released his newest EP, Here We Are, a 5-track album of original material written and mostly performed by the bassist himself. Marien laid down bass, keys, vocals, and computer programming, while getting help from drummer Louis Cato and guitarist Iakov Kremenskly for the tune “Hill,” and drummer Dana Hawkins on “Bloke” and “OC.” The music is...

Jazz saxophonist Donny McCaslin has released his ninth solo album, Perpetual Motion, featuring the electric bass talents of Tim LeFebvre. The 10-track album is full of odd meter grooves and rich harmonies, creating a very hip and modern vibe. LeFebvre’s bass really shines on “Firefly,” a tune that begins with an eerie bass solo that builds into the sax’s theme,...

Saxophonist and composer David Binney has released his latest album, Graylen Epicenter. Binney enlisted a terrific supporting cast for the album, including bassist Eivind Opsvik, guitarist Wayne Krantz, drummer Brian Blade and others. This is one diverse album, covering a huge spectrum of jazz styles from many eras. Binney’s bandmates really bring a lot to this diversity as well, adding...

Bob Marley’s final performance, which took place at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Stanley Theater on September 23, 1980, has just been released. Bob Marley & the Wailers: Live Forever is a 2-disc, 20-track collection capturing Marley and his band performing his most famous hits at the end of an era, as Marley would die of cancer months later. Marley’s band is of...

Sony Masterworks Jazz is celebrating the 40th anniversary of CTI Records, the jazz label founded in 1970 by producer Creed Taylor. The label is releasing several CTI classics, including Ron Carter‘s 1973 release, All Blues. The album has been remastered from the original two-track analog tapes and packaged in a softpack sleeve, to replicate the original LP’s gatefold packaging. Carter...

Jazz bassist Robert Hurst has released Unrehurst, Vol. 2, a straight-ahead trio album featuring pianist Robert Glasper and drummer Chris Dave. As the names suggests, the CD was recorded in 2007 without any rehearsals at Smoke in New York City, though that’s not how the jazz veteran had planned it. A taped-off crime scene prevented him from checking in to...

French double bass master Renaud Garcia-Fons has just released his new album, Mediterranees, in the U.S. The 18-track album is an exploration of the music of the Mediterranean, which Garcia-Fons attributes to his Spanish and Italian roots. “There’s nothing ethno-musical or touristy about this project,” the bassist explains, “Simply a desire to be carried on a passionate thread of a...

American rock band King’s X has released their first-ever live concert DVD, Live in London. The release, offered in a deluxe 2 CD/1 DVD box set or as a 2 CD release, was filmed in January 2009 at the Electric Ballroom in London. The band, featuring bassist/vocalist Dug Pinnick, guitarist/vocalist Ty Tabor and drummer/vocalist Jerry Gaskill, say the UK audiences...

The Jelly Jam, a prog-rock trio featuring Dream Theater’s John Myung on bass, has had its first two albums re-released as high-resolution MP3 downloads on the Molken Music website. The band, rounded out by King’s X guitarist/vocalist Ty Tabor and Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, put out their eponymous debut in 2002 followed by The Jelly Jam 2 in 2004....

Stu Hamm has just released a new solo album, entitled Just Outside of Normal. The album, which is his first studio album in ten years, is a somewhat eclectic mix of songs ranging from a rock to classical to swing. There’s even a polka! Hamm recruited an all-star cast of musicians to back him up including Joe Satriani, Robert Fripp,...

Iron Maiden is the focus of the newest Interview Sessions series of documentary-styled albums. The band, anchored by metal bass hero Steve Harris, is examined on the disc through a collection of lengthy interviews with each member, with topics ranging from touring and music to their personal lives. The 8 tracks of contain 68 minutes of various question and answer...

Solo bassist Grant Stinnett has released his first solo CD, Aspiration. Stinnett has captured the attention of several of the bassists he credits as inspiration, including Michael Manring, Matt Garrison, Steve Bailey and Rob Gourlay. “Grant draws many colors out of the bass to make pleasing and engaging music,” Manring shares. “I think he has a bright future!” After taking...