Donald Byrd

I remember growing up listening to a lot of Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds. My parents were always playing his songs. If we were at home or driving in the car listen to him on 8 tracks songs like “Flight Time”, “Think Twice”, “Places and spaces out there”, “Slow Drag”, “Sky High”, “Witch Hunt”, "You And The Music", “We're Together”, “Rock Creek Park”, “Black Byrd”, “Walking In Rhythm” and “(Falling Like) Dominoes” the list goes on. Donald Byrd’s music has been sampled by rappers. When I hear youngster today, that hear a Donald Byrd song for the first time and say, he got that from so and so. It gives me great pleasure to say learn your history.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on December 9, 1932 Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II is an American jazz, rhythm and blues trumpeter. Donald Byrd had a gift at an early age. Before finishing high school he was performing with Lionel Hampton. Donald played in the military band, throughout his term in the United States Air Force. He is an educated man as well. He attended Wayne State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in music. He also received a master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music.

Donald Byrd had the foresight to moves away from hard-bop jazz base and began to record jazz fusion and rhythm and blues. Donald Byrd is known to be the pioneer jazz, funk and soul sound of the 1970s. That is when Donald Byrd and the Blackbyrds were born. I think this was fantastic move. This was one of the great jazz/funk bands in the 1970s. I count myself blessed to have grown up listening to this amazing music and this great man. You can listen to songs from Donald Byrd on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on iTunes, Pandora MyGen365, Live365 and Athena365.

LM

http://www.last.fm/music/Donald+Byrd/+wiki

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkXh4kRTBVk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16_RNvYWogs

DJ Michael Ealey said I would like The Fusion Syndicate CD. Listening to the first two tunes “Random Acts of Science” and “Stone Cold Infusion” had me a little suspect about this CD. It did not have enough jazz for my liking. The guitar playing was too over powering. It sounded more like, rock musicians trying to play jazz. It seem to me they were just jamming. There is no cohesiveness between the players. As I continued listening to this CD I started to like it more. Specially the tunes “In The Spirit Of...” and “Molecular Breakdown” the sax work is great. The tune “At The Edge Of The Middle” was another tune that had all the musicians feeding off of each other. That is what I like to hear when I’m listening to Jazz fusion. This CD is real live musicians doing what they do best. Some of the featured musicians on this CD are Rick Wakeman, Billy Sherwood, Billy Cobham, Steve Morse and a host of others. Well, over all “The Fusion Syndicate” CD gets 4 out of 5 stars, because this CD is real music not all that synthesized crap. You can listen to songs from “The Fusion Syndicate” on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on iTunes, Live365, MyGen365 and Athena365.

Joe Blessett Jazz Man of Mystery

Who is Joe Blessett? What does he look like? That is the one million dollar question. I know his music is composed, effortlessness, genuine and methodical. Joe Blessett says he’s not a musician and that music is his vice. Well, I must say if he not a musician, then what are these music stars of today called. It is puzzling to me, because his music features acoustic instruments, electronic instruments which blend well with his writing skills. Joe Blessett’s touch of funk and a lot of sax is very pleasing to the smooth jazz and the modern jazz fan. I love his sound. Joe Blessett is a true composer and writer. Joe Blessett’s 2011 album “Chillin Out In Dark Places” is a compilation of him sitting back in dark places and observing life. Like he says in his bio “What I see composed into musical composition. Music is life moving at different speeds heading two different directions moving along separately, but in unison creating a fluid motion and providing peace to those who will listen.” Joe Blessett is a guy of mystery. His music is in my opinion jazzy, funky and mellow. The songs Better Days, East Shore, Rainy Season, Chillin out in Dark Places, Friends, Wine & Good Times Warm Summer Night are my favorites. I like these songs because of the bluesy, jazzy sax playing. I know I’m a Joe Blessett fan now. If you have never heard of Joe Blessett you can listen to some of his music on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on ITunes, Athena365, MyGen365 and Live365. 

LM

http://www.joeblessett.com/index.html

Incognito "Surreal"

Hey Incognito fans! Their 15 album “Surreal” is just what I expected from this Acid jazz, jazz funk, soul jazz, soul, nu jazz, pop British band. I have been listening to Incognito since their debut album “Jazz Funk”, which was released in 1981. They never stop making wonderful music. The band consists of frontman, composer, record producer, guitarist and singer is Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick. Other notable members that make up this amazing band are singers Jocelyn Brown, Carleen Anderson, Tony Momrelle, Imaani, Maysa Leak, Kelli Sae and Joy Malcom. 

The “Surreal” album has many great songs highlighting these amazing singers. Maysa Leak on the song "The Less You Know" sounds invigorating. Mo Brandis "Goodbye To Yesterday" is an up tempo pop song that makes you want to get up and move. Natalie Williams’s vocals on "Above The Night" is exceptional. Vanessa Haynes is sounding splendidly smooth on "Don't Break Me Down." My favorite songs on this album are “The Less You Know”, “Goodbye To Yesterday”,   “Above The Night”, “Restless As We Are”,  “Rivers On The Sun”, “Don't Break Me Down”, “To Be With You”, “ This Must Be Love”, “The Way You Love” and “Thoughtful Fantasies”. I am an Incognito fan for life. If they keep bringing the music I will continue to enjoying them for years to come. You can listen to songs from Incognito’s “Surreal” album on Streetwise Radio. Also listen to Streetwise Radio on MyGen365, ITunes, Athena365 and Live365.

LM  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incognito_(band)

Tatiana Mayfield A Portrait of LadyMay

Tatiana Mayfield is a twenty something, jazz singer with a unique, amazing and invigorating voice. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. In her senior year of high school, she appeared of Showtime at The Apollo in 2004 singing “Good Morning Heart Ache”. This was the beginning of a fantastic jazz singer with incredible talent. Tatiana went on to pursue her musical studies at the University of North Texas and was a member of the Jazz Singers ensemble. While Tatiana was in college she received several awards for “Outstanding Performance” in the “Jazz Vocal Soloist” category in DownBeat magazine’s June 2009. Also she received the award for “Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Jazz Studies” from the University of North Texas jazz department in 2009. Tatiana was chosen on October 2010 as one of the twelve semi-finalists to compete in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition that was held in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Museum. Tatiana has pure confidence in her ability. She has performed before a panel of legendary jazz vocalists that included Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Kurt Elling. Tatiana released her debut album in the fall of 2009 called “From All Directions”. This album was collaboration with pianist Erskine Hawkins III. On this album she has spiritual songs and jazz songs that show her versatility as a singer. Two of my favorite songs off this album are “Speak To My Heart” and “A Little Acapella For Ya For Fun”. Tatiana released her second album in July 2012 “A Portrait Of LadyMay”. My favorite songs off this album are, “Real”, “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”, “Judgment Day”, “Zone”, “Sequins”, “Love” and “Olha Pro Ceu (Look to the Sky)”. "A Portrait Of LadyMay" is a forceful and original work that covers Tatiana's writing talent and flexibility. If you like jazz artists that sing Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield is one to put in your collection. She definitely has the skills. Listen to songs from Tatiana Mayfield’s album “A Portrait of LadyMay” on Streetwise Radio. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on MyGen365, Athena365, live365 and ITunes.

LM

http://www.tatianamayfield.com/Home_Page.php

Ravi Coltrane “Spirit Fiction”

Ravi Coltrane’s destiny was written in the stars. Being that he is the son of the legendary tenor saxophonist John Coltrane and jazz pianist Alice Coltrane. Ravi was born in Long Island, New York but grew up in Los Angeles, California. He was two years old in 1967 when his father John Coltrane died. Ravi didn't make it easy on himself, 21 years after the passing of his father Ravi Coltrane studied music at the California Institute of the Arts. Ravi concentrated on the soprano and tenor saxophone, the same instruments his father played.

Ravi Coltrane has pull from his father's sound and made it his own. He's a musician of his own time. “Spirit Fiction” is Ravi’s newest album which was released on July 19, 2012. It has the tune “Cross Roads” on it. A lot of musicians have recorded this tune. I like the way soprano sax is feature on it, gives it another sound. On the tune "Yellow Cat," the horns play straight through a two-minute piano solo, which is odd but sounds great. Other tunes from this album I like are "Roads Cross", "Klepto", "The Change, My Girl", "Who Wants Ice Cream", "Spring & Hudson" and "Check Out Time".

Ravi Coltrane may look just like his father. You can hear some of John Coltrane in Ravi Coltrane’s playing, but I think Ravi Coltrane has his own sound. He is a great musician who has lived up to his legendary parents. Tune in to Streetwise Radio and listen to some tunes off of Ravi Coltrane’s “Spirit Fiction” album. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You can also listen to Streetwise Radio on ITunes, Live365, Athena365 and MyGen365.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Coltrane

Kenny Wellington
CD title: In Retrospect
Genre:  Soul Jazz

CD album ‘In Retrospect’

Trumpet player Kenny Wellington was an original founder member of the groups Light Of The World and Beggar & Co. As well as performing and recording with those groups
he has recorded, arranged and played live dates with many artists from the different genres of soul, jazzfunk, rock and pop. These artists include fine artists such as Tina Turner, Spandau Ballet, Gabrielle, Paul Weller, Incognito, Tom Browne, Jean Carn, The Jones Girls, Gwen Mc Rae, Alexander O’Neal and many others.
;Bahia’ is from the CD album ‘In Retrospect’, the follow up to the first solo recording ‘Kind Of Black’ which featured the popular recording ‘The Big Apple’ which received much airplay in the UK and USA on stations favouring the jazz, soul and jazzfunk genres. The influence and style of the music of the early Seventies classic jazzfunk albums is evident throughout.
The CD pays homage to the tradition of the great works of musicians like Donald Byrd and his work with the Mizell Brothers with tracks like ‘Free Your Mind’ and ‘Dream Land’ being set firmly in this direction. There is a great reworking of the track ‘Bahia’ which was originally co produced by Kenny and Richard Bull well known for his fine work with Incognito. ‘Rain Dance’ is more akin to the work of the great Woody Shaw. There is also the influence in the playing of Nat Adderley, with a definite nod in the direction of some of the great work that Marcus Miller produced for the great Miles Davis. ‘In Retro Spect’ sits well with the great work of the modern day trumpet players with some wonderful melodic playing over some very soulful and jazzy grooves.

http://myspace.com/kennywellington
kennywellington@hotmail.com