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New Releases:
 Everyone Orchestra - Brooklyn Sessions CD - Now, for the first time, Everyone Orchestra has taken the conducted improvisation concept mastered in their legendary live shows into the studio on Brooklyn Sessions. Conductor Matt Butler invited past collaborators--musical friends like drummer Jon Fishman (Phish), keyboardist/pianist Marco Benevento, Al Schnier (moe.), Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), guitarist Steve Kimock, saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), vocalist/percussionist Jans Ingber (The Motet), mandolinist Jamie Masefield (Jazz Mandolin Project) and bassist Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green), to join him for several days of exploration and co-creation. The results range from hard-hitting grooves that take unexpected twists and turns ("Boots"), to sweet and expansive ("Pensive"), all with a spirit that is both liberated and focused. READ OUR REVIEW
 Santana - Shape Shifter CD - Carlos Santana's 36th album is mostly instrumental, though the track "Eres La Luz" features vocals from Santana band lead singers Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay. His son Salvador Santana also plays piano on the album's final two songs, "Canela" amd "Ah, Sweet Dancer."
The guitarist has dedicated Shape Shifter to Native American Indians, acknowledging "Australia's 2008 apology to the Aborigines and President Obama's signing of the 2009 Native American Apology Resolution." As Santana says, "I encourage any and all countries (that have not as yet done so) to acknowledge the first people of their land, and make this a collective global effort." Santana has been slowly compiling songs for the instrumental project for many
 Chasing Edison - 2012 Sampler EP - Chasing Edison is a high-energy-one-of-a-kind four piece rock band based in Charlotte, NC. All the members draw from diverse styles creating fun adventurous set lists that blend rock, funk, and classic harmonies. After a 2011 feature in Relix magazine, Chasing Edison has produced two self titled EP's and their LP "Black Maria" (named derived from Thomas Edison's 1st recording studio). Always constantly experimenting with new material, writing styles, and effects they push the boundaries during live performance. Notably Chasing Edison has shared the stage with Robert Randolph Family Band, RAQ, Jeff Coffin's Mutet, Otis Taylor, all within in the last year. Check out this Summer's festival circuit and look for Chasing Edison in a venue near and soon.
Coming Soon:
 Tedeschi Trucks Band - Live: Everybody's Talkin' 2CDs - Armed with a new Grammy Award for a debut album deemed "masterpiece" by Rolling Stone and praised by concert-goers around the world for brilliant musicianship and roof-raising performances, Tedeschi Trucks Band is catapulting to new heights of popularity as they release their first live album, Everybody's Talkin.
Critics have praised the outstanding live performances of Tedeschi Trucks Band. Led by one of the most dynamic husband-wife teams in popular music, singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi and slide guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks, the 11-piece ensemble is the ultimate big band for lovers of rock and delta blues that also pays homage to the far-ranging influences of funk, gospel, jazz and world music.
Everybody s Talkin contains eleven tracks cherry-picked by the group to serve as a musical look-back on their first band-building year. Featured are versions of tunes from Revelator that are already crowd favorites "Bound For Glory", \"Love Has Something Else To Say" some with added details, that takes them a notch higher than the studio originals. Other songs reveal the group's affection for a wide range of soulful forebears, including Stevie Wonder ("Uptight" ), Muddy Waters ("Rollin' And Tumblin'"), Bill Withers ("Kissin' My Love"), Joe Cocker ("Darlin' Be Home Soon"), Bobby Bland ("That Did It"), Harry Nilsson ("Everybody's Talkin'") and the Staple Singers ("Wade In The Water").
Together, the tracks flow one into the next with the collective spirit and lift of a typical TTB concert raising the roof with a Saturday night sense of abandon, and gently concluding with a Sunday morning spiritual.
 Leftover Salmon - Aquatic Hitchhiker CD - The first studio album in 8 years! Recorded in Denver, Colorado and Portland Oregon during the December and January 2011-12. Original artwork by Ray Troll (www.trollart.com) and the first album release from Leftover Salmon to consist of all original music from the band.
Last Week:
 ALO - Sounds Like This CD - In April 2011, ALO convened at San Francisco's Mission Bells studio with no plans other than to make some music together. With studio owner/longtime collaborator David Simon-Baker assisting behind the board, the band opted to take the same improvisational tack towards recording as they do on stage. Any distinctions between pre-production and real recording would be shed, allowing for ALO's instinctive spontaneity to make it to track.
"We thought, what if we started recording from the get-go," Gill says, "instead of rehearsing, making songs, and then going into the studio. We decided to start the whole process all at once, with the intention of wanting things to feel really live."
"Without a clear roadmap, we hit a lot of dead ends," says drummer Dave Brogan says, "which forced us to create our way out of the morass. I think that helped us look to within ourselves rather than outside influences to bring the music to life."
The band all based in the Bay Area, bar Gill, who resides in sunny Santa Barbara, were also able to utilize a lifetime's bag of tricks in a way the previous album's sonic scope only suggested.
 The Wood Brothers - Live Vol 1: Sky High CD - The 7-track CD was recorded live during their Fall tour and features songs from the provocative and charming Smoke Ring Halo, along with tunes from their first record, Ways Not To Lose, plus a Mississippi John Hurt gem, "Pay Day". 1. One More Day
2. Smoke Ring Halo
3. Glad
4. Stumbled In
5. Payday
6. Made It Up The Mountain 7. Luckiest Man
 Where in the World is Away? - by Michael Franti & Ben Hodson - On April 18th, in celebration of Earth Day, Michael Franti released his second children's book "Where In The World Is Away?"- a story about the importance of recycling, reducing waste, and re-using what we can. With illustrations by Ben Hodson who collaborated with Franti on his debut children's book, "What I Be".
The self-published book will be available in hardcover. It comes with a humorous read along CD featuring Franti, his son Ade, friend Addison Savage, singer Jolene Rust, and Spearhead band mate J Bowman. The books are printed and manufactured in the USA using environmentally-friendly soy ink on elemental chlorine-free, sustainably harvested, recycled stock!
"I read to both of my sons every night of their childhood," said Franti. "Reading is a precious time when we get to be close to our children and pass down stories, both real and make believe, that shape the way they view the world. I hope that this book inspires families and children to make recycling as much a part of their lives as brushing their teeth before bedtime...only more fun!" says Franti.
After visiting a garbage dump in Bali while filming the video for his song "Hey World" and seeing hills of garbage as far as the coastline, Franti was inspired to pen "Where In The World Is Away?". The book's message is a simple one; just because we throw away our trash and it's taken off somewhere else doesn't mean it really goes away. It's up to us to recycle, reduce waste, and re-use what we can.
Upcoming Events:
May 17-20 - Orange Blossum Jamboree - Brooksville, FL
May 18-19 - Happiness & Harmony - New Castle, VA
May 25-28 - Amberland - LaFayette, GA
May 31-June 3 - Wakarusa - Ozark, AR
June 7-10 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
June 14-16 - IfdaKamp - Keil, WI
June 21-23 - Mantrabash Music & Art Festival - Ferguson, NC
Video of the Week:
Everyone Orchestra - An Introductions and making of Brooklyn Sessions
Thanks for reading! Treat yourself to some good music this week.
Lee Crumpton |
