Bradley Leighton - Soul Collective Review

SmoothJazzVibes.com
By Ronald Jackson

Flutist Bradley Leighton has covered a lot of turf in his career as far as citing musical influences is concerned. He’s covered Charlie Parker and even rolled through a little Tower of Power. Here on his 2008 release, Soul Collective, the flutist seems to travel back to his Back to the Funk release as he unleashes some coolly rhythmic and oft funky material on us.
The album runs the gamut for groovable tracks. The opening cut, “It’s On,” has a really nice hook and decidedly smooth yet funky feel while “Café Con Leche” has that appealingly rhythmic and exotic Latin touch. Funk takes center stage with “Wake Up Call” and its sassy swagger. Covers like “She’s Gone,” “Ode to Billy Joe,” and “Keep That Same Ol’ Feeling” are dealt with adeptly and with precision. Vocalist Paula Prophet, who is expected to release her debut sometime this year, offers her “That Man,” which has that early Motown/Martha Reeves kinda groove, and it works…well.

With guest help from Greg Adams, Tom Braxton, Jason Miles, Evan Marks, and Tom Scott, this project came gift-wrapped and set to please. It’s quite obvious that the stellar gathering prompted the album’s name and character.

It’s amazing what the flute has been able to offer in the world of jazz. From Laws to Najee to Zonjic to Leighton and many more, we have come to experience the texture and sweetness that the instrument adds to the genre. Soul Collective speaks to just how fortunate we are to have that experience.

Bradley Leighton Adds More Cities to His "Music For Life" Tour

“You may have never heard the flute played like this until you’ve heard Bradley Leighton,” wrote Susan Frances of JazzReview.com. “He turns the flute into whatever instrument he wants it to be.”

A remarkable performer, Bradley Leighton kicks off his summer “Music For Life” tour schedule on June 5th at the Sunshine Brooks Theatre in Oceanside, CA and continues on bringing his fire and flair as one of the featured artists at the Carlyle Club for the Pacific Coast Jazz label’s All Stars Concert on June 11th. The event hosts a hot line up of musicians that include: Art Sherrod Jr, Ronny Smith, Al Williams III and a special guest appearance by Washington D.C. recording artists, Saltman Knowles. With all of these talented, swinging and funky musicians on one stage it is a guaranteed good time for all.

Then on June 13th Leighton is the featured artist at the Takoma Park Jazz Festival along with five-time Downbeat Best New Artist winner, Jeremy Pelt and the D.C. All-Stars, led by Chuck Redd. For the first time this year, the Takoma Park Jazz Festival will present a free master class with Pelt, Leighton and Redd on their respective instruments. As a Yamaha Performing Artist and flute coach, Bradley is known for his dedication to education in the arts and has developed his own workshop program, “Music For Life,” that inspires all ages to embrace the study of improvisation.

Other stops along the way are listed below. For more information about the “Music For Life Tour” go to, http://www.BradleyLeighton.com or http://www.PacificCoastJazz.com.


“Music For Life Tour” performance schedule:

June 5 – 7:30 p.m. Sunshine Brooks Theatre, Oceanside, CA, http://www.sunshinebrookstheatre.com
June 11 - 8:00 p.m. Pacific Coast Jazz All Stars Concert at The Carlyle Club, Alexandria, VA, http://www.thecarlyleclub.com
June 13 -1:00 p.m. The Takoma Park Jazz Festival, Takoma Park, MD, http://www.tpjazzfest.org/index.html
June 17 -7:30 p.m. The Greenwich, Cincinnati, OH www.the-greenwich.com
June 18 - 10:00 p.m. Wilbert's Music, Cleveland, OH, http://www.wilbertsmusic.com
June 20 -7:00 p.m. Vonn Jazz, Colombus, OH http://www.vonnjazz.com
June 22 - 7:30 p.m. Benny’s Pizza, Marysville, OH
June 23 - 7:00 p.m. Cosmopolitan Bar, Des Moines, IA
June 25 - 11:30 a.m. Ames Summer Festival, Ames, IA
June 25 - 7:00 p.m. Java Joe’s, Des Moines, IA
June 26 - 5:00 p.m. Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Omaha, NE, http://www.summerarts.org/2010prefestival/
July 16 - 7:00 p.m. Coronado Library, Coronado, CA, http://www.coronado.ca.us/
August 7 - 4:00 p.m. Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Festival, Mobile, AL, http://www.gcehjazzfest.com/
September 25 - 11:30 am. Smooth Jazz & High Desert, Adelanto, CA.

"Best Jazz Album of the Year" Danny Green's "With You In Mind"

www.DannyGreen.net

www.PacificCoastJazz.com

San Diego, CA – September 11, 2009 - San Diego-based independent record label, Pacific Coast Jazz (PCJ), is proud to report its artist, Danny Green, won “Best Jazz Album of the Year” from the San Diego Music Foundation in their 19th annual awards ceremony, last night at Viejas Concerts in the Park, San Diego, CA. With You in Mind is Green's debut solo release and it received extensive airplay in stations around the globe beginning in January 2009.

With You In Mind was co-produced with Allan Phillips and features Justin Grinnell (bass), Dylan Savage (drums), Allan Phillips (percussion) and Tripp Sprague (soprano saxophone). With ten original compositions and one cover, Green combines both Brazilian and Latin influences, cradled in mainstream jazz and classical nuances.

“While other PCJ artists have been nominated in the past, this is our first win. We are extremely proud of all of our artists and this demonstrates our ongoing commitment to high quality independent artists,” says Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz. Nichols’ label along with publicist Joy Foster of SV Media Relations and radio promoter Neal Sapper at New World N’Jazz were the team to bring Green’s music to the marketplace in 2009.

Another PCJ artist, Bradley Leighton, was also in the running in the same category for his 2008 release “Soul Collective,” the third Leighton release to receive a nomination from the same organization. “PCJ is thrilled to have this kind of talent on our roster,” said Nichols.

The annual Awards show has raised over $500,000 since its inception in 1991. These funds have been used to assist Handicapped Teen Centers, to fund arts programs within the San Diego Unified School District and to fund the placement of music equipment into schools within San Diego County.

Pacific Coast Jazz, founded in 2003, is a boutique jazz label that also offers artist management services. All PCJ artists are distributed worldwide by MVD Audio/Big Daddy Music. For more information on Pacific Coast Jazz, please visit: www.pacificcoastjazz.com. For media information or interviews with Danny Green, please contact: Joy Foster at SV Media Relations at: SVMediaRelations@gmail.com or 310-487-0048. Visit Danny Green’s website at: www.dannygreen.net.

Danny Green "With You In Mind" Debut CD Released January 20

Danny Green Releases Debut CD "With You In Mind"
Just in time for the Obama Inauguration

Danny Green's new debut CD, "With You In Mind" (Pacific Coast Jazz label) is getting quite the attention. His first week of radio airplay put him at #18 on Jazz Week charts and his reviews have been praising this new young talent.

Check out the most recent review on Blogcritics by Kit O'Toole at:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/01/19/102150.php

Southern California jazz pianist Danny Green may be just 27, but his musical training began at the tender age of five. Through high school, college, and private instruction, Green became well-versed in jazz, classical, and Latin music genres. Previously he produced and collaborated with the Caballero Verde Quintet on their 2007 release Past Due. Now he puts his extensive experience to good use in his debut solo CD, With You in Mind, a promising outing that should please jazz fans.

Playing mostly original compositions, Green’s classical training shows in his preciseness, yet the joy of jazz and Latin rhythms still surface. “Jellyfish,” one of the best tracks off the CD, is an appealing samba with Green’s confident, authentic Latin piano merging with intricate percussion. Latin grooves continue with cuts like “Doctor Pasta,” “Baiao Pra Voce,” and “Gigi,” with the latter being a perfect showcase for Green’s speed and dexterity. These tracks encompass his thorough study of Latin music, having worked with several world musicians as well as California’s Brazil Camp program.

He switches gears with the title track, a moody piece reminiscent of Theolonius Monk’s “Round Midnight.” Green’s gorgeous chords create a lush, romantic atmosphere. Again, his classical and jazz backgrounds blend beautifully, lending to his intricate yet soulful playing. “Lullaby for a Poet” shows a delicate side, with Green’s piano alone carrying the beautiful tune. Nowhere is his classical background more evident than on this track.

“Panic Nap” represents yet another sound departure, this time focusing on modern jazz. The beginning cacophony of notes and percussion signal a different tone, with the bass line driving the fast tempo. Green’s keyboard solo suggests fusion a la Miles Davis’s 70s outings. More fusion occurs in “Suite for the Americans” (the only song Green did not compose), an homage to the U.S.’s melting pot of music and culture. Just a hint of the blues can be heard among the exotic rhythms and Green’s precise playing, with fluctuating tempos and motifs thrown in the pleasing mix.

With “Take Five,” Dave Brubeck proved that jazz and classical could coexist. Green continues this combination with With You in Mind, and jazz fans will enjoy his invigorating piano work. This CD marks the beginning of an ambitious artist and is definitely worth a listen.

Saltman Knowles Review: Blogcritics.org

Music Review: SaltmanKnowles - Return of the Composer

Written by Kit O'Toole
Published December 22, 2008

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/12/22/024553.php
Blogcritics.org - published by Eric Olsen
Blogcritics is an online magazine, a community of writers and readers from around the globe.

Fans of modern jazz should seek out SaltmanKnowles’ newest release, Return of the Composer. The Washington, D.C.-based jazz group includes Mark Saltman (bass), William A. Knowles (piano), Lori Williams Chisholm (vocals), Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson (drums), Rob Landham (alto saxophone), and Alvin Trask (trumpet). The band cites Billy Strayhorn, Horace Silver, and Charles Mingus as major influences. This somewhat free-form type of jazz pervades their fourth release.

The group makes heavy use of vocalese throughout the album, with Williams Chisholm’s voice becoming another instrument on such cuts as “Bellport,” where she trades lines with the saxophonist. During the Brazilian-tinged “A Study in Purple,” her voice complements the elaborate percussion. Her soulful vocals add a touch of soul on “Seeds and Deeds,” while Jackson’s drums and Saltman’s bass provide a driving, almost funky beat.

While vocalese is prominently featured, the deft instrumental skills of the band still impress. “Homeland” features an extended (and blazing fast) saxophone solo by Landham, and “Shalom and Salaam” works due to the tight syncopation of Knowles, Landham, Trask, and Saltman. Once again the saxophone and piano solos are the true standouts, their improvisation accompanying but never dominating the driving beat and melody. Trask occupies the spotlight on the midtempo “Disfavor,” his muted trumpet skillfully navigating the frequent tempo fluctuations. Landham and Trask trade lines, never overshadowing the other’s playing.

The lone track featuring actual lyrics, “Pain Management” serves as a welcome respite from the scatting and instrumental songs. The tune begins as a lament, suddenly launching into a ripping saxophone solo. The real star of “Pain Management,” though, remains Jackson’s intricate percussion. He consistently impresses with his ability to smoothly change the tempo throughout the song without any abrupt transitions.

SaltmanKnowles enjoys performing as a “cohesive unit,” and Return of the Composer exemplifies this statement. The musicians complements one another, letting a player solo while the others play an accompanying melody or beat. Williams Chisholm appears very comfortable with singing vocalese, her scatting providing the perfect instrumentation or flourish for various songs. It’s refreshing to hear straightforward modern jazz performed by some excellent artists, encapsulating traditional improvisation while occasionally injecting some soul and funk into the music. Any fan of modern jazz will enjoy Return of the Composer, and it will be interesting to see how SaltmanKnowles continuously evolves in the jazz genre.

Saltman Knowles Joins Pacific Coast Jazz Label; “Return of the Composer” slated for February 10

San Diego, CA – November 30, 2008 - San Diego-based independent record label, Pacific Coast Jazz (PCJ), announces the signing of Washington, DC-based jazz ensemble, Saltman Knowles. The agreement anticipates the release of their new CD, Return of the Composer, slated for a street date of February 10, 2009.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to represent Saltman Knowles’ fifth and most impressive CD to date,” says Donna Nichols, founder and president of Pacific Coast Jazz. “This album truly confirms the compositional strength of Mark Saltman and William Knowles with a track list of sophisticated yet soulful original music.” Nichols’ label has teamed up with publicist Joy Foster of SV Media Relations and radio promoter Neal Sapper at New World N’Jazz for access to international media buying and radio promotion.

Bassist Mark Saltman and pianist William Knowles, the leaders of this seamless blending of sounds, met while attending the composition program at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and created a musical bond with similar affections for the music of Billy Strayhorn, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton and Charles Mingus, among others. “They are a true find for our artist roster,” added Nichols.

Their latest CD project, Return of the Composer, emphasizes their commitment to original music with a deep love for melodic color, texture, and groove. The group continues their journey into the creative musical exploration by including vocalist Lori Williams-Chisholm as an instrumental effect doing vocalease on many of the songs.

Pacific Coast Jazz, founded in 2003, is a boutique jazz label that also offers artist management services. All PCJ artists are distributed worldwide by MVD Audio/Big Daddy Music. For information on Pacific Coast Jazz, visit: www.pacificcoastjazz.com. For more information and interviews with Saltman Knowles, visit www.saltmanknowles.com or contact Joy Foster at SVMediaRelations@gmail.com.