Paradiso comments, “This album is an attempt to describe the different and parallel realities that each one of us experience even living the same event, at the same time and in the same place."
Vinyl POV
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EDITORIAL: Russia & Jazz
The Wall Street Journal USA takes a look at the 100th anniversary of jazz in Russia.
INTERVIEW: Bernd Reiter
Jazz London Live’s Sarah Chapman interviews drummer Bernd Reiter.
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IN Session: Omar + QCBA
A TSF Jazz France Live Exclusive!
Spotify Stock (NYSE: SPOT) Hits All-Time Low — Is Now the Time to Buy?
Spotify stock (NYSE: SPOT) just recently touched a record low of $88.69 per share, and some are discussing whether it’s a good time to invest in the audio-entertainment company, which was trading for nearly three times as much at 2022’s start.
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INTERVIEW: Steve Baker
Jazz London Live’s Sarah Chapman speaks with the prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist.
To listen, please click on the image, above.
Ubuntu Music Signs Multi-Talented USA Artist Ray Greene for Album Release
Ray Greene / Stay
Release Date: 14th April 2023
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0121
Ray Greene (Photographer: Tina Abbaszadeh)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Ray Greene for the release of his next album, Stay. The release date is 14th April 2023.
Ray received a degree in Music Performance at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. He was born in Americus, Georgia, and currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina, within the shadows of the great Soul/R&B legends of our time. Ray is equally adept at the traditions of Gospel, Jazz and Blues.
He has performed and recorded with a number of the most successful and influential names in the fields of Pop, Funk, and R&B; most notably Aretha Franklin, the Isley Brothers and Natalie Cole.
Left to right: Karl Perazzo, Ray Greene, Cindy Blackman, Carlos Santana, Paoli Mejias (video image)
Greene was selected by the popular and innovative soul/fusion band Tower of Power, where he served as the lead vocalist and trombonist for several years.
Ray was then invited to join the legendary Carlos Santana. Ray has travelled throughout the globe with the famed guitarist. From Dubai and Singapore, to Australia, Africa and Europe, Santana’s music and live performances have been a phenomenal showcase for Greene’s vocals and musicianship. Santana has most recently been on tour with Earth, Wind & Fire.
Ray’s upcoming project, Stay, is a Soul/R&B album that hearkens back to the days of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, who delivered such power and determination in their approach to singing their classic material. This project begs the question, “what would these gentlemen be doing if they were still with us today?” or, more specifically, “what type of music would Bobby Womack or Jackie Wilson be listening to?”.
Ray Greene (Photographer: Tina Abbaszadeh)
Ray wrote the music for Stay over the course of several years, which deals with the emotions, joys and pain of being in mature, adult relationships. The songs delve into complexities and subtleties by asking how and why certain situations come to be the way they are. It was important for Ray to convey these messages in a way that takes the listener inside of these relationships.
Ray shares his perspective on the essence of the project: “Soul music is at the heart of this collection of songs. However, the record is also heavily influenced by artists and musicians from an array of different genres and sub-genres of Soul and R&B music. There are elements of Jazz improvisation, Blues, Gospel, Pop and even Reggae. ‘Stay’ is the culmination of all these styles coming together to tell the many different stories of life, love, and relationships.”
Stay features an exceptional array of talent, including Santana guitarist and vocalist Tommy Anthony, Tower of Power guitarist Jerry Cortez, along with bassist Ray McKinley, who performs and tours with Sheila E.
Ray Greene (Photographer: Tina Abbaszadeh)
Ray continues, describing his new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “Alex Bernath, my manager at Alexander Agency, talked about a connection he made at the Jazzahead Trade Show in 2022. I was first intrigued by the name, UBUNTU MUSIC: ‘I Am, Because We Are’. I am genuinely impressed by the roster of musicians and artists who are on the Ubuntu Music Label. The cross-section of ages, genders, ethnicities and styles makes me exceedingly proud to be a part of such a talented and diverse group. Ubuntu Music has a very strong Jazz presence, which is especially interesting for an artist such as myself. I truly appreciate how performers like Maysa, Kem and Omar are able to meld the genres of Jazz and Soul music into a single category. Martin (Hummel) represents the Label wonderfully and gives each of his artists a sense of being in a big, extended family. As I consider all of the potential opportunities that may lie ahead, my enthusiasm is bolstered by knowing I am being supported by Mr. Hummel and his team. I look forward to what our partnership will produce, and I am excited for what the future will hold as we align with Ubuntu Music!”
Ray Greene (Photographer: Paoli Mejias-Jazzambia)
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Being introduced to Ray has been an absolute blessing. He’s a kind, caring individual who just so happens to possess tremendous talent as a composer, vocalist, and trombonist. It’s a privilege to be associated with someone who has performed with a few of my favourite contemporary artists: Aretha Franklin, The Isley Brothers, Natalie Cole, Tower of Power and even Santana! I am most grateful to Ray’s manager, Alex Bernath, for making this happen. We are ecstatic beyond words that Ray has joined the Ubuntu Music Family and we very much look forward to bringing Ray’s soulful sound all over the world.”
For further information, please contact:
Alex Bernath/Alexander Agency (Management): alex@alexanderagency.de
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Ray Greene (Photographer: Berry Behrendt)
BIOGRAPHY
Ray Greene is a singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist living in Columbia, South Carolina (USA). He received a degree in Music Performance at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
Being brought up in the shadows of the great Soul/R&B legends of our time, Ray is equally adept at the traditions of Gospel, Jazz and Blues.
He has performed and recorded with several of the most successful and influential names in the fields of Pop, Funk, and R&B, most notably Aretha Franklin, the Isley Brothers and Natalie Cole. Ray has toured with Rick James and recorded with New Kids on the Block.
Greene was selected over many candidates from around the country by the popular and innovative Soul band Tower of Power, where he served as the lead vocalist and trombonist for two years.
He was then asked to join the iconic Woodstock performer Carlos Santana. Ray has travelled throughout the globe with the famed guitarist. From Dubai and Singapore, to Australia, Africa and Europe, Santana’s music and live shows have been a terrific showcase for Greene’s vocals and musicianship.
Ray has written and produced many albums of his own music. He received a Boston Music Award for his release One People. His album entitled All About Me/All About You was released in the UK to rave reviews. His first ever Gospel album, called Songs of Hope, Inspiration and Joy, was met with commercial success as well as critical acclaim. He released a follow-up of Gospel-inspired material called Heaven Bound, which featured soul-stirring renditions of His Eye is on the Sparrow and Last Mile of the Way, which was originally written and recorded by Sam Cooke.
Greene was honoured to perform with the legendary Maya Angelou at the Boston Opera House. The poet laureate recruited him to perform a cappella renditions of some of her favourite inspirational hymns to open the engagement.
His voice has been featured on commercials for Converse sneakers (with basketball superstar Magic Johnson), ESPN, Cadillac, Bose speakers, Fox Television, and Walt Disney Productions.
Ray has been asked to perform the National Anthem for major US sporting events. The Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the New England Revolution and the Boston College football and basketball programs have enlisted his services. The San Francisco Giants invited him to perform the “Star Spangled Banner” at a Major League Baseball playoff game during a recent championship run.
His music and voice were heard regularly on the US daytime soap operas The Young and the Restless and One Life to Live. He was the featured vocalist on the HBO documentary Legacy, which was nominated for a Grammy award.
Greene’s backing band, Innervisions, is a dynamic six piece ensemble that performs Funk, Jazz, Soul and R&B. The group performs at all of the top venues throughout Boston and New England. They have also performed in New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.
Innervisions has appeared on local TV in the Boston area, in addition to performances at the Black Ministerial Alliance, the Young Black Women’s Society, and the annual Black and White Ball, which benefits the Boston Public Library. The group has also played benefit concerts for the Brandy Cruthiard 4Kidz Foundation, the Paint the Town Red Gala, and the Berklee Gala, a benefit performance for the City Year Foundation.
Innervisions is arguably the most popular attraction at the Boston Harbor Hotel Summer in the City music series and the Cape Cod Jazz Festival each year.
Ray Greene (Photographer: David John Correia)
RAY GREENE’S COMMENTS ON STAY PRODUCERS & INSTRUMENTALISTS
“There were many producers and instrumentalists brought in to bring the vision of ‘Stay’ to life.
“Ed Grenga is a producer and songwriter who has produced music and songs for three major motion pictures, a Top Ten song, two Gold records and two Platinum albums. He has worked with award winning producer Ross Vannelli, brother of Canadian recording star Gino Vannelli. Together they wrote and produced records for such artists as Jeffrey Osborne, Howard Hewett (Shalamar), Kim Carnes, Buddy Miles, and others.
“Al Watkins is a producer, mix engineer and DJ who attended Berklee College of Music and has worked with many artists in the fields of Jazz, Hip-Hop, and R&B, most notably jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman of Woodward Avenue Records.
“Gerald Richardson, aka ‘Hot Berry Black’, is a keyboardist, singer and producer, as well as the CEO, director, and chief brand officer at Monsta Music LLC, which is a song writing and branding conglomerate located in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Steve Catizone is a Naples, Florida based keyboardist and owner of Infinite Recording Studios, located in Reading, Massachusetts. He has produced and worked with many artists of varying styles, including Damian Marley, Charlie XCX, Talib Qweli, and Wyclef Jean, just to name a few.
Paul Jefferson is a Los Angeles, California based multi-instrumentalist who played and produced most of the 12 tracks on ‘Stay’.
“The record features Santana guitarist and vocalist Tommy Anthony, Tower of Power guitarist Jerry Cortez, as well as bassist Ray McKinley, who performs and tours with Sheila E.
“Tyrone Chase played guitar and bass for several of the tracks on the record. He is the assistant chair of the Ensemble Department at Berklee College of Music, receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in production and engineering. Tyrone has worked with Brian McKnight, Christian McBride and Brian Culbertson. He has recorded with Earth, Wind & Fire as well as smooth Jazz saxophonist Walter Beasley.
“Jeff Lockhart is an accomplished Funk and Jazz guitarist who has worked with bass Funk-master Meshell Ndegeocello as well as instrumental Jazz group Lettuce. He has recorded with superstar Beyoncé and singer Dido.
“Joe Cunningham is a much sought-after saxophonist in the New England area who has played with many artists in the region as well as famed Jazz and Soul vocalist Phil Perry.
“Each one of these supremely gifted musicians brought their unique skill sets to the sessions and helped to create a wonderful mix of styles and sounds. These elements combined to form the backdrop for the lyrics and stories that became the music of ‘Stay’.”
Ubuntu Music Signs Sax Man Fraser Smith For Debut Album Release
Fraser Smith / Tip Top!
Release Date: 7th April 2023
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0119
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the upcoming release of Tip Top!, the debut album from tenor sax player Fraser Smith, which will be released on 7th April 2023.
Tip Top! is the current stop-off-point in the musical journey/career of Fraser. Two decades of study and scholarship have informed this album of original material. Wholly inspired by the music and artists of the late bebop to early hard bop periods, Fraser pays tribute to his heroes with ten tracks stylistically dedicated to the jazz masters of the mid-twentieth century.
A slightly late starter, Fraser picked up the sax at age 15, and at around the same discovered a Charlie Parker CD in the Woolworths discount bin. These incidents started him on a lifetime path of decoding and understanding bebop and its descendent genres. With no musicians in his immediate family, he was left to his own devices, listening and playing along to the CDs of Louis Armstrong and Scott Hamilton. Three years later Fraser was accepted onto the jazz course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he later graduated with first class honours. After that he moved to the capital to complete his Masters Degree at the prestigious Trinity College of Music, London.
Fraser Smith (Photographer: Benthe de Vries)
Homing in on swing and bebop, Fraser then continued to learn the craft the old way. Through thousands of hours on and off stage he listened and emulated to inform his own sound. The result is a style that has been described as rich and firmly rooted in the jazz tradition. Contrary to many of his contemporaries he takes prominent influence from the likes of Mobley, Dexter, Illinois Jacquet and unsung hero of the Tenor Wardell Gray (with a track on the album written in dedication).
Fraser has worked professionally for the last 12 years, playing as far away as Mexico and China, and everywhere in between with a whole range of projects and bands. He’s led his own group at world famous Ronnie Scott’s numerous times and is a regular on the UK jazz club scene.
Tip Top! was an effort to solidify and record some of the musical experiences Fraser was having. With jazz being transient in its nature, gigs come and go. The vibrant and world class ‘straight ahead’ London scene is happening every night and without stopping to take note, it can pass one by. For this recording Fraser assembled a top band of musicians whom he was playing with on-the-fly on a regular basis in different set-ups and wrote music specifically for the group, to solidify the communion.
Fraser describes the project: “I wanted to take a snapshot of where I was at that point with my playing. It is only recently I’ve felt that years and years of study and performing have begun to manifest, allowing me to express myself more accurately. Feeling a new control and facility enabled me to compose in the vein I was aiming for. This was another major driving force behind this venture.”
Left to right: Fraser Smith, Rob Barron (Photographer: Leo Mansell)
Rob Barron, pianist (and Ubuntu artist), is one of the best in the business and has a top reputation across London and Europe. He has played with Benny Golson, Grant Stewart and Phil Woods to name just a small handful. From Hollywood scores to the most in-demand side man, he’s one of the very best in the music business. The same can be said for Steve Brown, first call drummer for many of the US masters when they’re in town. He was the regular UK drummer for the late jazz legend Barry Harris and has also toured extensively with Scott Hamilton among others. Bassist Simon Read is a young player making waves, already playing with some of London’s best improvisers.
Left to right: Steve Brown, Rob Barron, Simon Read, Fraser Smith (Photographer: Leo Mansell)
From the very first rehearsal the band was ‘oven ready’, with little actual musical direction needed. As hoped from the outset, a connection was made and everyone in the group felt the music in the same way.
For a group with a sound as specific as this, there was only one place to take them to record. Durham Sound Studios located in Kentish Town (London) has the ghost of an old phonograph store sign above the door. Not a computer in site, you can smell the solder from the owner making last minute adjustments to the vintage equipment. Straight to tape, the band laid each track down in no more than two takes using gear from the era they pay homage to.
Fraser Smith (Photographer: Benthe de Vries)
What started out as an effort to capture Fraser’s current experience of the London live jazz scene, became an amalgamation of things. It now stands as a tribute to his heroes, a small gesture in return for countless hours of music and enjoyment that the original creators themselves sacrificed everything to offer. And finally, it stands up as an album in its own right, albeit highly stylised. A contribution to the huge tapestry of musicians today striving to keep modern jazz alive, playing the music to the best of their capacity in honour of their idols.
Fraser continues with his thoughts concerning Ubuntu Music, his new record label: “Ubuntu has been on my radar for a long time due to the amount of amazing artists that they represent. I was thrilled for Martin (Hummel) to come onboard after the initial stages of the production of my album. He shared a wealth of knowledge about the process of releasing and comes at it with a genuine interest in the music and musicians. I don’t think the same can be said for other labels!”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Fraser is one of the strong emerging talents in the London jazz scene, paying his respect to the masers while playing on his terms. Tip Top! swings like it was recorded in the golden age of jazz in the sixties. With Rob Barron on piano leading the excellent rhythm section, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable, timeless ride.”
For further information, please contact:
Fraser Smith (Artist) fraserjsmith@hotmail.co.uk
Emma Perry (UK Publicity) emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
Pharoah Sanders Obituary
The New York Times pays tribute the the immensely gifted and spiritual sax player.
