Compared to What

By the time Les McCann released "Compared to What" – the classic vocal track from the live Swiss Movement with Eddie Harris – the pianist was already a dozen albums into his career. Before that, he cut hip little piano trio records live and in studios with killer rhythm sections using a unique meld of blues, gospel, hard bop, and soul in an approach that made him one of the more iconic live jazz performers during the '60s and '70s. The appearance of this multi-disc set from Resonance, co-produced by Zev Feldman and George Klabin, highlights that early period. Never a Dull Moment! hosts 21 previously unreleased instrumental selections. The first 13 were recorded during performances at Seattle's The Penthouse in early 1966. The final eight were drawn from a July 1967 gig at New York's Village Vanguard. McCann's rhythm sections – in Seattle bassist Stanley Gilbert and either Paul Humphrey or Tony Bazley on drums; in New York, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Victor Gaskin – were swinging and attentive.

Earlier this year, Roberta Flack joined an illustrious circle of honorees as a 2020 recipient of the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Vocalist Philip Bailey's high-flying falsetto made Earth, Wind & Fire an immortal supergroup. On this album, he's backed by a streamlined combo featuring saxophonist Bob Belden, keyboardists Scott Kinsey and Myron McKinley, and remixer DJ Smash. Nine of the 11 tracks are updated classic jazz, pop, and R&B/fusion-tinged tunes, from Nat "King" Cole's "Nature Boy" to Freddie Hubbard's "On the Red Clay". Thelonious Monk's "Ruby My Dear" is revived as a quiet-storm ballad, "Dear Ruby". "My Indiscretions", Bailey's take on the funky, futuristic Weather Report jam, "Indiscretions", features catchy lyrics by the singer's son, Sir Bailey. Chick Corea's "Sometime Ago" is turned into a club-friendly dance number, while Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" is retouched with Afro-Latin tinges. The church-inspired EW&F hit, "Keep Your Head to the Sky", is rendered with hip-hop-styled rim shots. Philip Bailey's vocalisms show that Soul on Jazz does mix.

For his sophomore release with Resonance Records, Swedish guitarist, songwriter, and producer Andreas Öberg presents "Six String Evolution". Featuring John Patitucci on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, Dave Kikoski on keys, and Darmon Meader on sax and vocals, this is an ear-charming mix of smooth jazz, ballads and funk, with hints of Latin influences.

Roberta Flack's debut album, titled "First Take" in true underachiever fashion, introduced a singer who'd assimilated the powerful interpretive talents of Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan, the earthy power of Aretha Franklin, and the crystal purity and emotional resonance of folksingers like Judy Collins…

Multiple Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard and his quintet The E-Collective journey into an exciting zone of grooved fusion teeming with funk, R&B and blues colours. The album title makes a statement, referencing the words of Eric Garner (“I can’t breathe”) who died in police custody in New York City in 2014; those words have since echoed across the US and worldwide in protest of discrimination. The adventurous 13-tune recording zeroes in on several Blanchard originals, an epic-length piece by keyboardist Fabian Almazan (Everglades) and a scattering of covers, sung by soothing and soulful vocalist PJ Morton from Maroon 5.

Chuck Leavell has been pleasing the ears of music fans for more than 40 years now. His piano and keyboard work has been heard on the works of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, The Black Crowes, George Harrison, The Allman Brothers Band, The Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler, Train, Montgomery-Gentry, Lee Ann Womack and many, many more. He has been the musical director and keyboardist for the Rolling Stones for over two decades.

Multifaceted in everything related to the good and most diverse music, Patricia Kraus already has a new album, 'Alquimia', a perfect hodgepodge of songs with great musicians and extraordinary singers. An album that he will present live in several concerts from the month of February, the first of them on the 25th at the Madrid Café Berlín.

Celebrating 50 years of Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble's legacy and unwavering contribution to Great Black Music - 'Open Me, A Higher Consciousness of Sound and Spirit' is a new Ethnic Heritage Ensemble sound, constantly shifting gears and tempos in a jazz-blues continuum, in perpetual spontaneity, combining their meaningful music history with an innovative approach to arrangements, performance and improvisation. This is Ancient / Future Music for the Now and Beyond.