Riccardo Fassi has often worked around the music of Frank Zappa and, with the Tankio Band, had already recorded in the nineties a first homage to the genius and opera of the great Italian-American composer. Go back to Zappa's material with an articulated, full-bodied project rich in guests and suggestions, able to enter and exit the "non canonical canon" designed by compositions and Zappish interpretations. Fassi conceives a kind of "concert": the seventeen tracks are articulated around ten tracks of Zappa, with introductions and queues, two improvisations conducted by Fassi along with Antonello Salis and Uncle Remus by George Duke. In nearly seventy minutes overall, many things happen, following the spirit of the tutelary labor number.
This long awaited 4th CD is the latest release from the 15 piece powerhouse horn/vocal band that has become the band, other bands go to for inspiration. The CD includes 14 new original songs combining a stew of Funk, Jazz, Soul, Rock and Latin flavors.
The title Swing Is Here would have been more appropriate for the 1930s instead of 1960 when this album was originally issued, and the big-band era had long since waned. Yet vibraphonist Terry Gibbs kept the home fires burning out in California with this exceptional orchestra of cool jazz giants playing a stack of standards and modern compositions by Bill Holman or Gibbs, and one look back with an Artie Shaw number. What is most interesting about these arrangements is that they are always different in emphasizing the fleet, dampened sound of Gibbs in contrast, apart from, or in tandem with the woodwinds and brass instruments.
Expanded release for the debut album by Noel Redding's band with eight bonus tracks. Recorded in 1969, Fat Mattress was the eponymous debut album by the band formed by Jimi Hendrix Experience bass guitarist Noel Redding. The album evoked the influences of the time, touching upon styles pioneered by groups such as Traffic (whose member Chris Wood guested on the record). A superb piece of psychedelic rock in it's own right, Fat Mattress failed to get the attention it deserved at the time of release (despite a tour as support act to the Hendrix Experience) but has subsequently been hailed as a classic of the era. This Esoteric reissue has eight bonus tracks comprising non-album singles, mono mixes, studio out-takes and an unreleased solo single by Fat Mattress’ Jim Leverton.
Steve Miller Opens His Massive Vault For The First Time To Share His Treasures Welcome to the Vault is a Career Spanning 3 CD + DVD Collection containing 52 audio tracks and 21 performances on DVD With 38 previously unreleased recordings, including 5 compositions that have never been heard before, and featuring alternate versions of classic songs, live performances and more, all housed in a 100 page hard bound book of Steve’s personal photos, with a 7,000 word essay by David Fricke…