Funk on Life

That music is close to the heart of Swedish world class trombonist Nils Landgren can be heard in every single note of his playing - whether with his Funk Unit, his duos with Esbjörn Svensson or his ballad albums.
His band Funk Unit soon get into to a rootsy, raw groove with kicking tracks such as "Funk For Life" and "Finish What You Started". Tightly honed funk nuggets have been lovingly crafted by this gifted bunch of scandinavian souleros, it's all here blistering trombone, deep in the pocket drumming, crisp and choice guitar melded together by floaty keyboards.
Nils voice sounds on it too and the vocal harmonies that weave in and out of his compositions really add a touch of class to this already funk enflamed flagship. Highlight for me is "Matutu" the dirty synth, reminiscent of funkadelic really steals the show and Nils treated trombone just adds its own special flava to this bangin' broth!

Life and Times is the highly anticipated follow up to the smooth jazz super chart topping More Serious Business - which included two #1 smooth jazz radio hit singles! Featuring three of the most important hit makers on the scene today: Jeff Lorber, Everett Harp and Paul Jackson, Jr. - artists and producers responsible for selling millions of albums and scoring close to 50 #1 Smooth Jazz radio hits! Highlights include the hit single, "Ready Freddie," the super funky, "Where You're At," the high-spirited romp "Exotic" and much more!

Etta James followed her two deeply jazzy mid-'90s albums of torch songs with Love's Been Rough on Me, a flirtation with Nashville writers. On Life, Love & the Blues, she returns to her blues and soul repertoire, enlivening even the hoariest of tunes ("Spoonful," a gender-flopped "Hoochie Coochie Gal") with her growl. The tinges of funk underpinning "Born Under a Bad Sign" are given full room to stretch on a cover of Sly Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay," and James nearly swipes "The Love You Save May Be Your Own," one of Joe Tex's great preaching ballads, from the master.

Studio Brussel proudly presents the first "Life Is Music" compilation of 2014, with all the highlights from this year's much appreciated Stubru playlist.

One of trombonist Nils Landgren's early inspirations was Cannonball Adderley's group. Paint It Blue is dedicated to Adderley with Landgren performing five songs associated with the altoist plus seven originals that pay tribute to Cannonball's bands. Some of the music is in the soul-jazz vein while other tunes (particularly the originals) are more modern, even incorporating a little bit of rap in a couple places. Landgren is a fine trombonist (sometimes a little reminiscent of Wayne Henderson) and he manages to keep up with Michael and Randy Brecker, who in this situation are superior supportive soloists. Without merely copying the past, Landgren expands on the legacy of Adderley quite successfully.

Los Angeles, January 21, 2014: CONAN is gearing up to celebrate funk on February 10 when the show brings in jazz-funk groove machine Rock Candy Funk Party (RCFP) - a band that delivers a sound that's as celebratory as the name suggests - for their late-night television debut…