Here’s something you can take home to show mom; the fantastic and highly acclaimed Portland, Oregon group Pink Martini has been fusing the finest of high class style, period, and technique to create a wonderful and diverse catalog of original music over the past decade and a half. Think of them as a “little orchestra;” that’s how they like to be seen and the description fits. Martini creates a variety of songs in all different styles, much in the way a contemporary orchestra would, drawing on lounge chill outs, various Latin styles, old-fashioned pop, golden age Hollywood musicals, classical orchestral pieces, and a healthy dose of jazz. It really comes off as something very classy and professional without any rigidness or snobbery involved. In fact, Pink Martini reads quite the contrary and manages to capture the best ingredients from each of their different influences and blend them together in a very fun, yet smooth way.
Featured Artist: Pink Martini
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010Featured Artist: Gregory and the Hawk
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
Meredith Godreau’s Gregory & The Hawk is a true example of how to succeed in independent music within today’s digital market. She has humble beginnings, as all good bands do, and worked hard while utilizing social media outlets to augment her exposure through performances. In fact, the first time Godreau recorded a full-length, it was in her own bedroom in 2006. Her pop-sensible indie tunes caught on with the blogosphere in a variety of places online, causing her debut self-produced record to become an internet sensation, eventually selling tens of thousands of digital copies of her single overnight.
With such success stemming from true DIY beginnings, imagine what the luxury of a proper recording journey backed by a prestigious label will yield. Fat Cat Records (a house favorite here at IODA) signed Godreau after seeing her play in New York and put out her follow-up, Moenie and Kitchi, which she recorded with a host of collaborators. She then toured to support the record along with indie’s top acts including Múm, Frightened Rabbit, Mice Parade, and Album Leaf. Now, Meredith Godreau returns with Gregory & The Hawk’s third full-length album, Leche, released once again on the auspicious Fat Cat Records.
In a way, Leche is a return to Gregory & The Hawk’s humble beginnings; a return to the bedroom if you will. On the new record, Godreau elects to lay down a more stripped-down, simplistic set of recordings rather than layers of production and space. The result is an album of raw honesty that highlights her stunning voice, gifted songwriting, and innovation, all without restriction. However, the songs are still complemented by the harps, guitars, and creepy sonic knick-knacks that have found their way in as a supporting cast.
While her songs remain pleasing to the ear, it is important to distinguish that this is not pop music. Leche demonstrates the distance Godreau has travelled from the gentle, hook-centric simplicity of her earlier material, but her peerless grasp of head-bobbing rhythms, ear-piquing hooks, and otherworldly, punctuating noise snippets clearly remains — keeping the listener humming along through even the darker bits of her latest effort.
With such quality, honest songwriting from a beloved indie success story, this is sure to take the blogosphere by storm. Take a listen to the free promotrack below and pick up Gregory & The Hawk’s newest release Leche today.
Gregory & The Hawk
“Landscapes” (mp3)
from “Leche”
(Fat Cat Records)
Featured Artist: Russell Malone
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
These days it takes considerable talent and unique voicing to make a standout career in jazz guitar; over the course of his 25+ year career, Russell Malone has managed to do just that. Though he is often qualified as a swing-jazz guitarist, Malone also is versed in bebop, contemporary, blues, gospel, R&B, pop, and blues, effortlessly switching between genres without hesitation. His talents have earned him credits on albums by Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990’s, including a prominent roll in the Diana Krall trio which turned out three Grammy-nominated albums, the final one in 1999, “When I Look In Your Eyes,” winning Best Vocal Jazz Performance. Today, Malone is considered to be in the top tier of active jazz guitarists, becoming a mainstay of the scene and an instantly recognizable name. His newest release, Triple Play, represents the first trio recording of his illustrious career (with bassist David Wong and drummer Montez Coleman) and his fourth release for MAXJAZZ. The record is powered by swinging energy wielded through fantastic, lyrically expressive guitar playing.
A remarkable fact about Russell is he’s essentially self taught from the start. In a tale commonly found with great guitarists, Malone received his first instrument at a young age in the form of a cheap plastic guitar, which he loved dearly. Where he distinguishes himself, even at this early age is the inspiration for his playing; like so many other young guitarists, he developed an interest in blues and country watching Chet Atkins, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, and Glen Campbell. However, it was at age 12 when he saw George Benson perform with Benny Goodman that Malone’s instinct kicked in. He knew right then and there that he wanted to be a jazz musician. His first gig was working with organist Jimmy Smith in 1988, where he reached a critical point in any player’s journey: when you realize how little you really know.
Working hard and studying even harder, he went on to work with Harry Connick Jr.’s orchestra, a position he held from 1990-94, appearing on three of Harry’s recordings. After his time with Connick, he joined Diana Krall throughout the 90’s, truly making a name for himself as a respectable player. Malone’s self-titled debut, Russell Malone, in 1992 quickly went to #1 on the radio charts and was followed by Black Butterfly in 1993. Today, in addition to touring regularly as leader of The Russell Malone Quartet, Russell Malone can be seen in appearances with Dianne Reeves and Romero Lubambo. He also tours frequently with Ron Carter, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Hank Jones, Sonny Rollinsand Bill Frisell.
“Lyricism remains a vital part of Malone’s music, and he certainly has achieved a unique guitar voice in jazz’s mainstream. His powerful technique erupts when he wants it to, while his warm and mellow ballad material rests comfortably on yearning ears.” -All About Jazz
Russell Malone’s newest release and first release with his trio, Triple Play, is an exemplary work that demonstrates his true versatility, touch, and expression. Be sure to pick it up and hear proof that jazz guitarists are still around and thriving after all these years. Here’s a free promotrack:
Russell Malone
“Honeybone” (mp3)
from “Triple Play”
(MAXJAZZ)
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album
Featured Artist: Kermit Ruffins
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
Happy Talk is Kermit Ruffins’ newest release following an unforgettable performance as himself in the first season of Treme‘, HBO’s acclaimed new drama series. Lifted into the national spotlight by the hit television show, Kermit keeps the momentum swinging with his first big band album. Happy Talk was produced by Grammy winner Tracey Freeman with Herlin Riley (drums), David Pulphus (bass), Matt Lemmler (piano and arrangements) plus a dozen other fine musicians.
The 44-year-old New Orleans native lives for passion, plays it and sings about it, and nowhere is it more evident than when he displays his craft: The Village Voice referred to him in their recent review of Happy Talk as, “the Pied Piper of Good Times for New Orleanians.” The swinging, good-time jazz that lured him in as a teenager and continues to whet his appetite even three decades and 10 solo recordings later. By all accounts, including his self-portrayal on the HBO show, Ruffins is totally content staying in New Orleans, barbequing, tailgating, and playing his regular gigs. Talk about knowing what you want, working to get there, and enjoying every minute of your dream’s realization. As ABC news puts it, “During a musical era when Auto-Tune seems to reign, Ruffins offers a refreshing return to a simpler time of raw vocals, in-your-face instrumentation and clever composition.”
“Kermit Ruffins is one of the prime reasons why New Orleans is mending post-Katrina, bringing his good-time music to the people as an entertainer,” said All Music Guides Michael G. Nastos on Billboard.com, “As a trumpet player and singer of heritage jazz, soul, and popular music, he’s uplifting the spirit of Crescent City dwellers who are slowly but surely rebuilding their neighborhoods.” There is no doubt Ruffins is a key part of modern New Orleans, and a keeper of the soulful city’s culture.
Pick up Happy Talk for an instant jump into the feeling of New Orleans’ vibrancy and hospitality; you’re guaranteed to leave tapping your feet. Here’s a free promotrack:
Kermit Ruffins
“I Got a Treme’ Woman” (mp3)
from “Happy Talk”
(Basin Street)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
Featured Artist: Arlo Guthrie
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
As the firstborn son of the legendary Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie grew up surrounded by musicians: Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, Fred Hellerman and Lee Hays (The Weavers), Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee were all present in his youth and significant influences on Arlo’s musical career. As a singer, songwriter and lifelong political activist, Guthrie carries on the legacy of his legendary father. He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience award on September 26, 1992 for his efforts to promote unity between differing faiths. Like his father, Arlo has penned a lengthy discography that includes a number of seminal and successful releases, a number of which had been very limited in availability for digital purchase. Now the best parts of the Arlo Guthrie catalog have been authorized for digital release, allowing IODA to proudly distribute his catalog.
Guthrie was born in Brooklyn during 1947, just in time to find himself in the middle of the New York folk explosion that occurred in New York during the 1960’s. From birth, his whole life has been intricately tied to folk music, working with and befriending the genre’s most legendary names. . Guthrie gave his first public performance in 1961 at age 13 and quickly became involved in the music that was shaping the world. He frequented the Folk bloom’s most noteworthy locations: Gerdes Folk City, The Gaslight, and The Bitter End. He witnessed the transition from an earlier generation of ballad singers like Richard Dyer-Bennet and blues-men like Mississippi John Hurt, to a new era of singer-song writers such as Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, and Phil Ochs. All of this experience manifested in his unique sound: his most beloved compositions work around a narrative, ballad-telling style. His career exploded in 1967 with the release of arguably his most recognizable song, “Alice’s Restaurant,” a Newport Folk Festival highlight that became an anthem for a new generation of socially conscious and active youth. His performance of “Coming into Los Angeles” is also often cited as a Woodstock ’69 highlight. An artist of international stature, he has never had a ‘hit’ in the usual sense. He has usually preferred to walk to his own beat rather than march in step to the drum of popular culture. Guthrie would go on to tour all over the world and enjoy a lifetime of recognition and success. Alongside his thriving performing career, Guthrie launched his own record label, Rising Son Records, in 1983. Arlo, like his father, is considered to be nothing short of an American icon.
Here we highlight his most seminal release, the classic 1972 album Hobo’s Lullaby, which features contributions from many other musical greats including Ry Cooder and Linda Ronstadt. Remastered in 2004, this new edition of the record includes the original, definitive version of Guthrie’s hit “The City of New Orleans.” This is Arlo Guthrie’s style, songwriting, and personality embodied all in a single release.
Artist: Arlo Guthrie
Title: Hobo’s Lullaby
Label: Rising Son Records
Genre: Folk : Folk-Rock
UPC: 722017106048
Territory: World
Release Date: 10.19.10
Featured Artist: Rita Indiana & Los Misterios
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
Rita Indiana is an artist who has gained a lot of attention for her unique blend of afrocaribbean styles like Merengue infused techno pop; she has effectively created a way to take the traditional Caribbean forms of music that she grew up with in the Dominican Republic with the danceability of modern western pop. She achieves this in a musical manner not far off from M.I.A. or Santigold, but with a lyrical storytelling ability that the others don’t bring to the table. This is primarily because Rita found notoriety before her musical endeavors from her two published novels, which feature clever, narrative prose that flows in a Dominican slang dialect. Match that with some outrageous outfits, witty subject matter, and dance-able electronics and you’ve got yourself a unique formula for something special. On her new album El Juidero, Rita Indiana y Los Misterios present just that: a whimsical fusion of Dominican and other rhythms with techno and rock.
Rita was born and raised in Santo Domino, though she spent her time on US soil during frequent visits to her father at his American business. She would study Art History at Universidad Autononoma, but abandon it in favor of the School of Design of Altos de Chavon. Subsequently, she penned two fictions: “Estrategia de Chochueca” (2000), which tells the story of a group of kids who steal a sound system at a rave (perhaps a precursor to her integration of electronic dance into Caribbean forms), and “Papi” (2004), where the pain and glory of a messianic New York Dominican street guy is seen through the eyes of his eight year old daughter. Both novels were critically acclaimed and have been used in literature courses in worldwide universities such as Harvard and NYU.
Her first musical endeavor came after brief stints in performance art, nannying, and PR: in 2008 Rita produced the record Altar Epandex in duo with Miti Miti. The resultant production was a rustic mix of electronics, merengue and gagá, and was declared by New York City’s Daily News one of the top 5 indie jewels of 2008. Following the record’s success, she returned to the Dominican Republic, where she formed the band Rita Indiana y Los Misterios to record and perform a new batch of songs she had written. The result is a synthesis of her life interests – conceptual art, popular music and the magical, mystical Afrocaribbean rhythms and traditions. Their releases thus far have been a viral hit on Youtube and Facebook, causing the name Rita Indiana to achieve nationwide recognition in the Dominican Republic and for Rita to attract the attention of the auspicious Dominican Label, Premium Latin Music, who host bachata powerhouse Aventura.
El Juideo is Rita Indiana y Los Mysterios’s debut release on Premium Latin, and it delivers her blend of Caribbean music and dance-pop, now perfected. Critics are already singing praises, with NPR Music naming Rita “one of our favorite rising stars,” and Ameoba Music’s Amoeblog hailing the record’s progressive fusion: “What makes this album interesting is that Rita’s take is the reversal of the Anglos. She is a resident to Caribbean music and not a visitor, yet she gets the arty side of what the English were trying to do. Whether it’s the Merengue-Techno fusion of “Como Un Landron En La Noche” and “La Hora De Volve” or the Dub meets Bachata of “Paseme A Buca,” it’s the fusion of thoughts and cultures that continues to keep music interesting around the world.”
Check out El Juidero to hear the future of Merengue; it will be what everyone’s dancing to in no time flat. Here’s a free promotrack of the album’s title track:
Rita Indiana & Los Misterios
“El juidero” (mp3)
from “El Juidero”
(Premium Latin Music)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
