Hi Jazz Network Worldwide Family,

For those that may not know about David Gibson who is the creator of #DreamCatchers Worldwide, please do yourself a favor and check him out on Periscope @D1Gibson. He is a soulful motivator, speaks right into you and reaches the caverns of what keeps you stuck and motivates you right out of that space to stand in your authentic purpose. He inspires me daily and is someone I recommend to those that love positive thinkers and motivators. Bravo David!! Let’s Elevate! www.elevationisamust.com

With respect,

Jaijai

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN (Benediction for Peace) — A Social Commentary

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATION

Featured This Week On The Jazz Network Worldwide: Vocalist Daina Shukis stages a signature comeback with her new CD “Smooth and Jazzy”.

Daina Shukis is a multi-faceted performer who’s catalogue consists of various flavors of music from the new wave pop art culture that spans from Rock, Pop, Jazz and middle eastern accents.  “Smooth and Jazzy” is just another testament of how genres can be blended and how dance enhances its essence.

Diana Shukis captures the core message in each song she approaches with an inimitable style all her own.  Having influences  that span from Jazz, rock, funk and country, Shukis brings her originality to the forefront.  ”Daina and the Tribe” has been her signature band that she has performed with for years back in the New York City area in such notable clubs as the Bottom Line (opening for James Cotton), The Lone Star (opening for Jaco Pastorious) and  CBGB’s.

For the past few years, Daina has combed through the maze of some of her best performances and has created a vintage catalogue that will live throughout the ages.  “The one thing that I remember most about my performances with the Tribe was how the audiences would participate in our performances, with accents of chants and musical praise” says Shukis.  On her recently released album “Smooth and Jazzy”, which is comprised of her favorites songs, she chose to remix the tune “Movie Show’ as her latest single from the compilation giving it a modern slant on today’s music scene, creating a new audience that appreciates the blending of these musical styles.

“I am delighted to bring you this album with many cuts from the beginning of the new wave pop art culture in New York City in such a top-grade audio recording.  I look forward to performing these songs and new material in the near future with great anticipation.  It is an exciting time for me to launch a comeback with old friends and new musical ideas.  The older jazz and blues singers still out there on the road are a great inspiration. Wish me luck! says Daina.

More recently, Shukis has incorporated a few songs embracing our American roots with a Patsy Cline tribute into her set, where she shares how Patsy influenced her vocal style by performing originals on guitar and piano at the end of every set.  To date, she has produced five albums from her vintage catalogue, one instrumental album, “Mystic Rendezvous” with Daina and the Tribe, on which Daina plays impressionist compositions on synthesizer.  Her latest addition to her catalogue is a sure fire compilation that will not only capsulate her eclectic mix of sound but a vintage musical history that stands the test of time.  “Smooth and Jazzy” has been picked to be in rotation on her radio station on Pandora and she is ranked #1 in Jazz on Reverberation in Port Richey, Florida.

“Daina is a very unique spirit, known for her love of cultural flare in her writing and performances derived from the Middle East, Greek, Turkish and Arabic music.  In her vintage videos you can clearly see how she skillfully executes her choreographic pieces when she took the stage with a serious intention toward excellence in her craft, not only in dance but visually through her authentic costumes that ranged from tribal art painted on her body to classic rock looks. Her vocals stem from a bluesy, rock feel with jazz flavorings and tribal chants, her performance puts you in a trance that takes you on her eclectic improvisational journey of song and percussive presentation” says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide.

At this stage in Shukis’s career, having so much performance memories in her musical arsenal, she is now presenting a “looking back” journey, story-telling of her many escapades through her New York days with some of the best musicians on the planet.  From the likes of Jeremy Steig, Don Alias, Eddie Gomez, Ray Mantilla, Jimmy Madison, Jerome Harris, Paul Ramsey, Dan Wall, Tom Coppolla, Judy Niemack, Marvin Horne, Greg Carter, Butch Campell, Lee Finklestein and Bill Washer who are all performing with her on new release “Smooth and Jazzy”. She brings a fervor of heart to her upcoming performance schedule and offering musical memories that only she can tell. This choice of performance once again allows for the new audience to find themselves in her music and to walk away with an impression that will be a memory etched by musical history.

Looking to bring her musical story-telling to worldwide stages, big and small, from intimate to large venues with her musical potpourri will be sure to please the most eclectic of musical tastes from jazz to rock, funk, country and beyond.

Lori Williams is the lead vocalist of the Washington-based jazz ensemble, Lori Williams & Friends, and a featured vocalist on The Saltman Knowles Group, The Blackbyrds, Allyn Johnson and Divine Order, Sherry Winston and Collaboration CDs. She has taught music in Washington, D.C. Public Schools since 1995. Currently, Lori is the Director of Vocal Music and former Music Department Chairperson at Wilson Senior High School.

Ms. Williams has directed several choirs, including the National Diamond Girls Jazz Choir (performing for the Inauguration Ceremony for President George Bush); the Sagamihara Christian Fellowship Gospel Choir in Japan; the Fort Foote Baptist Church Gospel Choir in Fort Washington, Maryland; Carmody Hills Baptist Church Children’s Choir in Capitol Heights, Maryland; and the Bethlehem Baptist Church Gospel Choir in Washington, D.C.

She has performed with many nationally-known recording artists, including David Archuleta, Regina Belle, George Duke, Slide Hampton, Stanley Jordan), Ben E. King, Maysa, Phil Perry, The Sherelles, Bobby Vee and The Vees, Angela Winbush, and Vesta Williams. She has also done extensive studio recording and commercial work. She has toured and taught vocal jazz workshops annually in Europe (most recently in Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, Russia and Ukraine).

Ms. Williams has been seen in live musical presentations of “Meet Me at the Cafe” and “The Scenic Route” at the Jack Guidone Theatre in Washington, DC. She has also showcased her acting and singing talents in “The All Night Strut,” “Cool Papa’s Party,” “Isn’t It Romantic,” and “Ladies Swing The Blues: A Jazz Fable” (receiving a Helen Hayes Nomination for Best Female Lead in a Musical) at MetroStage Theatre in Virginia. Most recently, Lori performed in “Bessie’s Blues” receiving rave reviews.  She is scheduled to appear in “Shake Loose” (also at MetroStage) in January 2016.

Lori Williams has released two CDs – Healing Within and Eclipse of the Soul.  She is working on her third CD – Behind the Smiles – to be released in 2016. Her music can be found on Pandora, Amazon, iTunes, cdbaby and her website (www.lorijazz.com).

CLICK HERE TO ENJOY THE VIDEO PRESENTATION OF:

The Island (Comecar de Novo) by Ivan Lins

– performed by Lori Williams Brad Baerwald

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL LORI WILLIAMS WEBSITE

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

January 28, 2016  ~ MetroStage ~ Alexandria, VA

December 31, 2015 Mirage Banquet Hall ~ Sacramento, CA

December 15, 2015- ~ Blues Alley ~ Washington, DC

Throughout his past two decades as a recording and performing artist, Dadon has surrounded himself with some of the finest exponents of the art of contemporary jazz Australia and the world has to offer.  Among his Australian collaborators, he has shared his vision with the aforementioned Joe Chindamo, drummers Andrew Gander, Tony Floyd and Darren Farrugia, percussionist Alex Pertout, saxophonists Tony Hicks and Rob Burke, and bass players Jonathan Zion and, perhaps most importantly, Melbourne-based Australian-Greek Cypriot bass player and composer Evripidis Evripedou, with whom Dadon has performed for more than a decade and who accompanied him onto the international stage in 2012 with the recording of Dadon’s first release for the prestigious Enja records, *Long Way*, under project name Albare iTD (International Travel Diary).  That album maintained its place on the national Jazz Week Chart for an impressive 18 weeks. His next, 2013’s *The Road Ahead*, sat in the US Top 50 jazz radio charts in the US for 16 weeks.

“Traveling and meeting people from different horizons is something I have done all my life. I was born in Morocco, and grew up in Israel and France before moving to Australia at the age of 27.  Spending my youthful years in such challengingly diverse places meant that from a young age I was able to adapt to any human condition. Naturally, I am always attracted to what humans have in common – the shared experience.

When I was growing up the trend was for the world to unite; we were looking forward to a planet without borders.  Eventually, but perhaps not as we imagined at the time, that happened, becoming a reality with globalization.  Today we realize that there is a place to celebrate our differences and traditions, and this is easily observed in Australia, a multicultural cornucopia in which many people of considerably different origins prosper together in peace.  Living in Melbourne means you can be in Turkey, or Italy, or Greece, or anywhere in Africa in minutes; it’s delicious and the warmth of the place nourishes our souls.

This album is a vibrant musical celebration of the common ground that makes us human. And the music within – like the land in which it was made – was born of an equally multicultural ensemble: my fellow musicians, although most live in New York, come from Venezuela, Cuba and Italy.  I would like to acknowledge their talent and thank them for their extraordinary dedication to this project: Pablo Bencid plays the drums, Yunior Terry is on acoustic bass, Axel Tosca Laugart is on piano for all titles except Hotel Royal on which you will hear the talented Phil Turcio, my musical companion of these last 20 years and co-composer of many of the tracks.

This album represents our first project on ALFI RECORDS, and is ALFI’s first release. I hope you enjoy this music as much as we did making it.”

To purchase and learn more go to ALBARE’S Official Website

CLICK HERE TO ENJOY THE VIDEO PRESENTATION OF “I’M BACK”

VISIT THE OFFICIAL WALTER BEASLEY WEBSITE

Warm greetings to all!!

I hope you are all enjoying life wherever you are… 🙂

I wanted to come by to share with you some of the new options you have here in The Jazz Network Worldwide.  As you can see from the current feature, I am personally offering to submit your artistry to Jazz Festivals and jazz venues around the world on your behalf.  It will be an introduction to the decision makers of festivals from The Jazz Network Worldwide platform endorsing your artistry.  I’m doing what I can one client at a time to give you my full attention, by way of consulting you to present yourself in the best way possible to these festivals.

You all have seen (hopefully) the #wheresthejazz campaign that I created and the way I want to ‘stay on it’ is to help those of you that want to get to the festivals with an endorsement from our platform.  We have to start deluging these festivals with some great jazz offerings so that they may consider booking jazz instead of R&B on our jazz stages.  I know, many might say this is a quest long gone, but not for me, I’ll go to the ends of the earth, kicking and screaming to keep jazz alive.  So if any of you are looking for this type of service, I’d be happy to couple with you and make it happen. I create one-sheets for you as well that compliments the submission.  One of the reasons why I do this is because many don’t have time and give up trying.  I want to change that.  Feel free to grab the #wheresthejazz image above and place it on your social network pages.  I’m only one voice in the mix of  many, but I can’t do this alone. I’m asking for your encouragement in the marketplace.

Please join #wheresthejazz facebook group and promote your events and music there too.  Please come by and ‘like’ The Jazz Network Worldwide Family Fan Page On Facebook and post your music there as well!  Also, join our group The Jazz Network Worldwide On Linkedin.  I’ve put the portals out there outside of our network here so all is integrated so that your projects can not be missed.  Please start using the hashtag #wheresthejazz so that our movement can be recognized.

In addition, if you are looking to have your latest release considered for the 58th Grammy Nomination status, I am also creating one sheets for artists and sending out a blanket email to all so that we as a collective can vote and/or send onto our friends that are voting members that would support your musical journey’s.  In addition, I will compose a press release for you to support this quest to get the word out to as many media outlets as possible.  There is a short window for these submissions, both for festivals and for the Grammy considerations, so you will need to make some quick decisions. I am receiving emails from artists who have already started this plight.

Let’s not forget that the holiday season is slowly approaching and if you would like to consider the featured spot here on the network hurry and reach for me so that I can slate you in so that you are at the forefront of the holiday gift giving considerations.  I’m also looking for some great Christmas jazz to promote! 

For those with limited budgets, why not consider the spotlight section for a month where your CD cover is highlighted with a click through to your purchasing site.?  

Since November is the month for highlighting our thanks in this life, I will give those a 10% discount on all services, starting Nov. 1st to give back. Reach for me and let me know how I can help you.  Reserve your spot today!

One more thing, if you haven’t heard about Periscope, please look into it. Periscope It’s an app on your phone, its a live streaming tool that allows for you to connect directly with your fans and to create new followers.  It’s connected to your twitter account, many of you should be using this tool from around the world to gain new fans and to meet others that can support your journey.  Please follow me on Periscope @THEJAZZNETWORK. I’ll be presenting #wheresthejazz scopes, with live interviews with artists and personally promoting your music live to the world, as well as keeping up with all of you and letting you know how things are progressing here in our network and beyond.  I’m amazed at all the new talent I’m finding there, its addicting! Go to periscope.com to learn more, you will be hooked and be scoping in now time!! 

I look forward to supporting all of you however I can by keeping up my quest of #wheresthejazz. Reach me at jaijai@thejazznetworkworldwide.com today!

Always from my heart,

Jaijai

Originally starting out as a drummer at seventeen years of age, he discovered the music of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett’s piano playing which led him to switch instruments to the piano. He remembers a quote from drummer Peter Erskine, “play what you mean and mean what you play” for this quote opened up a whole new horizon as he began to play and record professionally as a serious musician.

While studying jazz piano at Massey University in Wellington New Zealand Dan formed his first trio and played in local venues and mainly at “Bar Bodega”.

Dan’s trio recorded their debut album of jazz standards which was released by Ode Records in March of 2004 entitled “Session One” and was nominated for a New Zealand Music Award.

“Session Two” was a compilation of original tunes, the three releases afterward were live albums recorded at the trio residency venue The “MLC Café & Bar”. His 6th album “2011” and his 7th album “2014” includes his original “Bargara” which won second place in the Australia Jazz Convention Original tunes competition in December 2011. His latest recording is titled “2015” and includes one original tune entitled “Eb Major Waltz”.

Dan’s repertoire consists of originals and jazz standards while appearing at local jazz spots such as the Bundaberg Jazz club and special events when reformed his trio in 2014.

After many stage performances Dan found that his playing matured, phrases became more melodious, often stretching across the bar line with phrases appearing to be more defined and resolving better than before as he consistently reaches for higher heights in his musical abilities.

His favorite musical setting is to perform at a venue that houses a grand piano with a cohesive group of musicians that listens and interacts with each other as they counter solo with the piano, like the Bill Evans trio is known for presenting.

Papirany’s music is the opposite of where the mainstream jazz sound is today, he finds that current sounds are always experimental and doesn’t try to follow these trends, simply because he wouldn’t be happy sounding like most modern players.

He currently has collaboration with Norwegian vocalist Vibeke Voller resulting in an exciting, rich and creative inspiration to much loved jazz standards! “Don’t go to strangers” is their first Duo album, the complimentary interaction of these two unique talents has produced a fresh and polished musical experience!

Recently Dan has been contacted by Jazz and Blues TV and was asked to bring his trio to their studios for live streaming performances as well as being recognized as a featured artist on The Jazz Network Worldwide. His plan for 2016/2017 is to perform on jazz festival stages worldwide.

CLICK HERE TO ENJOY THE VIDEO PRESENTATION OF THE DAN PAPIRANY TRIO PERFORMING “BLUE BOSSA”

The musical collaboration between Norwegian vocalist Vibeke Voller and Israeli Jazz pianist Dan Papirany has brought an exciting, rich and creative inspiration to much loved jazz standards!

Both musicians are composers, Vibeke also being a talented lyricist.

Vibeke has had extensive vocal training both in Norway and Sydney, Australia, excelling in various genres and has been awarded qualifications from the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney. 

She has performed in Australia and overseas, also touring with former “Platters” star Esther King.

Dan studied jazz at the Massey University in Wellington New Zealand and has performed regularly in New Zealand as well as Australia, and has won various awards for his music.

Both Vibeke and Dan are recording artists in their own right and “Don’t go to strangers” is their first Duo album.

They are expected to release their second album “I took a chance”   in 2016.

Dan’s instrumental composition “Bargara” on the current album won an award in the Australian Jazz convention for original tunes in 2011. Lyrics for this song were written by Vibeke in 2015 specifically for this album.

The two have been performing together since 2014, playing also with other musicians, a highlight being invited to perform on the main stage at the Noosa Jazz Festival in September 2015.

Both based in Queensland Australia the complimentary interaction of these two unique talents has produced a fresh and polished musical experience!

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Fredrik Jonsson, Christer Sjöström

(Prophone/Naxos)

To combine classical music and jazz is not easy. Many attempts have been done if not particularly successful. The turn has now come to the flutist Magnus Båge who is producing this cd. Together with the piano player Lars Jansson he has composed half of the content of the cd. Lars is responsible for the rest of the material. With Fredrik Jansson bass and the drummer Christer Sjöström the group is complete in a rare CD with a personal shape. The title of the CD means shape in Japanese. 

The music has a meditative form which can approach the territory of the jazz – but not always. The moods are changing between soft light improvised contributions and more strongly held parts. The open improvised parts add air and tension to the often occurring withdrawn play where the rhythms are relaxed and subordinate Båges and Lars beautiful sensual intentions.

Göran Olson

“Satori” can be ordered directly at magnus@magnusbage.com.

Magnus received his soloist diploma at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm 1994, and performed the Mozart flute concerto in G major with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has since then been frequently engaged as a soloist and worked in many of Sweden´s symphony orchestras. His first solo cd (Flute Music, SFZ 1005) was released in autumn 2003 and received brilliant reviews both in Sweden and abroad.

Magnus has worked as a flautist since 1990. The recent years he has mainly worked as a soloist, performing classical music as well as jazz.

Click the image to enjoy the video presentation.

Vist Magnus Båge Official Website

Featured on The Jazz Network Worldwide This Week:  Vintage Jazz Era Vocalist Roberta Donnay & the Prohibition Mob Band’s Motema Music Release, “Bathtub Gin”.

On the heels of their beloved A Little Sugar release comes their second Motéma Music release, Bathtub Gin – the CD, like A Little Sugar,mines 1920s gems but also takes the listener on a stroll into the 1930s. Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Roberta Donnay is that rare species of musician who almost lives in another time, as she and her Prohibition Mob Band exist to revive the Jazz Age of America.

A seductive vocalist, Donnay and her band swing mightily with this authentic collection of vintage jazz, blues and swing that introduces listeners to the swing era with its jump-swing rhythmic horn sections and new dances. Donnay also includes four party-rousing shout-chorus originals that evoke and revive the open spirit that birthed jazz.

She says of the era’s music, “I think it’s in everybody’s DNA. Our grandparents listened to that music and somehow it filtered down inside of us.” How far can the Prohibition Mob Band go?  “To the moon,” she says, laughing.

Honoring the tradition of such seminal singers as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker, Donnay’s spitfire is on display from the moment the original title track “Bathtub Gin” opens the set.  Following is the song, also original, “Throw Your Heart” (Over The Fence).

Roberta Donnay’s background in roots jazz music came from listening to records, singing with the legendary Dick Oxtot’s Golden Age Jazz Band and more obscure jazz and jazz-folk bands bands. Donnay continues to produce, write, record, and perform as an independent artist. Her goal is to produce many more records and continue to bring this great music to the people. “Bathtub Gin” is Ms. Donnay’s 8^thindependent release. The “Oh Papa”video from Donnay’s CD “ A Little Sugar” is a brilliant example of the style of presentation Donnay presents.

Donnay has shared the stage, opened, or performed with Ernestine Anderson, Bob Dorough, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, Dr. John, Diana Krall, George Benson, David Sanborn, Leon Russell, Dan Hicks, Bonnie Raitt, David Grisman, Bruce Forman, Rickie Lee Jones, Big Walter Horton, John Hammond, Lee Ritenour, Booker T., Tuck & Patti.

Donnay’s voice could make any classic material sound wondrous and timeless, but the fact that she digs so deep into American musical history — and works with some of the Bay Area’s top jazz musicians (under the guise of the Prohibition Mob Band) — makes A Little Sugar not only sweet, but a recording that will stand the test of time.~ All Music Guide

With her singularly enticing sound, few contemporary vocalists are as well suited to dustily vintage material as jazz-blues stylist Roberta Donnay. She affectively proved so three years ago when, teamed with her Prohibition Mob Band, she surveyed standards from the 1920s and ’30s on the charming “A Little Sugar”. Now she’s back for more. ~ Jazz Times 2015

Donnay takes old school jazz, makes it new cool and most of all makes it fun. It swings and it swings hard. Old school has never sounded better and Roberta Donnay is certainly a name to remember! (5 stars) ~ Critical Jazz blog

This jazz baby makes the ’20s roar again and swings out ’30s tunes buoyantly enough to float away even the Great Depression…She’s backed by top-notch musicians and the results are gloriously entertaining.

~ San Jose Mercury News

“ROBERTA DONNAY & the Prohibition Mob Band bring back the true essence of the Roaring ’20s… when music and class went hand and hand, no wonder DownBeat gave “Bathtub Gin” four stars! says Jaijai Jackson of The Jazz Network Worldwide.

A festival favorite, Donnay’s group appeared as a guest artist at many shows and festivals, including the Exit 0 Jazz Fest in N.J., Whiskey Fest in Portland, San Jose Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Mustard Mud & Music Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and are currently seeking festival bookings for the 2016-2017 calendar.

Roberta was asked to be a part of an event very close to her heart which is the memorial for the legendary jazz producer and Jazz Master Orrin Keepnews at Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA on November 29th, 2015 where she will pay homage to their musical relationship. 

For booking inquiries contact:

Joy Montana

            joy.montana@rocketmail.com             

415-381-6290

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO PRESENTATION OF

“OH PAPA”

BY ROBERTA DONNAY AND THE PROHIBITION MOB BAND

VISIT THE OFFICIAL ROBERTA DONNAY WEBSITE

Jeff Lorber Fusion, whose previous release Hacienda was praised for its “impeccable musicianship and deep grooves” by JazzTimes and its “funky, rollicking jams” by All About Jazz, returns on September 25, 2015, with Step It Up on Heads Up, a division ofConcord Music Group. The fourth consecutive collaboration between GRAMMY®-nominated keyboardist/composer/producer Jeff Lorber and GRAMMY®-winningbassist/composer/ producer Jimmy Haslip since the two virtuosos reactivated JeffLorber Fusion five years ago, Step It Up features 11 new Lorber compositions,several co-written with Haslip. The longtime colleagues also co-produced the recording.

The title Step It Up, says Lorber, “reflects the music: optimistic, energetic and an attempt to ‘step up’ our game—our compositions, production and improvisation—to the next  level. This record puts us back in a more familiar Jeff Lorber Fusion groove while we explore some new uncharted areas.”

“We were motivated to find a new direction following Hacienda,” adds Haslip. “That one was a full-on experimental recording. Step It Up is more inside the Jeff Lorber Fusion box but has some new and interestingtwists.”

Assisting the pair in creating those twists is a team of world-class musicians, including two former bandmates of Haslip’s in the award-winning fusion band Yellowjackets: saxophonist Bob Mintzer and guitarist Robben Ford.  Also lending a hand are drummers Ash Soan, Gary Novak and Vinnie Colaiuta; saxophonist Gary Meek and guitarists Michael Thompson and Paul Jackson Jr. David Mann provides horn arrangements and Lenny Castro percussion. The album was recorded primarily at JHL Sound in Pacific Palisades, California, with additional recording done at other studios in the U.S. and Europe.

As on all past Jeff Lorber Fusion releases, dating back to its 1977 self-titled debut, Step It Up effortlessly mines and merges elements from multiple genres, including jazz, funk, rock and R&B. The original Jeff Lorber Fusion took an extended hiatus in the early ’80s, reemerging and recharging in 2010 with an updated approach that incorporates contemporary rhythms, technology and instrumentation. Prior to Step It Up and Hacienda, Jeff Lorber Fusion released Now Is the Time (2010) and Galaxy (2012), both also via Heads Up. But as theybegan working on what ultimately became Step It Up, Lorber and Haslip realized they were heading to some new places in their music.