From the very first track on her 2005 debut album Leela James has captured the gritty, emotion-drenched essence of artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye and has made it her mission to bring it all back – pushing the music forward with a fresh, contemporary perspective that remains faithful to the music’s deep and powerful roots.
My Soul, set for release on May 25, 2010, marks Leela James’ debut on Stax Records, a division of Concord Music Group. The move to Stax – the legendary home of some of the greatest soul and R&B artists of the past half-century – is a fitting destination for a vocalist who has committed herself to preserving the soul tradition.
The new album comes on the heels of high praise from soultracks.com, the online source for all things soul and R&B, who recently bestowed a 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards to James in the category of Female Vocalist of the Year. Indeed, James has come to own the music that has inspired her since her teenage years. Her commanding live performances have become can’t-miss thrillers, placing her among today’s most electrifying international concert draws.
For more information, visit www.leelajames.com
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The Music of Dave Brubeck presented by Victor Lin
Victor Lin, piano/violin; Joe Gilman, piano, plus Stanford Jazz Workshop Faculty
Thursday July 22 | 7:30 PM | Dinkelspiel Auditorium
TAKE 5!
Inside Jazz: To Brubeck and Back: A Master of 20th Century Jazz
Speaker: Victor Lin, 6:30 pm (free with concert ticket)
The Soul Supreme Tour feat. Sam Bostic w/special guest Adesha
July 21, 2010
Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, California 94115
Wednesday
9PM Show
The highly anticipated 2010 Soul Supreme Tour will begin its 10-city tour on July 21, 2010 at Yoshi’s San Francisco!
This event premieres performers with strong roots in music and artistry. Sam Bostic’s Soul Supreme released in 2008 with critical success and charted strong on Billboard. Adesha’s album is set to release in Fall 2010 and will celebrate her strength as a singer and songwriter. A special guest is slated to be announced.
Does the name Tracy ring a bell? Maybe Sam Bostic sounds more familiar to you? As the lead singer and founder of the acclaimed `90s Oakland, CA based trio Art `n Soul, he was featured on the Billboard Top 20 hit single “Ever Since You Went Away” (on Big Beat/Atlantic Records). The 2007 Bay Area Music Award winner for (Best Neo Soul Performer) writer/platinum producer and the infamous creator of mob music, he has been at the helm of several Bay Area hip hop tracks including E-40’s hits “Sprinkle Me” and “Dusted & Disgusted” from the platinum “In A Major Way,” “Heavy in the Game” from 2-Pac’s double-platinum selling “Me Against the World” CD, as well as “Come On” from Master P’s multi-platinum “I’m Bout It” soundtrack.
Baptized in the soul of the masters that came before him, Sam is ready to step onto the scene again releasing his solo debut CD, Soul Supreme: The Eclectic Collection, under his independently owned and operated House of Soul Recordings.
While Art N’ Soul is still very much in tact, the group is currently on a temporary hiatus. So Sam has been flexing his solo skills. Just prior to waxing Soul Supreme, Sam landed a slot with his Bluesy/Soulful track “1 More Try” in the 2003 Martin Lawrence film, “National Security.” The song was nicely featured during a scene where Martin was frisking and cuffing a butter scotch toned foxy culprit. And now that his album is complete, Sam has taken his package out on the road to give people a show and win the respect of audiences worldwide.
For more information and song samples, visit www.myspace.com/sambosticworldwide
Special Guest Adesha
Although Adesha Johnson seems relatively new to the music scene, she really isn’t. Adesha was born into a family of entertainers. Both of her parents were entertainers which sparked their want to name their daughter Adesha, which is Sanskrit for “Voice”.
Although she is from the Bay Area, her strong Southern roots are evident in powerful yet sultry delivery as a vocalist and lyrical expertise. In addition to her being a singer, she is acclaimed as a “lyrical genius”. Combing her voice and lyrics with the musical expertise of keyboardist Allen Ross, bassist Aaron Baugh, and drummer Brian Braziel, core members of her band “Seven”, what you get is an awesome musical experience. If you haven’t heard them, you are truly missing out.
Drawing her greatest inspiration from notable artists such as Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder, one can understand where Adesha’s fusion of New Soul originates. When asked about her influences Adesha responds “I want to be responsible for the revival of music with a message. It’s time to infuse people with soul again”.
From Cuba!! Sexto Sentido
Jul 27-Jul 28, 2010
Yoshi’s Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
San Francisco, CA 94607
Tuesday and Wednesday
8pm & 10pm shows
Recognized as the leading female vocal group by Cuba’s most influential and critical music icons, SEXTO SENTIDO is breathing new life into the international jazz scene. The ladies frequently collaborate with legendary artists such as Chucho Valdés, Pablo Milanés, Silvio Rodriguez. Certified by Valdés as “Creators of the most important vocal-work in Cuba in past three decades. Their ability to dwell inside complex harmonic arrangements transcends Cuba”.
SEXTO SENTIDO recorded their first record “Bossa Cubana” (Elephant Records) after travelling abroad for various cultural events. The project featured a collection of classic Brazilian songs tinged with Cuban elements. Their newest release “MI FEELING” (Ahi Nama) has already achieved strong remarks including Best Vocal Recording at the Cubadisco International Expo and is consistently gaining airplay across jazz radio stations in the NPR/PRI Network. With this release, SEXTO SENTIDO implements their own style and interpretation of the classic works of Cuba’s most respected writers and composers, such as René Touzet, Marta Valdés and Jose Dolores Quiñones.
SEXTO SENTIDO has now become a familiar entity with audiences far outside of Cuba due to frequent appearances on the jazz festival circuit throughout Europe where they became a national sensation in countries like Russia, France, Bulgaria, and Monaco. They’ve experienced increased popularity across Latin America as well at various cultural festivals as ambassadors of traditional Cuban jazz. The ladies of SEXTO SENTIDO have also enjoyed working with contemporary music producers like Guy Sigsworth and Norman Cook (aka Fatboy-Slim). They’ve recorded multiple tracks for film projects produced by the London-based studio NDF International bringing SEXTO SENTIDO’s work into a new medium. As jazz aficionados across North America keep discovering the sultry, sassy yet sophisticated sound of SEXTO SENTIDO, the group is very excited about preparations for their groundbreaking 2010 tour in the US and beyond.
For song samples, visit www.myspace.com/sextosentidocuba
Larry Carlton Trio
Jul 30-Jul 31, 2010
Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, California 94115
Friday
8PM & 10PM Show
Saturday
8PM & 10PM Show
“It must have taken more than one lifetime of music to produce Larry Carlton, he is the sum and son of a long lineage, beyond time, and beyond rational explanations of dedication or practice, the work of his hands speaks grace and passion and timeless knowledge. Listen, learn and be profoundly moved.” ‐ Sting.
“If Royal Scam is the definitive Steely Dan guitar album, then Larry Carlton is the reason why.” ‐ Walter Becker of Steely Dan
There are two reasons why Larry Carlton’s Fire Wire is a rebirth for one of the great guitarists of our time. The first, of course, is Carlton himself. His playing here is more direct, more raw and emotional than anything he’s laid down in recent years. The second reason is his producer, Csaba Petocz.
A veteran producer who has worked on 37 #1 hit songs and 32 platinum albums, Petocz has spent time in the studio with Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica and Etta James, Elvis Costello and Aaron Neville.
He’s comfortable with hard-core, no-holds-barred, soulful blues and snarling rock & roll. He cut what Rolling Stone would hail as one of the three greatest rock guitar solos of all time (on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne”), appeared on more than one hundred gold albums, won three Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance (“Theme From Hill Street Blues,” “Minute by Minute,” and “Live in Osaka”), (14 Grammy nominations) and otherwise carved out his space among the world’s great instrumentalists.
Guided by Petocz, Carlton returns to the world of rock and roll with white hot zeal. Fire Wire is not just about great guitar; it is the product of the powerful collaboration of two musical legends.
For more information, visit www.larrycarlton.com
Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
Aug 03-Aug 4, 2010
Yoshi’s San Francisco
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, California 94115
Fiery Cuban Piano Phenom Returns to Celebrate Debut CD Release
Tuesday
8PM & 10PM Show
Wednesday
8PM & 10PM Show
In his first year since moving to the United States, Alfredo Rodríguez has played to capacity crowds at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl; the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas; the Detroit Jazz Festival; the Monterey Jazz Festival; the famous Newport Jazz Festival; the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival. Both his New York and his Los Angeles debuts sold out. His Miami and Dallas debuts both sold out. Opening for Herbie Hancock and others, Alfredo played for 18,000 fans at the LA Symphony’s official welcome for Gustavo Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl. He also happens to be working on his debut album with music producer Quincy Jones.
It’s a lot for his first year, but this 24-year-old is definitely not slowing down. Most recently, he co-wrote with Quincy Jones the music for the song “Better City, Better Life” which was chosen to be the Official Theme Song of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Alfredo trained in the famous Manuel Saumell Classical Music Conservatory until his lucky break came in 2006 when he was selected as one of twelve pianists in the world to play at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. In Montreux, Alfredo was noticed by legendary music producer Quincy Jones. Just like Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and the many other enormous talents that Quincy Jones has discovered, Alfredo struck a chord in Quincy and Quincy decided to begin working together with Alfredo.
Alfredo’s debut CD will be released in July of 2010 on Qwest Records and his first European tour will be this Summer. Alfredo’s influences range from Bach, Beethoven, and Stravinsky to Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and Quincy Jones.
In the words of Quincy Jones, “He is very special and I do not say that easily because I have been surrounded by the best musicians in the world my entire life and he is one of the best.”
For more information, click HERE
Gerald Albright
Aug 06-Aug 8, 2010
Yoshi’s Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA 94607
Friday
8PM & 10PM Show
Saturday
8PM & 10PM Show
Sunday
2PM Show: kids matinee $5 Kids, $18 Adults (with kids), $28 Adults (general); 7PM show
Jazz and R&B icon Gerald Albright is considered to be one of the most innovative and successful artists of the last twenty-five years. With the June 15, 2010, release of Pushing The Envelope on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, Albright’s super cool side is back. With its polished soul/jazz vibe, Pushing The Envelope is a showcase for Albright’s remarkably fine balance of songcraft and musicianship, and features special guest appearances by Fred Wesley on trombone, Earl Klugh on acoustic guitar and George Duke on acoustic piano.
Produced and arranged by Albright, Pushing The Envelope provides the perfect opportunity for this master musician/saxophonist/songwriter to exhibit his skills. He plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, flutes, bass guitar, and keyboards, and also handles synthesizer, EWI and drum programming. Albright’s band on most of the album includes keyboardists Tracy Carter and Luther
“Mano” Hanes, guitarist Ricky Watford and drummer Ricky Lawson.
For more information, visit www.geraldalbright.com
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MOUNT DIABLO JAZZ FESTIVAL
with George Benson, Natalie Cole, Brian Culbertson, Lucy Woodward and special guests to be announced
Saturday, August 14th
Doors 3:00pm/ Show 4:00pm
Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
