Monday, February 22, 2010

MVD and Original Spin Media to release the first set of SOLOS: The Jazz Sessions DVD series on March 23, 2010.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Solos: The Jazz Sessions


Lee Konitz - Solos: The Jazz Sessions



Andrew Hill - Solos: The Jazz Sessions



Original Spin Media and MVD Visual are proud to announce the DVD release of SOLOS: The Jazz Sessions series on March 23, 2010. The first three releases will feature Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Lee Konitz, and Andrew Hill.

SOLOS: The Jazz Sessions is a 39 episode HDTV music performance/profile series profiling legendary artists such as Lee Konitz, Greg Osby, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, John Abercrombie, James Blood Ulmer, Andrew Hill, Charlie Hunter, Phil Dwyer, Mark Turner, Mike Murley, Bill Frisell and many more.

Each episode features complete musical pieces, insightful interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Designed and recorded for the viewer at home, SOLOS offers a front row seat for an intimate and unique jazz experience.

Shot in stunning HDTV with multiple moving cameras and a medley of elegant, cinematic lighting designs, SOLOS: The Jazz Sessions showcases an exciting and dynamic variety of jazz styles – from the blues and boogie-woogie to bebop and beyond.

Series creator and documentary filmmaker Daniel K. Berman says "...If I have any raison d'etre as a jazz television producer it's to put musicians in an environment that is not so familiar. Or, if it is familiar, it's different from what they're doing every night. Doing SOLOS is not just another gig, not just another night on tour. It's something special."

As guitarist Bill Frisell puts it, "...When you perform solo, it just goes out into space, and you have to come up with ideas right away to follow it up. I learned to allow silence when playing by myself. There's really something special about one person sitting and playing guitar. I'm really happy with how this project turned out. Daniel created such an amazing atmosphere in which to play music."

Berman conducts the interviews but leaves his questions off-camera to better focus the viewer on the direct words of the artist. There is no host, nor audience present at any of the tapings. This series is about the music.

Hi Res Cover Art
Rubalcaba – http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/MVD4964D.jpg
Konitz - http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/MVD4965D.jpg
Hill - http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/MVD4963D.jpg

Direct Link to Purchase:
Rubalcaba – http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD4964D
Konitz - http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD4965D
Hill - http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD4963D

Websites: http://www.solosjazz.com/

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Professor Louie & the Crowmatix To Release Whispering Pines on March 9, 2010



Producer of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame group The Band creates
a blend of roots, rock, country, and blues with his fellow Crowmatix

Woodstock Records and MVD Audio are proud to announce the CD release of Professor Louie & The Crowmatix - Whispering Pines on March 9, 2010.

Many fans of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame group The Band, are familiar with the name Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, but not all fans are familiar with the group's authentic and original blend of roots, rock, country, and blues. As The Band's fan base continues to grow and as younger generations continue to discover them -- Professor Louie is producer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Louis Hurwitz, who worked with The Band in a number of significant capacities in the second half of the '80's and throughout the '90's. Professor Louie is the name that Rick Danko bestowed on Hurwitz when they were performing together as a duo and the moniker stuck. Members of The Crowmatix also have a history of recording and performing with The Band and Dylan.

Whispering Pines is Professor Louie & The Crowmatix seventh studio CD, whose title song is a beautiful rendition of (and touching homage to) The Band classic "Whispering Pines". This version is simply stunning and at times sounds like a lost track from the Beach Boys' classic Pet Sounds album, with its lush production values, layers and textures and has been gaining notoriety on youtube.

The CD features 10 songs from The Crowmatix' vast repertoire, including covers of two other Band classics, "The Weight" and "Ain't No More Cane". The big finish is the stunning International award winning original song "Melody of Peace" performed with The Prague Radio Symphony and Kuhn Choir and recorded in the Czech Republic with orchestral arrangement by Crowmatix members Burke, Miss Marie and Professor Louie.

Whispering Pines has Professor Louie handling the lion's share of the vocals as well as keyboards and accordion, Miss Marie singing and playing percussion, famed drummer Gary Burke, bassist Frank Campbell and guitarist Josh Colow rounding out the Woodstock band.

These days, Professor Louie & the Crowmatix are busy both in the studio and on the road, performing over 100 shows a year building a following throughout the US, Canada and abroad.

Hi Res Cover Art: http://files.dvdnote.com/images/300dpi/WR0027.jpg

Direct Link to Purchase:http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=WR0027

Websites: www.professorlouie.com www.thecrowmatix.com www.woodstockrecords.com