Axel's Axiom Continues to Hold Strong for 9 Weeks Straight

Axel's Axiom Continues its Reign on the CMJ Jazz Chart

This Week Hitting the #9 Slot

Peaking at #3 Overall

In 2007, Axel moved to New York City, and has since busied himself with teaching piano, composing, and performing at local venues (including, e.g., the Iridium jazz club in the fall of 2010). He also kept playing at venues in Boston (e.g. for the band Soul Alley’s CD release concert at the House of Blues Foundation Room, in 2010), as well as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, in 2008. In 2009, he recorded his second album as a leader with his new group, Axel’s Axiom, featuring Marko Djordjevic on drums, Evan Gregor on bass, Aki Nishiguchi on tenor sax, Alex Terrier on alto sax, and Casper Gyldensøe on guitar. The album is entitled Uncommon Sense and features 10 original pieces.

Born in Cologne, Germany, Axel Schwintzer started to play the piano at the age of 10. He studied mostly classical music at first, and later switched primarily to Jazz and improvised music.

After completing a master’s program at the University of Bonn, Germany, where he majored in Political Science and English Linguistics, Axel received a scholarship to study at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, from which he graduated summa cum laude in 2004. In his studies, he concentrated on performance and composition in various styles.

After graduating from Berklee, Axel lived in Boston for two and a half years, playing throughout New England with various bands.

Among others, Axel has studied piano and music with Russell Ferrante, Charlie Banacos, Richie Beirach, Laszlo Gardony, Ed Tomassi, Hal Crook, Frank Carlberg, Alain Mallet, Alexei Tsiganov, Bruce Katz, Dave Limina, and Matthias Klimsch. Compositionally, Axel likes to blend Jazz with elements of other styles – mostly Pop, Funk, Brazilian, and World music. His main compositional influence is the band Yellowjackets.

Notable public performance venues include: Iridium Jazz Club (NYC), John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (DC), Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany (DC), The Luxembourg House (NYC), Goethe-Institut (Boston), Bunker Hill College (Boston), Miles’ Café (NYC), Buona Sera (NY), Felt’s Club (Boston), Union Blues (Worcester, MA), Boom (NYC), Pane E Vino (NYC), and many others.

Bill Barner Skyrockets to #10 on the CMJ Jazz Chart

Bill Barner Skyrockets into the Top 10 This Week

His Third Week in Promotions

I was born in the Mississippi Delta in the middle of the 20th century.  My father, who bought me the clarinet that I still play today and taught me to play it, was a clarinet and alto sax player on an aircraft carrier during World War II.  After playing clarinet in elementary, junior high, and high schools in Miami and Northern California, as well as playing in the All Miami Youth Wind Ensemble and the Sacramento Youth Symphony, I attended the University of California at Davis, where I played clarinet in the university orchestra and alto sax in the jazz band. 

While at Davis I played avant-garde music with John Cage and with a free jazz group called Touch Acoustra.  Summers I played alto sax with Latino bands in the San Francisco Bay Area.   I studied clarinet at California State University, East Bay after earning my B.S. at UC Davis.  After college I played a variety of music in Columbus, Ohio.  It was in Columbus where I met guitarist Stan Smith and bassist Roger Hines who play on Ten Tunes.  We were members of Sanctuary, the award-winning jazz group that played nightclubs, radio, and TV, as well as appearing in concert with Michael Franks. In Sanctuary I played soprano and tenor sax and contributed compositions.  While based in Columbus I attended a clarinet master class conducted by Eddie Daniels and I went to the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY where I attended workshops led by jazz greats Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Anthony Braxton, and Karl Berger.

Next, I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where I played clarinet and tenor sax in the Duke City Jazz Band.  For the last 25 year I’ve lived in Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. and played clarinet and sax all over the Mid-Atlantic region.  I played soprano and tenor sax in Extremities, a jazz fusion group that played original music and appeared with Mike Stern and with Mark Isham at the well known Bayou club in Washington.  Extremities played nightclubs and music festivals in the Washington, DC area and gave a concert at the Terrace Theater in the Kennedy Center.

Currently I play all over Washington, Northern Virginia and Maryland with two jazz combos: Night and Day and Some Like It Hot, and I play the lead tenor sax part in the Difficult Run Jazz Band, a 17-piece big band that has performed at Blues Alley in Washington and elsewhere.  In addition I can be heard on two recordings by Tobin Mueller, A Bit of Light and Rain Bather--the JazzChicago.net number one album of the year in 2009.  Finally, I’ve created music for two modern dance companies.  I played Indian raga music on the tenor sax for two performance of the Tehreema Mitha Dance Company and I composed and recorded original music for the Kathy Harty Gray Dance Theatre.  Through the years, I’ve looked for opportunities to improvise in any setting I could--dixieland, bluegrass, klezmer, free jazz--and I’ve searched for musical influences from all over the world. While writing the ten tunes on this new CD, I was particularly thinking of music from Brazil, the Middle East, Africa, and Spain.

Joanna Weinberg Flies Up the CMJ Jazz Chart to #12 This Week

Vocalist and Composer, Joanna Weinberg 

Hits the CMJ Jazz Chart Her 3rd Week in a Row

Hitting the #12 Slot

Joanna was born in London and studied acting at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She had a stellar career in film and theatre in South Africa, nominated for 11 AA Vita and Old Mutual awards for acting, comedy and cabaret and made world headlines when she played Desdemona in the first ‘non-racial’ production of Othello in that country, directed by Janet Suzman for the Market Theatre and filmed for Channel 4 in the U.K.

Joanna’s one- woman–show Sinksongs was discovered by film producer Andrena Finlay of Wildheart Productions and the show has gone on to become the musical feature film Goddess, directed by Mark Lamprell and produced by The Film Company in association with Screen Australia. Joanna is the co-writer of the screenplay as well as the principal songwriter for the movie. Goddess, starring Ronan Keating and Laura Michelle Kelly is due for release by Village Roadshow in Australia and internationally in 2012

Joanna moved to Sydney, Australia in 1997 where she re-focused her career towards songwriting and musical theatre writing. Joanna’s new stage musical Every Single Saturday for which she wrote the music, book and lyrics, went on tour in 2010, supported by a grant from the Australia Council for new musicals, and is now opening the Glen Street subscription season in 2012, produced by Les Currie and with an all-star Australian cast.

In 2008 she wrote, performed and recorded the one woman show 12 Shoes, pictured, which played extensively in Sydney and her new album, The Piano Diaries, which accompanies her show of the same name, was released in Sydney on the 6th November, 2011, and is available on itunes and cdbaby .com in November 2011.

Over her career Joanna has written 3 musicals and 9 one-woman shows, all of which have been performed on the professional theatre circuit in Australia and South Africa.

Ryan Davidson Cements His Place on the CMJ Jazz Chart for his 9th Week in a Row

Ryan Davidson Cements His Place on the CMJ Jazz Chart 

For His 9th Week in a  Row

Peaking at #4 Overall

Ryan Davidson is an Edmonton guitarist who holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. In the final year of his degree, Ryan became the guitarist of the 6 time, Grammy nominated, One O’clock Lab band. With the One O’clock, he shared the stage with Jazz legends Dave Brubeck, James Carter, Eddie Gomez and George Garzone. Recently, Ryan recorded “LAB 09” with the “One O’clock” for which the group received 2 Grammy Nominations.

Among being chosen to endorse Fender guitars, Ryan’s other accolades include being selected as a teaching fellow at University of North Texas. He was responsible for directing the “8 O’clock Lab Band” and teaching private lessons to undergrad students. During his undergrad degree at Saint Francis Xavier, Ryan received the medal for “highest grades on the Dean’s list”. During this time, Ryan was enrolled in three years of classes in a two year period. Also, IAJE published an article on improvisational theory written by Ryan during his time at St. Francis Xavier.

   In the Country music world, he has performed with many renowned country artists. He was fortunate to have shared the stage and/or recorded with great musicians like: Dave Alexander (Asleep at the Wheel), Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Steve Fox, Brad Johner, Chris Cummings, Jason McCoy (currently of the Road Hammers), Michelle Wright, Family Brown, Jason Blaine, Shane Yellowbird, Gord Bamford, Duane Steele, Corb Lund, Deric Ruttan, Farmer’s Daughter, Tracy Millar, Patricia Conroy, Adam Gregory, Jamie Warren, Joel Feeney, J.R. Voture, Dean Tuftin and many others. His guitar playing can be heard on top 10 Canadian country radio stations across North America, as well as numerous music videos on CMT.

Josh Levinson Hits the Top Jazz Adds at CMJ

Josh Levinson Hits the Top Jazz Adds Chart 

Landing on the #1 Slot, His First Official Week in Promotions

Josh Levinson was born and raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.  At an early age he studied piano with his mother and later at High School he studied trumpet at John Dewey High School.  After graduation, he attended college, and Levinson studied with John Castellano at Sounds of Joy (now the Drummers’ Collective), which was an important piece in the fabric of his musical learning. 

Levinson’s first gigs were with the soul/funk band The Whole Damn Family led by Kevin Williams.  He then went on tour with Mickey Murray and the Magic Machine, a funk band out of New York City.   Levinson also played with local meringue bands and developed his jazz licks at the University of the Streets in the East Village, playing with musicians like “C” Sharpe and Tommy Turrentine.  He played in an ensemble led by Ron Carter at City College, where he also got the chance to perform with guest artists Gil Evans and Freddie Hubbard.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Levinson’s led jazz groups at small New York clubs, including The Angry Squire, A Hundred Eighty Degrees, and Pat’s.  Musicians who have played his tunes include Jorge Sylvester, Jeb Patton, Mike Holober, Uri Caine, Rob Bargad, Alex McCabe, Shingo Okudeira,  Yoichi Kobayashi, Yosuke Inoue, and Mike Fahie, Mark Turner, and many others.

For the past fifteen years Levinson has been teaching music to middle school students in the South Bronx.  He continues to practice and write the music that he fell in love with and still considers the greatest music in the world and is inspiring the next generation of future musicians.

Levinson’s deep love of jazz is represented in his compositions.  Josh Levinson’s goal is to write, arrange, and play tunes that welcome, engage and draw the listener in.  He has successfully achieved this concept with his first CD, Elevations, and continues this premise with his second and most current CD, Chauncey Street, that offers the listener 11 original compositions that feature danceable grooves and memorable melodies that are addictive and inviting.

Listeners will notice the way inventive melodies and harmonies emerge from a personal sound that has its roots in the history of jazz, particularly the post-bop straight-ahead drive exemplified by Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, and Horace Silver.  Levinson’s goal is always to swing like the Art Blakey band and inspiration for him.  He saw them many times in New York City, where he has spent all of his life living and playing.

Jose Garcia Hits the Top Jazz Adds Chart at CMJ

Jose Garcia Lands on the Top Jazz Adds Chart

His Second Week in a Row for  Week 2 in Promotions

Onward and Upward

A multi-faceted crooner and guitarist, José García’s upcoming debut album Songs For a Lifetime -  Live, swings, sways and romances the listener with classic songs from the American Songbook, flavored with Latin classics.

When a vocalist comes along with an extraordinary passion for his craft, that passion can be felt in the emotion of his performance. José García is the epitome of this type of vocalist. Whether singing swinging standards or ballads, in English or in Spanish, José connects with his audience and holds them close as they indulge in his lavish voice.

From a very early age growing up in Tecate, Mexico, José was exposed to a variety of great musical influences that helped shape the vocalist he has become today. At the tender age of 6, José began his musical journey by teaching himself to play guitar. Over the years, he devoted countless hours to perfecting his craft. He also found himself drawn to the music of the great jazz crooners, even though his peers couldn’t relate.

As an adult, guitar remained José’s primary instrument. He became an in-demand professional musician in Los Angeles, focusing on Spanish and Flamenco styles.

In late 1999, José’s Spanish guitar duet decided to add a vocalist. Finding the right voice proved to be difficult, so José decided to develop his own vocal skills and serve as the temporary vocalist. José’s vocal quality, range and unique signature sound quickly blossomed, allowing him to cover a variety of Latin styles ranging from Flamenco to Boleros and Bossa Nova. His temporary vocal assignment became permanent, and he added vocals to his professional repertoire.

 

Just a few years ago, José was asked to sing jazz standards as a guest artist. Being a longtime fan of crooners, José jumped at the opportunity. His performance that night was exceptional, and the crowd’s enthusiastic response to his vocals caused him to redirect his career.

José’s upcoming album, Songs for a Lifetime  - Live, captures his respect for the classics and showcases his vocal diversity. Backed by an accomplished rhythm section, this live recording captures his spirited interpretations of timeless standards. There’s something for everyone in this recording, from upbeat swing to sentimental ballads. José even picks up a guitar and serenades the audience with his take on some ultra-romantic Spanish ballads.

With Songs for a Lifetime - Live, José García is poised to establish himself as one of today’s most gifted singers.

David Leonhardt is reviewed by Audiophile Audition

AUDIOPHILE AUDITION
by: Pierre Giroux


The David Leonhardt Group Plays Cole Porter – Big Bang Records BBR 9584, 57:05 ***:

(David Leonhardt – piano; Larry McKenna – saxophone; Matthew Parrish – bass; Paul Wells – drums; Nancy Reed – vocals)

William McBrien in his biography of Cole Porter quotes Walter Clemons on Cole Porter: ”The complexity of Porter’s best work sets him somewhat apart from the other great songwriters of the first half of the century…a Porter song is a luxury item, expensively made and extravagantly rhymed.” It is not surprising then, that almost every jazz and pop artist has recorded at least one Porter tune and others, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson, devoted entire albums to all of Porter’s songs.
The two songs which offer the most interest are those which bracket the song list, namely “Love for Sale” and “Get Out Of Town”, both of which are done by the trio of Leonhardt, Parrish and Wells. In the case of the former, the tune features some interesting time signatures, and then there is the straight-ahead version of the latter song. Leonhardt’s playing in both cases is exemplary as he covers the keyboard with devilish fashion and flair.

Joining the trio for five instrumental selections is saxophonist Larry McKenna who hails from Philadelphia. Although his playing is agreeable, “I Concentrate On You” is nicely delivered. While the arrangements and production values provided by David Leonhardt are first rate.
Track List: Love For Sale; Every Time We Say Goodbye; Just One Of Those Things; Night And Day; In The Still Of The Night; You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; I’ve Got You Under My Skin; I Concentrate On You; It’s All Right With Me; I Love You; All Of You; Get Out Of Town.

Josh Levinson is reviewed by Critical Jazz

CRITICAL JAZZ

by:  Brent Black

Long story short, if you dig Latin jazz and hard bop then Chauncey Street is guaranteed to make your musical back leg shake.

Levinson is a first call trumpet player born in Brooklyn and currently teaching music to middle school students in the South Bronx. A hard groove with an infectious old school grasp of melody, the Josh Levinson Sextet serves up 11 original tunes that take one back to the classic Blue Note recordings of Freddie Hubbard. While danceable melodies and solid harmonic development permeate this recording there is an amazing lyrical drive where everyone gets the chance to display their prodigious talent.
"Chauncey Street" is the title track and where Levinson would hook up with the J train for rehearsals back in the 1990's. The hard charging swing of "Chauncey Street" reflects the atmosphere of a neighborhood brimming with vitality and uncertainty. "F' It" is another somewhat personal tune. Much like the title, Levinson goes for it and nails it cold! The chameleon like makeup of this number reflects Levinson's background from funk to a more straight ahead vibe. Offering up a diverse menu of musical flavors we have the Latin jazz number "Wired." The groove laid down on "Wired" is contagious with an incredibly tight head and a smoking solo from trombonist Noah Bless. "My Blues" was written for bassist Avishai Cohen and is one of the real highlights of this release with Kenny Shanker on tenor and a beat you feel with your feet. Peter Brendler on bass and drummer Brian Fishler anchor a stellar rhythm section along with pianist Jeb Patton. "My Blues" pushes the envelope on meter but never loses the straight ahead swing that is the back bone of this tune. "180 Degrees" is another smoker from Levinson this time with Mike Eckroth on piano and the collective ensemble shines yet again.

Chauncey Street is hard charging post bop knocked out of the park by some of New York's finest. A well thought out ebb and flow of this release does include a few slower tunes. "Rain" is a beautiful ballad that has some deceptive twists and turns reminiscent of some Tom Harrell compositions. Eleven rock solid originals, six of the best musicians in New York and a swing that goes right to your very soul. Levinson's keen sense of melody and harmonic progression keep this ensemble on an incredibly entertaining and accessible level that others simply can not match.

A virtually flawless release with the Josh Levinson Sextet on point at all times!

5 Stars!

Preview the release for yourself:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joshlevinsonsextet
Tracks: Chauncey Street; F' It; Wired; Without Struggle; Rain; Heat; 10,9,8,7...; Avishai; My Blues; For Freddie; 180 Degrees.

Personnel: Josh Levinson: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brian Fishler: drums; Jeb Patton: piano; Mike Eckroth: piano (11); Peter Brendler: bass; Kenny Shanker: tenor and soprano saxophone; Noah Bless: trombone.

Josh Levinson is reviewed by This is Books Music

THIS IS BOOKS MUSIC
by:  John Book

REVIEW: Josh Levinson Sextet’s “Chauncey Street”

Upon the first ten seconds of hearing the title track of Chauncey Street (self-released), you know you’re going to be up for a rip-roaring time. The Josh Levinson Sextet play their music as if they were meant to do so, and while I know a lot of people tend to take that saying without care, it is true for Levinson and the rest of the guys. The title track may bring people to the streets of New Orleans, while “Wired” may take listeners to Miami or perhaps in Americas more South. “Heat” gets funky and shows a bit of what Levinton left (and had taken with him) after The Whle Damn Family, and I feel that’s what makes this album works: it sounds like family, where everything gels like saliva on a cackalack. The tribute to Avishai Cohen in “Avishai” is beautiful and may hopefully bring people to the namesake who may have never approached his music before.

The musicians here (Levinson on trumpet and flugelhorn, plus Brian Fishler on drums, Peter Brendler on bass, Kenny Shanker on tenor and soprano saxophones, Noah Bluess on trombone, Jeb Patton on piano, along with pianist Mike Eckroth who sits in on “180 Degrees”) are just superb, and with this album recorded and engineered by Peter Karl at his Brooklyn studio and the final recording mastered by Fred Kevorkian, you’re hearing album that honors its influences but also hopes to become an influence for all who choose to hear this. Highly recommended.

Jose Garcia is reviewed by Critical Jazz

Critical Jazz
by:  Brent Black

Jose Garcia Songs For A Lifetime Live 2012

Would it surprise you to know that Frank Sinatra did not consider himself a crooner nor was he exactly thrilled with the label itself? Jose Garcia fell into the roll of vocalist while seeking a singer for his Spanish guitar duet. Ultimately "if you want something done right do it yourself" came into play as Garcia began developing his vocal chops and now takes a gigantic musical roll of the dice with a live debut recording. Pay the winner! Songs For A Lifetime Live is a joyous celebration of the Great American Songbook not to mention a few well chosen Latin classics. Crooning gone global!

When this release reached my desk there was a cocked eyebrow on my part when the innocuous tag of crooner caught my eye and with an iconic set list it was clear Garcia not to mention his band had to be on point. There is a joyous swing to this release that is bordering on infectious. Garcia and the band work seamlessly and on equal musical footing avoiding all the self indulgent pitfalls most singers would hit immediately.

A great arrangement of the Cole Porter classic "I Get A Kick Out Of You" features pianist Carlos Rodgarman and an incredibly tight rhythm section with the ability to make this tune pop thanks to bassist Mike Paganini and drummer Pable Correa. Garcia's guitar talents are brought center stage with a beautiful and expressive opening to "Besame Mucho." The name of the game is swing and "All of Me" is a tune you hear with your feet! An ironically appropriate closer "This Could Be The Start of Something Big" is syncopated swing kicked up a notch. Garcia's vocals are perhaps best described as a delightful mix of Mel Torme and Tony Bennett but Garcia is far from a good vocalist doing some passable covers. Jose Garcia is an artist with passion and clearly displays the gift of connection with an audience.

Jose Garcia has that cool tone to his vocals, the innate ability to swing and impeccable phrasing. Crooner is still a label that does not seem to adequately fit Garcia as he clearly proves his ability as an incredibly well rounded artist. Songs For A Lifetime Live is a rock solid and highly entertaining release and considering this is a debut then Garcia scores extra bonus points! Some people assume based on the word critic that a review has to revolve around the criticisms found on a release. Look under every rock and check every nook and cranny as you will come up empty!

Songs For A Lifetime Live is a solid winner!
http://www.josegarciamusic.com/

To sample the release please use the cd baby link provided: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/josegarcia12

Tracks: I Get A Kick Out of You; The Shadow of Your Smile; Night and Day; I Left My Heart In San Francisco; Besame Mucho; I Wish You Love; All of Me; You Go To My Head; Sabor a mi; This Could Be The Start of Something Big.

Personnel: Jose Garcia: vocals & guitar; Carlos Rodgarman: piano; Mike Paganini: bass; Pablo Correa: drums.