cohen live songs

When so much jazz is recycled or reissued, a new Ornette Coleman album is cause for celebration. But Sound Grammar, the free-jazz legend’s first release in a decade, is special even by his lofty standards. Coleman was 75 when this live-in-Italy set was recorded in 2005. But he sounds pluckier than he has in years. Pared down to its eloquent basics, the music has a rare combination of beauty, power, lift, and melodic immediacy. With two bassists providing contrasting textures and internal drama–Greg Cohen plucks his acoustic instrument while Tony Falanga bows his–Ornette plays with his usual songful brilliance on alto saxophone and also sounds great on trumpet, a secondary instrument on which he usually demonstrates yeoman skills. (He also dabbles on violin.) Sound Grammar could be better engineered–the astute catchall drumming of Ornette’s son Denardo Coleman is too far back in the mix and the basses frequently don’t have enough presence. But this album stands with Ornette’s best. Two of the songs, “Turnaround” and “Song X,” are remakes; the rest of the material is just as good. –Lloyd Sachs

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As if to remind anyone who’s forgotten his roots, Chick Corea re-connects here with his past, when he was pianist for Willie Bobo and Cal Tjader in the 1960s, and a catalyst for Brazilian fusion in the 1970s. Playing a Fender Rhodes piano throughout this 10-song live session, Corea reminds one more of Latin jazz master Clare Fischer than the adventurous soloist who always keeps his music on the edge. With Arturo Sandoval on Mongo Santamaria’s “Beseme Mama,” Corea recalls his days with Return to Forever.

The disc opens with all the pots boiling on “Soul Sauce” and “A Night in Tunisia,” two standards by Dizzy Gillespie, the godfather of Latin jazz. Corea, Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, and former Spyro Gyra vibes player David Samuels are all featured with fiery solos, with Sandoval trading high-flying riffs with fellow trumpeter Claudio Roditi on the latter tune. A tribute to Tito Puente, who was originally a part of this jam before falling ill, Jam Miami features two former members of his group, flutist Dave Valentin and trumpeter Ray Vega, as well as Escovedo, who, with Puente’s death, may be the leading timbalero in Latin jazz. The theme from “I Love Lucy” and Corea’s own “Wigwam,” featuring members of his band Origin, are among the sparkling highlights of these long, solo-rich numbers. And smoke from the smoldering percussion riffs probably will linger in the South Florida night for ages. –Mark A. Ruffin

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Astralwerks and War Child, an award winning charity that provides humanitarian assistance to war-affected children in some of the most devastated regions of the world, are proud to announce a unique and unprecedented collaboration between some of the biggest names in music history and today’s hottest artists. We asked some of the biggest legends in music history (Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, David Bowie) to select a classic track from their own songwriting catalog, and nominate an artist from the next generation (Beck, The Hold Steady, Duffy, TV On The Radio) to create a modern reworking of that classic song. This album is the result: 16 exclusive and truly inspired cover versions.

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GRAMMY® AWARD WINNER MARC COHN RETURNS WITH HIS FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN NEARLY A DECADE MARC COHN Join The Parade It has been nearly a decade since American singer/songwriter Marc Cohn last released a studio album. It has been fifteen years (1992) since he won the Grammy® Award for Best New Artist. Best known for his colossal hit “Walking In Memphis,” Cohn returns with a new, passionate and poignant recording JOIN THE PARADE, to be released on October 9th. JOIN THE PARADE is the product of a personal journey. A recording of 10 songs that share a common theme woven from both Cohn’s empathic observations after Hurricane Katrina and from a 2005 incident during which the singer found himself the victim of a carjacking in Denver, which left him with a gunshot wound to the head. JOIN THE PARADE is introspective. It is one man’s look at the beauty of life through its fragility–spiritually moving and inspirational. Co-produced by long-time guitarist and Bob Dylan band member Charlie Sexton, the album was recorded over a period of a year both in New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. JOIN THE PARADE is a long overdue album that serves to solidify Cohn’s already well-known reputation as a great American songwriter.

Marc Cohn Photo

More from Marc Cohn

Greatest Hits

Marc Cohn

The Rainy Season

Burning the Daze

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Born in Cleveland, OH, singer-songwriter Marc Cohn will forever be associated with another great American city by virtue of his signature hit, “Walking In Memphis,” one of the stand-out songs of the 1990s. The melodic, literate and dramatic masterpiece spun off his acclaimed self-titled debut album in â??91, the same year Cohn won the GRAMMY for Best New Artist. His elegant songwriting artistry shines on two more beautiful and intelligent albums, The Rainy Season and Burning The Daze. Rhinoâ??s new collectionâ??the first-ever retrospective of Cohnâ??s workâ??pulls favorites from his entire repertoire, including “Silver Thunderbird,” “True Companion,” “Walk Through The World,” plus a rare live version of “One Safe Place.”
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Live at Convocation Hall is a performance of songs from Hayden’s three domestic releases, as well as his limited edition Canadian EP & the title track from Tree’s Lounge. The performance is from his March 2002 sold-out show in Toronto, Ontario. Includes 3 new (2002) tracks, plus a cover version of Neil Young’s ‘Tell Me Why’ (featuring guest vocals from Howie Beck & Julie Dorion). Elaborate, double digipak with a 16-page booklet designed by Hayden. Badman.
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