In March 2008, this independent label released its first recordings and ever since that time, I have often tried to find their product over here in Germany or in Europe. Up to this day, as is the case with so many other fine labels dedicated to Jazz, there has been no distributor for their products over here in Europe or in Germany. So a couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with singer Tom Lellis about his last recording with Brazilian master guitarist Toninho Horta. I asked Tom if he could be so kind and find out if he could get Toninho's own album on Resonance Records sent over to us.

Tom actually had a meeting with Resonance owner George Klabin the other day and offered to speak to him on my behalf. To cut this story short, a couple of days later George and I had a very nice, long chat the result of which was that he sent his entire catalogue over. Klabin himself has worked in the music business for many years as a producer and engineer having worked with James Moody, Bill Evans, or Dexter Gordon. He also founded the Rising Stars Jazz Foundation, the centerpiece of which is his superb label.

I have to admit I haven't listened to all of the label's recordings yet but the fact alone that Toninho Horta is part of it, speaks for the quality of his work. There's another brazilian album on the label: The Music of Djavan by flutist Lori Bell. Now Djavan's music is among the most beautiful not only in Brazilian terms, but in general. And to hear his magic compositions done by a flute as the main instrument was a totally refreshing and rewarding listening experience. If you think the violin is for Gypsy Swing only, then check out Christian Howes' album Heartfelt. He takes his instrument one step further in producing a veritable, straight-ahead jazz CD with some terrific soloing and with legendary pianist Roger Kellaway. The fourth album I have heard so far is from pianist Bill Cunliffe. He reworks the Oliver Nelson classic The Blues and the Abstract Truth and puts a new spin on the arrangements which is so original and inventive that he even wrote two more tunes for the project which fit seamlessly.

So I'm looking forward to hearing the other CDs from the Resonance catalogue and in the meantime, two new CDs have already seen the light of day: The Resonance Big Band plays Tribute to Oscar Peterson and singer Greta Matassa with I Wanna Be Loved. Together with great artwork and crisp production, I think this label is here to stay and hopefully will have some distrib in other parts of the world as well. In the meantime, be sure to check www.jazzradio.net for your listening pleasure and go to www.resonancerecords.org to dig deeper.


MK, 29.05.09

For the first time in 37 years, the long-standing JVC Jazz Festival in New York will disappear. The NY Times today reports that the company behind the festival, Festival Productions, has lost its main sponsor. The jazz impresario George Wein, also known as the patriarch of all festivals, sold his company two years ago to a group headed by Chris Shields, an entrepreneur who has worked in this field before and who now blames the economy crisis for this major disappointment for the NY Jazz scene and many international jazz tourists as well.

The Festival Network presented a total of 17 festivals last year but this year could not even announce just one. The main sponsor, JVC, last month cancelled their 24 year long sponsorship with the festival simply saying that it no longer would be sponsoring jazz. The New York Times also writes that the disappearance of the festival has deprived many musicians of lucrative engagements this summer, but also that the loss of it sends misleading signals about the health of the music.

It may be a loss to the NY Jazz scene, but the jazz festival scene per se and worldwide is anything but in danger.

He has won the 1984 Olympic Gold medal, has played with the Phoenix Suns and in the NBA and decided to turn to Jazz in the 90s. Wayman Tisdale was diagnosed with bone cancer two years ago and although he recovered to record last year's Rebound CD and had part of his leg amputated and even recorded a video where he was in good spirits and ready to go on tour again after his treatments, he did not win the fight against cancer and died last Friday at age 44.

Tisdale played in his Fifth Quarter Band before releasing his debut CD Power Forward for the MoJazz label which is the former Jazz subsidiary label for Motown. One year later, in 1996, his second CDIn The Zone came out which is still featured here at JazzRadio. Two years later, Tisdale had shifted to Atlantic Records where he released two more CDs one of which went to Number 1 in the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. He recorded a Gospel album in 2003. With Hang Time one year later, he was catapulted into the upper regions of the Smooth Jazz charts and with Way Up! and Rebound had his biggest successes.

Tisdale just finished a tour of the US and was about to go into the recording studio to work with guitarist Norman Brown when his wife had to take him to the hospital on Friday morning because he had trouble breathing. Tisdale's funky bass style certainly derived from his being a fan of 70s Funk and can only be matched by an artist like Marcus Miller.

Singer and guitarist Madeleine Peyroux returned to Berlin last night to celebrate the release of her new CD Bare Bones. Berlin's Postbahnhof at Ostbahnhof was pretty packed and obviously full of die-hard fans. Peyroux offered her takes on various new tunes that she wrote for her latest CD which was produced by Larry Klein and features some songwriting credits by Walter Becker. All of the songs on that album were written or co-written by her and she played several of those in her typically intimate, introspective, leisurely, truly relaxing and sometimes quirky style. Most impressive was her solo interpretation of Instead, one of the most accessible and beautiful tracks on the album. Peyroux was wise enough to include some tracks from her three previous CDs although she didn't deliver a song from her very first album Dreamland which made her a sort of mini sensation back in 1996. But it was nice and refreshing to hear Dancing To The End of Love again, for example. She also included a number of French chanson-styled songs which derived from her long stay in Paris before she was finally discovered.

Label mate Till Brönner joined Peyroux on stage for three tracks altogether. Once again, the brilliant trumpeter proved that he's one of the most original and inventive player around. Peyroux joined him for several songs at his own concert a couple of days earlier in Cologne by the way. Solid stuff was coming from her backing band which was more or less cushioning her sound with almost no solo space. But it worked. Peyroux has truly found her own voice and sound. She'll be off to Seoul and Tokio this Saturday (including a 4-day run at Tokyo's Blue Note from May 18-21) before hitting ground again in the US in mid-June where she continues her tour.

The French government has given the singer the National Order of Arts and Letters. Stacey Kent (pictured, right), who is also very popular here at JazzRadio and who was performing in Berlin about a year or so ago, received this prestigious award from the French Cultural Minister Christine Albanel. The Chevalier des Arts et Lettres is an award honoring artistic achievements. In her honorific speech, Albanel described the Franco-Canadian singer who was also nominated for a Grammy this year for her last album, as a painter of feelings. Her shows are captivating and at the same time intellectual and soulful. Hers is a shining, unique talent.

Among former award winners are Rudolf Nureyev, Philip Glass, and Yohji Yamamoto. Kent has always had a special affinity for France. Her next album, due for release next fall, will be in French. Kent is currently on tour in Europe where she performs at the Liège Festival in Belgium (May 8th), at the Cambridge Arts Theatre (May 17th), and in Lyon on May 26th among others before she returns to New York's Birdland for a string of performances (June 2-6).