On June 26th, Herbie Hancock will perform selections from his Grammy Award winning Album of the Year ‘River: The Joni Letters’ on the new season of Sundance Channel’s acclaimed original music series ‘Live From Abbey Road.’ Corrine Bailey Rae will join the legendary jazz musician for their only live performance to date of the album’s title track “River.” Hancock also recruited talented young singer Sonya Kitchell, who is performing with him on tour this spring and summer, as well as the world-class musicians Wayne Shorter and Vinnie Colaiuta to accompany him for the session.

Tune in June 26th at 10pm to sample some of the “ceaselessly eclectic set” (Daily Variety, 6.16.08) Hancock’s performing on the road. Watch “River” from ‘Live From Abbey Road’ here.

Critical praise continues for Herbie Hancock; now for his ‘River of Possibilities ‘ tour which included a performance at the Playboy Jazz Fest last week and at Carnegie Hall as part of the JVC Jazz Fest this Monday, June 23rd. Hancock’s “intimate reinvention” (NY Times, 9.9.07) of Joni Mitchell songs, ‘River: The Joni Letters’ garnered two Grammy awards this year including the prestigious Album of the Year prize. Also, this week the Jazz Journalists Association named Hancock Artist of the Year.

“(At the 30th Playboy Jazz Festival) Hancock coursed through funk, jazz and Joni Mitchell interpretations with an easy shifting stylistic focus that managed to both settle into deep grooves and hit heights of spontaneous invention.”
- Orange County Register (CA), 6.16.08

Herbie Hancock.com ## MySpace ## CD’s ## Amazon MP3’s ## Hype Machine

Alex Woodard’s Self-Titled Release Features Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins, Fountains Of Wayne Drummer Brian Young

“…raspy, quavering vocals and a penchant for catchy folk-rock” RollingStone.com

When asked how a California surfer could write an album that sounds like it’s rooted in the middle of America, singer/songwriter Alex Woodard blames his own love of storytelling. “Stories don’t care where you’re from,” Woodard explained. “They’re universal.” And it’s his narratives about the dreams, loss, love, and struggles that go hand and hand with the journey through life that comprise Woodard’s self-titled release, out August 19th on Woodshack/Adrenaline Music Group.

Woodard has drawn comparisons to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp for his earnest vocal delivery and story-driven songwriting. The album’s first single “Beautiful Now” is a thoughtful, upbeat ode to the beauty of motherhood. The video — shot by CMT Director of the Year Roman White (Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson)– features former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and her two children with Marc Anthony as well as several other moms and children. Sara Watkins from Grammy-wining Nickel Creek lends her vocals and fiddle to “Reno” while Brian Young (Fountains of Wayne, the Posies) mans the drums.

No stranger to show business, Woodard was an after-school childhood actor with recurring roles on the Love Boat and Battlestar Gallactica who found time to teach himself piano and guitar during high school. After graduating from UCLA, Woodard spent time in the world of finance before before music called louder then numbers.

• Photograph

Alex Woodard.com *** MySpace *** CD’s *** eMusic *** Hype Machine

A sensuous blend of jazz rhythms pulses through ‘Echo’, a collection of songs bound together by the unforgettable resonance of Alyssa Graham’s extraordinary voice. Its eleven tracks reveal musical influences from around the globe, all while maintaining the thematic feel of a deeply personal, well-told and eternal love story. With seven original tracks, four classic songs round out the album, including a delicately yearning version of Paul Simon’s “America” that speaks to journeys closer to home.
Graham conveys each story with the experience and passion of a world traveler who has visited every continent but Antarctica. Her expeditions provided her with lasting musical inspiration, from Brazil’s Rosa Passos to India’s Lata Mangeshkar to Benin’s Lionel Loueke. Produced by Jon Cowherd (Brian Blade Fellowship, Lizz Wright), the album serves as a musical travelogue that traces the arc of a modern-day love affair, beginning with the disc’s first single, “Pictures of You.”
‘Echo’ will be released July 29th.

• Pictures Of You

Alyssa Graham.com *** MySpace *** CD’s

The headline of Melody Gardot’s MySpace page reads simply: “Modern-day dame.” It’s a statement that sums up her music, style and personality in a way that many peers her age (just 23) may not have achieved fully for themselves.

‘Worrisome Heart’ is a finger-snapping, soul-stirring, jazzy album that has garnered acclaim from critics and music lovers. It’s a feat that might be unexpected from a woman who has been pursuing music professionally for just three years.

Gardot walks and stands with a cane, wears dark glasses and uses earplugs due to a near-fatal car accident in her late teens. But seeing her and listening to her music, none of that defines who she is as an artist.

The cane becomes an accessory of glamour. The glasses become a trademark of style. And her voice purrs and soars for the appreciation of everyone within earshot.

Gardot has panache in every way. While recording ‘Worrisome Heart,’ here’s how she explained the sound she wanted: “I remember standing in the recording booth and saying to the horn guys, `Can you make it sleazier?’ They said ‘Yeah! Sleazy, man, that’s cool!’

“It may not have been the most musical way to put it, but they knew exactly what I meant!” she laughs.

‘Worrisome Heart,’ which features 10 Gardot-penned tunes, isn’t what most people would think of as sleaze - it’s elegant, with feeling and just enough brashness to intrigue. But if it is, it’s sleaze with style to burn. Listen to the title track and you’ll understand.

• Worrisome Heart

Melody Gardot.com *** MySpace *** CD’s *** Hype Machine

Singer-songwriter Melody Gardot adds the beautifully smoky vocals and throwback glamour showcased on ‘Worrisome Heart’ to the Sundance Channel’s acclaimed original music series “Live From Abbey Road” on June 26th. She joins other world-class artists performing at the world-famous studio with 2008 Album of the Year winner Herbie Hancock, including Wayne Shorter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Corinne Bailey Rae and Sonya Kitchell.

Having already earned praise from critics and peers, Gardot will undoubtedly win over new fans when they see her performance with Hancock, who considers her to have an “exquisite voice and the apparent spirit of perseverance.” Gardot, now 23, experienced a near-fatal car accident at age 18 and turned to music as part of her therapy. Surprisingly, she has only been performing professionally for the past three years. Her selection by an artist of Hancock’s stature speaks volumes about her vocal talent and sophistication.

Watch Gardot with Herbie Hancock on “Live From Abbey Road” Thursday, June 26th at 10:00pm EST.

Flannel is an indie pop project from Japan. It is one guy named Tomohiro. He is influenced by guitar pop, indie pop, NEO-acoustic and D.I.Y pop music. Some of Flannel’s main influences include Teenage Fanclub, Trashcan Sinatras, The Pastels, Edwyn Collins, Apples in Stereo, The Lodger, The Ruling Class, Vapnet, Days, The Airfields, Oh! Custer, Cornelius, and The Pipettes. Flannel’s “Dear Something, Dear Someone” is his debut full length record. He has previously released songs on singles and compilations with various labels. Flannel’s record serves as a good representation for indie pop music of today.
The Full Length Record of Flannel “Dear Something, Dear Someone” is currently available from Series Two Records for 13 USD payable via paypal to seriestworecords@gmail.com , shipping costs are included in those prices even if you are in Europe, Asia, Australia, UK, Scandinavia, Latin America, Canada, USA and anywhere else.

• Spill
• Morning, About Mill And Mugs
• Drops

Flannel.com *** MySpace *** Hype Machine

Hammock - The Sleep-Over Series (Volume 1)

# Label: Hammock Music
# Catalog#: HMK003CD
# Format: CD, Album
# Country: US
# Released: Nov 2005
# Genre: Electronic
# Style: Abstract, Ambient
# Discogs Rating: 5.0/5
# Quality: 320kbit
# Size: 135 Mb
# Pass: touchmenot.net

Originally published at touch.me.not. Please leave any comments there.

Andreas Tilliander - Elit

# Label: Mille Plateaux
# Catalog#: MP 114
# Format: CD, Album
# Country: Germany
# Released: 22 Oct 2002
# Genre: Electronic
# Style: IDM, Hip Hop, Minimal
# Discogs Rating: 3.9/5
# Quality: 320kbit
# Size: 111 Mb
# Pass: touchmenot.net

Originally published at touch.me.not. Please leave any comments there.

Move D - Drone

# Label: Modern Love
# Catalog#: Love047
# Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single Sided, 45 RPM, Limited Edition, White Label
# Country: UK
# Released: May 2008
# Genre: Electronic
# Style: Techno, Dub Techno
# Discogs Rating: 4.9/5
# Quality: VBR
# Size: 17 Mb
# Pass: touchmenot.net

Originally published at touch.me.not. Please leave any comments there.

Sogar - Apikal.Blend

# Label: 12k
# Catalog#: 12k1022
# Format: CD, Album
# Country: US
# Released: Jan 2003
# Genre: Electronic
# Style: Abstract, Experimental, Minimal, Ambient
# Discogs Rating: 4.2/5
# Quality: 320kbit
# Size: 107.7 Mb
# Pass: touchmenot.net

Originally published at touch.me.not. Please leave any comments there.

Redshape - Plonk

# Label: Present
# Catalog#: present 04
# Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Blue Translucent
# Country: Germany
# Released: 23 Apr 2008
# Genre: Electronic
# Style: Techno
# Discogs Rating: 4.9/5
# Quality: VBR
# Size: 21.2 Mb
# Pass: touchmenot.net

Originally published at touch.me.not. Please leave any comments there.