Tag Archives: jazz fusion

Tony Adamo “IT’s Gotta B U!” is a smokin’, swingin’ 2026 jazz track

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Tony Adamo and The Cookin

Once again, Tony encourages us to keep seeking and not rest on our laurels. He is taking us on a hip trip by way of a swinging tune, which I am proud to play drums on. He tells us about Shirley Scott, Philly Joe, and what swingin’, being hip, and heading into uncharted waters is like, not being afraid to take a chance and let jazz take you there. Now, that’s living in my book!!!

  • Tony Adamo: Lead Vocals / Spoken Word
  • Mike Clark: Drums
  • Richie Goods: Bass
  • Tim Campbell: Piano

Mike Clark has recorded with such well-known jazz greats as Christian McBride, Chet Baker, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Vince Guaraldi, Woody Shaw, Albert King, Larry Coryell, Mike Wolff, Wallace Roney, Billy Childs, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chris Potter, Bobby McFerrin, Nat Adderly, Oscar Brown Jr., and Gil Evans and his Orchestra.
Tony Adamo, “It’s Gotta B U!” is a smokin’, swingin’ 2026 jazz track by singer-songwriter Tony Adamo, released under Saint Jaz Records. True to his signature hipspokenword and “sing-speak” style, the track blends sharp, rhythmic cultural storytelling with white-hot instrumentation. The song acts as a dynamic jazz history lesson, name-checking icons like Shirley Scott, Booker T, and Philly Joe Jones. It encourages listeners to dive into uncharted waters and let Jazz lead the way. MoJo online Magazine/UK

Website: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/album/its-gotta-b-u-tony-adamo

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2026

JWQ WorldMusicMix: RAFAEL GRECO-Versos bajo mi sombra (Blue Canoe Records | 2026)

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Rafael Greco-Versos bajo mi sombra

RAFAEL GRECO

Versos bajo mi sombra

Blue Canoe Records | 2026

Composer, pianist, and multi-instrumentalist Rafael Greco presents Versos bajo mi sombra
(Verses Under My Shadow)— a bold, literary, and emotionally charged 12-track album that fuses
jazz, Latin influences, cinematic imagination, and philosophical reflection.

Released on Blue Canoe Records, the album is both intimate and defiant — a meditation on grief, memory, artistic integrity, and the tension between inner freedom and modern cultural noise.

At its core, the title track, “Verses under my shadow,” stands as a protest against mediocrity and the erosion of empathy and reason in contemporary society. It frames the album’s central question: how does one preserve clarity and depth in an increasingly alienated world?

One of the emotional pillars of the project is “Lucía,” written in the wake of Greco’s mother’s passing and inspired by his daughter. The piece unfolds like a mirror — reflecting past and future within the same frame — transforming personal loss into enduring beauty.

Literature plays a significant role throughout the album. “Joseph Conrad’s Deletions” translates
narrative texture into sound, inspired by Greco’s engagement with writers such as Borges,
Cortázar, Poe, and Conrad. The closing work, “Sonatina (Méliès) for Solo Piano,” imagines an
expressionist soundtrack for films Georges Méliès never made — a poetic homage to early
cinema.

Musically, the album moves fluidly between introspective jazz, rhythmic Latin energy,
minimalist reinterpretation, and cinematic atmosphere. Highlights include:

  • La nuit — a nod to Lester Young and the classic 32-bar form
  • Baghería — a childhood memory of Sicily transformed into sound
  • Due Fratelli — a tribute to friendship
  • Get it straight / No te equivoques — a declaration of inner freedom

    Versos bajo mi sombra features an exceptional ensemble of internationally acclaimed musicians,
    including Jimmy Haslip, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Scott Kinsey, Luisito Quintero,
    Mark Ferber, Anton Fig    , and others. The album was produced by Rafael Greco and Jimmy
    Haslip, with mixing and mastering by Germán Landaeta.

    Deeply personal yet universally resonant, Versos bajo mi sombra is a statement of artistic
    conviction — a reminder that while nothing is eternal, integrity and expression remain powerful acts of resistance.

Contacts:
Karen Frieske
Press/A&R
kaf@BlueCanoeRecords.com
Photos Courtesy of Eric Smit

Blue Canoe Records

JazzWorldQuest WorldMusicMix

JazzWorldQuest WorldMusicMix: Kamil Rustam-New album: “Listen Up!”

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Kamil Rustam / Nouvel album Listen Up! avec Eddie Brown, Billy Valentine, Amy Keys, Arnold McCuller, Patrice Rushen, Pino Palladino…

Sortie le 15/04/2026 chez Can U Feel It Records
Release Party à Paris le 10 juin au Théâtre de l’IA

Guitarist Kamil Rustam returns on April 15, 2026, with his second album, Listen Up!. After 25 years immersed in gospel, funk, and soul across the United States, he unveils a new project alongside an exceptional group of collaborators. Following the immediate success of his debut solo album Cosmopolitain (2017), recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, Rustam comes back with a record that fully embraces his funk and soul roots.

Featuring eight tracks, Listen Up! is both a return to his origins and a tribute to the late ’70s soul-funk era. For this new chapter, he brings together a dream team of longtime collaborators, including musicians who have contributed to the sound of icons like Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa.

While Rustam’s distinctive guitar style remains the thread throughout, Listen Up! places vocals at the center for the first time, highlighting remarkable vocal performances. The album features an outstanding lineup of artists, including Eddie Brown, Billy Valentine, Amy Keys, Arnold McCuller, Patrice Rushen, and Pino Palladino, among others.

Driven by groove, emotion, and the spirit of live performance, Listen Up! reflects a musical journey spanning two continents—an album that feels vibrant, soulful, and timeless.

Le guitariste Kamil Rustam est de retour le 15 avril 2026 avec son second album Listen Up! Après 25 ans d’immersion dans le gospel, le funk et la soul aux Etats-Unis, ce musicien d’exception signe enfin son second album avec un casting hors norme.

Après le succès instantané de son premier album solo Cosmopolitain (2017), enregistré dans les légendaires Sunset Sound Studios à Hollywood, Kamil Rustam revient avec Listen Up! un album qui assume pleinement sa fibre Funk & Soul. 

Composé de huit titres, cet album marque un retour aux sources et une célébration de la soul-funk de la fin des années 70.  Pour ce nouveau chapitre, Kamil Rustam a réuni une “dream team” de collaborateurs de longue date. On y retrouve des musiciens ayant façonné le son de légendes telles que Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, John Mayer ou Joe Bonamassa.

Si l’identité instrumentale de Kamil reste le fil conducteur, Listen Up! place pour la première fois la voix au centre de l’œuvre. L’album brille par des collaborations vocales d’exception. Découvrez sur le disque un casting exceptionnel de voix et d’instrumentistes comme Eddie Brown, Billy Valentine, Amy Keys, Arnold McCuller, Patrice Rushen, Pino Palladino, et bien plus encore…

Porté par le groove, l’émotion et l’énergie du live, Listen Up! est le reflet d’un parcours musical entre deux continents — un projet à la fois vibrant, soulful et intemporel.

Pour découvrir la vidéo de Warped Memories feat Patrice Rushen :

« Cet album me tient particulièrement à cœur. C’est un retour à la source, une musique qui m’a construit et accompagné tout au long de ma vie en Californie. » — Kamil Rustam

Guitariste, compositeur et arrangeur français de renommée internationale, Kamil Rustam mène une carrière de plus de 35 ans jalonnée de moments marquants. Lauréat des Victoires de la Musique en 1985 comme « Meilleur Arrangeur de l’année » — aux côtés de Manu Katché et Gabriel Yared pour Unis Vers l’Uni de Michel Jonasz — il est également élu « Meilleur musicien de studio » en 1986 et 1987.

En France, il collabore avec Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Berger, France Gall et Michel Jonasz. Installé aux États-Unis depuis 1996, il y côtoie Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Aaron Neville, James Ingram, Peabo Bryson et John Mayer, tout en officiant comme guitariste pour l’émission The Voice US. Pendant quinze ans, il se nourrit aussi de la culture gospel au cœur des églises américaines.

Après le succès de son premier opus instrumental Cosmopolitain, le guitariste et compositeur de renommée internationale Kamil Rustam annonce la sortie de son deuxième album, Listen Up! prévue pour le 15 avril. Composé de 8 titres, cet album marque un retour aux sources viscéral et une célébration de la soul-funk de la fin des années 70.

Inspiré par ses 25 années passées aux États-Unis, Kamil Rustam livre ici son projet le plus personnel à ce jour. Enregistré entre la France et Los Angeles, l’album puise sa force dans l’héritage du gospel et de la soul, musiques fondatrices de l’identité artistique du musicien.

Guitariste, arrangeur et compositeur de talent, Kamil Rustam est une figure incontournable de la scène musicale internationale. Son parcours, jalonné de collaborations prestigieuses entre l’Europe et les États-Unis, fait de lui un trait d’union rare entre les cultures musicales. Avec Listen Up!, il affirme une maturité artistique qui font de cet album un classique intemporel de la soul.

Release Party à Paris le 10 juin au Théâtre de l’IA, 10 rue de la Vacquerie, 75011 Paris

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JazzWorldQuest WorldMusicMix

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2026: Arshid Azarine Nouvel album Trio + Guests Live / Sortie vinyle et digitale le 24/04/2026 (Ohrwurm Records)

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Arshid Azarine – New album: Trio + Guests Live (Ohrwurm Records)

French-Iranian pianist Arshid Azarine returns on April 24, 2026, with the release of Trio + Guests Live, following his 2024 album Vorticity.

Joined by percussionist Habib Meftah (known for collaborations with Trio Joubran and Titi Robin) and bassist Hervé de Ratuld, Azarine presents an organic and expressive work inspired by the theme of freedom in Iran.

The album was recorded in Paris in 2025 at the 360 Paris Music Factory during the Au fil des Voix festival, as well as at the Sunside Jazz Club. It captures the immediacy of live performance—marked by tension, precision, spontaneity, and emotional depth.

Guest appearances include vocalists Nuria Rovira Salat and Golsa, along with a recorded vocal contribution from Golshifteh Farahani.

Trio + Guests Live unfolds as a music of transition and transformation, where harmonies take on shifting, atmospheric textures and rhythms are both grounded and exploratory, drawing influence from diverse musical traditions, including those of the broader Middle East.

Arshid Azarine – Nouvel album Trio + Guests Live – Sortie vinyle et digitale le 24/04/2026 (Ohrwurm Records)
Le pianiste franco-iranien Arshid Azarine est de retour le 24 avril 2026 avec l’album Trio + Guests Live. Cet album fait suite à l’album Vorticity sorti en 2024. Accompagné par les polyrythmies du percussionniste Habib Meftah (Trio Joubran, Titi Robin), et la basse de Hervé de Ratuld, Arshid Azarine signe une œuvre organique dédiée à la liberté en Iran.

Enregistré à Paris en 2025, au 360 Paris Music Factory lors du festival Au fil des Voix et au Sunside Jazz Club, cet album capte ce qui ne se répète pas : la tension, l’écoute, le risque, l’émotion. On retrouve en invités Nuria Rovira Salat (voix), Golsa (voix), et la voix enregistrée de Golshifteh Farahani. Une musique de passage, de transformation, où les accords prennent des couleurs aériennes et mouvantes, où les rythmes s’ancrent autant qu’ils s’échappent dans des contrées orientales.

Arshid Azarine est aussi radiologue cardio-vasculaire. Il observe les flux, les turbulences, les mouvements invisibles. Et dans la musique comme dans l’image, il cherche la même chose : le cœur. Le premier extrait s’appelle Abann à découvrir avec un clip en animation signé Sarah Tabibzadeh. 

Pour découvrir le clip d’Abann : 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRk1CVcOxq0

Pianiste franco-iranien, Arshid Azarine tisse depuis plusieurs années une œuvre à la croisée des mondes, où les racines de la musique persane rencontrent l’espace ouvert du jazz. Une musique de passage, de transformation, où les accords prennent des couleurs aériennes et mouvantes, où les rythmes s’ancrent autant qu’ils s’échappent dans des contrées orientales.

Le live est pour lui une manière d’entrer en relation, de créer, de partager. À ses côtés, deux musiciens d’exception : le percussionniste Habib Meftah dont le jeu polyryhtmique porte en lui les mémoires africaines du sud iranien, et le bassiste Hervé de Ratuld. Ostinatos, pédales, lignes de basse souples. Ensemble, ils forment un trio traversé par les cultures, habité par une même quête : celle du mouvement. Car la vie n’existe qu’en mouvement. Après 7 Djan (2015), Sing Me a Song (2019) et Vorticity (2024), ce nouvel album marque un retour à l’essentiel : le live, la forme qui se construit en temps réel. Écoute, interaction, respiration collective. Enregistré à Paris en 2025, cet album capte ce qui ne se répète pas : la tension, l’écoute, le risque, l’émotion. Il est dédié à celles et ceux qui se battent en Iran pour la liberté. Là où jouer du jazz peut être passible de prison, chaque note prend une autre densité. Ici, la liberté n’est pas acquise : elle est ressentie comme un miracle, un instant fragile.

La version digitale ajoute un inédit « Erevan-Tabriz-Téhéran », récit musical d’un voyage réel devenu mémoire. « Ce titre est né d’un souvenir très personnel : il retrace le voyage en voiture, entrepris pour rejoindre le mariage du pianiste Tigran Hamasyan à Erevan (Arménie).

Entre mémoire et présent, science et sensation, ancrage et vertige, Arshid Azarine Trio + Guests Live est un album de circulation. Une musique qui cherche moins à dire qu’à faire ressentir. Une musique qui, simplement, vit. Sans peur, au-delà des frontières et des barres de mesure.

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2026

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025: HII Trio(Brazil)-Connections

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The Brazilian jazz scene has been enriched recently with a new release — the debut album by the trio of pianist/composer Henrique Mota, acoustic bass player Iury Batista and drummer Igor Willcox, united into creativity under the name HII Trio.

Alongside the three seasoned musicians, the album benefits from a fruitful collaboration with a number of celebrated voices in contemporary jazz such as Bob Mintzer, Tony Lakatos, Seamus Blake, David Binney, Bob Franceschini, and Rachel Therrien.

The eight original tracks are impressive, revealing strong compositional ability and a remarkable freshness in their interaction driven by the energy they navigate the modern jazz landscape where Brazilian and modern jazz influences merge with each individual’s personal sensibility.

The playful opener “Consciência Plena (Mindfulness)” lets the magic begins in full force. Piano, bass and drums meander freely through rhythms and harmonies continously broadening boundaries of the improvisational territory.

On the syncopated “Talking In Traffic,” renowned trumpeter Tony Lakatos channels the energy of his presence to the piano and bass, while Igor Wilcox’s drums dynamically raise the heat, driving the mood toward a burning peak.

Worth noting the perfect balance in interplay between musicians and the vividity of the dialogues in “Connections” featuring veteran saxophonist Bob Franceschini.

In “Um Voo Sem Destino,” saxophonist Bob Mintzer introduces a warm, lyrical touch that shines amid the intense rhythmic dialogue between bass and drums.

The next highlight of the album is the synergistic energy on “Wine Glass,” where David Binney’s saxophone weaves into the composition with his distinct voice, intensifying the track’s fiery atmosphere.

“Sambatino” tackles a Brazilian theme — with the saxophone of Seamus Blake in tune with the piece’s Latin groove.

On “New Cycles” we hear the virtuosic trumpet of Rachel Therrien improvising with her usual expressiveness in perfect connection with the three Brazilian musicians.

The album ends with Anonymous introduced by the bass lines of Iury Batista— we are enchanted by a solid sense of rhythm and flow that permeates the adventurous interplay among the three band members, combining improvisational idioms with dexterity. together in their exploration 

On the closing track “Anonymous,” introduced by Iury Batista’s bass lines — we are drawn in by a strong sense of flowing rhythms permeating the bold interplay among the three musicians engaged in a stunning exploratory journey.

Connections is a smart titled jazz album — a seamless blend of creativity, melody and rhythm connected to the creative and adventurous spirit these three outstanding musicians bring to their art.

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025

New release: PETER XIFARAS-“ADAGIO GROOVES”

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New release

PETER XIFARAS-“ADAGIO GROOVES”

RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2025

Jazz meets Classical as The Budapest Symphony intersects with virtuoso jazz saxman & Universal Music Group artist Justin Chart for six blissful tracks that feature orchestral arrangements with beautiful soulful melodies that evolve into addicting grooves.

Artist: PETER XIFARAS
Title: ADAGIO GROOVES
Artist Website: https://PeterX.music
Release Date: August 22, 2025
Label: Music With No Expiration®
Catalog Number: PXCD05 UPC Digital: 199538351040
UPC Physical: 195269379018
Distribution: SONY/Orchard
Featuring: Justin Chart with the Budapest Symphony

TRACK LISTING
1. ADAGIO BLUE 5:12 2. ADAGIO DREAM 3:55 3. ADAGIO GROOVE 4:35 4. ADAGIETTO 5:51 5. ADAGIO DAYS 6:22 6. ADAGIO NIGHTS 5:22

Renowned for his prowess as a composer, guitarist, and producer, Peter Xifaras has masterfully navigated the realm of musical genres, earning widespread acclaim. His versatility is striking; whether crafting compositions for symphonic orchestra or delivering impassioned guitar solos, Peter is at ease. With his music resonating across hundreds of radio stations and enjoying over a decade of rotation on SiriusXM, his impact is undeniable. A recipient of multiple awards, Peter’s music has crowned the summits of BILLBOARD’S Classical & Crossover charts. Notably, he was awarded the AMERICAN Prize in composition, clinched a TELLY for ‘social impact’, and received an Accolade Global Film HUMANITARIAN award for his efforts with the poignant orchestral release, Children Of Conflict.

MUSICIANS:
Peter Xifaras-keys, Justin Chart-sax, Max Gerl-bass, Scott Jackson-drums, Budapest Symphony-orchestra

LISTENING LINKS:
https://orcd.co/7r5qwwa
All music written, arranged, produced by Peter Xifaras

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025: Antoine Fafard (UK/Canada)-Quadra Spherium

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Released in June 2025, Quadra Spherium is the name of the album from Antoine Fafard, featuring Gary Husband on drums and Jean-Pierre Zanella on tenor saxophone. The concept behind this album stems from two fortuitous opportunities. Firstly, Antoine’s motivation to craft an album specifically for Jean-Pierre Zanella on the tenor saxophone. Although Jean-Pierre has been primarily associated with the alto sax, a session he recorded for Antoine on the tenor inspired further exploration.

The second opportunity arose when Gary Husband informed Antoine that his new Pearl Crystal Beat kit was stored at Dock Street Studios in London, and that he was available for recording. Antoine eagerly embraced the chance to combine this with the project he had envisioned for Jean-Pierre, creating at the same time a sequel to the Sphère album released in 2016, where Gary played drums. Quadra Spherium showcases Antoine on bass and all guitars, allowing him to push the boundaries of his guitar playing in an instrumental jazz fusion context. Multi-instrumentalist Gary Husband is well known for his long association with guitarist Allan Holdsworth, with whom he recorded multiple albums and extensively performed over many years. As a session musician, Husband’s credits include collaborations with artists such as Jack Bruce, Gary Moore, Level 42, Jeff Beck, Mike Stern and many more. His parallel voice as a keyboard player has seen him as a member of John McLaughlin’s group The 4th Dimension and Billy Cobham’s touring bands. As a bandleader, soloist and composer Gary has released over 14 album recordings under his own name.

Jean-Pierre Zanella, a highly sought-after player in Montreal, Canada, earned his master’s degree in jazz from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, in 1982. Recognized by the Brazilian government with the honorific Order of Rio Branco, Zanella won the Oscar Peterson Prize at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal in 2011 for his significant contributions to the Canadian jazz scene. Having released music for 25 years, Antoine Fafard has collaborated with some of the world’s most respected and influential players, including Vinnie Colaiuta, Jerry Goodman, Gavin Harrison, Simon Phillips, and Todd Sucherman. Fafard’s music has consistently earned praise for its intricacy and originality from his peers.

Distributed by Amplified Distribution and Code 7 (UK), Quadra Spherium is now available for exploration and enjoyment since its release in June 2025.

Quadra Spherium
The new album featuring Gary Husband and Jean-Pierre ZanellaI’m glad to announce the upcoming June 13th release of Quadra Spherium, a new album featuring Gary Husband on drums and Jean-Pierre Zanella on saxophone.

This project is the result of bringing together two amazing musicians to perform new, original music that I’ve composed over the years. This album is my second release featuring Gary on drums, following Sphère, which came out nearly 10 years ago. Gary played his parts on his Pearl Crystal Beat kit – a performance that was captured on video and is also available for purchase as a single file. Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre, a longtime contributor to my album projects, is featured throughout Quadra Spherium on tenor saxophone.

The CD version of the album is now available to pre-order on my website, as well as various packages. Orders from my website will be shipped prior to the official release date.

Exclusive to my website is a sheet music book package (CD included). This product features the written parts used by the musicians who performed on the album.

I hope you’ll enjoy this new project and many thanks for your support!

Antoine
Pre-Order Now

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025: Igor Willcox Quartet – Time Traveller

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igor willcox quartet-time traveller

The Brazilian groove-jazz-rock fusion ensemble, Igor Willcox Quartet, returns with a dazzling new album titled Time Traveller. The four travellers embark on a multi-sonic journey through time and sounds, fuelled by dynamic rhythms and vibrant solos. The crew is led by the virtuoso “captain” drummer and composer Igor Willcox, who penned all the tracks on this timeless album.
Willcox’s brings on board his kaleidoscope of rhythms and textures, bursting with energy and charisma throughout the musical expedition. The title track, Time Traveller, features an infectious syncopated groove, with Wagner Barbosa on saxophone and Erik Escobar on Rhodes keyboard exploring uncharted territories of improvisation. Escobar takes the lead in this imaginative journey, paving the way for his fellow musicians to engage in a friendly creative ride.
On Civilization, the quartet delivers an explosive synergy, blending intricate bass lines from expert Ricardinho Paraiso and Willcox’s dynamic drum patterns with soaring synth textures to provide a “spatial” atmosphere. Meanwhile, Zero Gravity highlights the interplay between the bass, drums, and saxophone, creating a sophisticated collaborative foundation grounded in a mysterious like atmosphere.
The album reaches its apex with Out of This World, where Willcox’s drumming erupts with volcanic intensity, skilfully balanced by the collaborative efforts of the bass, piano, and saxophone. Together, the quartet crafts a stunning solid performance.

1.Heroes of Persistence 06:43
2.The Journey 07:15
3.Time Traveller 06:27
4.Red Planet 06:27
5.Unknown Land 01:56
6.Civilization 05:35
7.Zero Gravity 08:24
8.Out of This World 06:24

Released January 6, 2025

Wagner Barbosa – saxophone, aerophone
Erik Escobar – piano, rhodes, synths
Ricardinho Paraiso – electric bass
Igor Willcox – drums, synths, vocals on track 8

All songs composed by Igor Willcox

Mixing & Mastering by Igor Willcox
Cover Design: Igor Willcox

Recorded at Bunker32 Studio, São Paulo, Brazil

Listen and download

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024: PETER XIFARAS: New Album “FUSION”

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PETER XIFARAS “FUSION”
Genre-crossing Peter Xifaras is a musical wizard who is an inventive, guitarist, keyboardist, composer, and recording producer. Fusion features Xifaras’ infectious electronic rhythms, solos from trumpeter Shunzo Ohno and electric violinist Xander Nichting, and ensembles that are funky and catchy.

MUSICIANS:
Peter Xifaras – Guitar & Keys, Shunzo Ohno– Trumpet, Xander Nichting – Violin, Max Gerl – Bass, Scott Jackson – Drums & Percussion,
Czech National Symphony Orchestra

In his career, the innovative Peter Xifaras has consistently created music that has made Billboard’s classical and crossover charts, frequently featuring mixtures of genres including spoken word, symphonic music, and jazz fusion. His latest recording, Fusion, blends together Xifaras’ guitar and electronic keyboards with the great Japanese jazz trumpeter Shunzo Ohno, the versatile violinist Xander Nichting, bassist Max Gerl, and drummer-percussionist Scott Jackson, with contributions from the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

The opener, “Chaos,” has music that is anything but chaotic. The rhythmic vamp sets an ominous atmosphere that is accentuated by Ohno’s wa-wa electrified trumpet which hints at Miles Davis circa 1973. He takes a blazing solo on “Shunzo” over the stirring ensembles and Nichting also has a rewarding
spot. The ensemble-oriented “Wild And Free” finds Xifaras and the rhythm section setting patterns with backing by the Czech National Symphony.

“B Blues” is not actually a blues but a bluesy original with a funky vamp that is one of the release’s highlights, featuring colorful trumpet, violin, guitar and bass solos. “Think Quick” is also particularly memorable including its infectious theme and the melodic solos. “While My Guitar Weeps For Mehdi Rajabian” is a showcase for Xifaras’ guitar. Joined by strings on the medium-tempo dirge, he makes a personal, warm, and emotional statement. This unique outing concludes with more wa-wa trumpet from Ohno on the warm and nostalgic “Till We Meet Again.”

Peter Xifaras has had as wide-ranging a career as his music. He began having guitar lessons when he was nine, played with a rock band as a teenager, and studied classical guitar in college. After graduating, he opened a recording studio and started his record label, Music With No Expiration®. He has since
recorded as the leader of his own symphoneX orchestra®, welcoming guest artists to many of his releases. Xifaras’ music ranges from classical and fusion to cinematic and spoken word with his playing, particularly on guitar, being strikingly original. He is most proud of Children Of Conflict, an award-winning release that focuses on the need for social justice.
Fusion is Peter Xifaras’ latest accomplishment, a continually intriguing and invigorating set that is both creative and quite accessible. For listeners not familiar with his previous work, Fusion serves as the perfect introduction to his innovative music.

Web sites:
http://www.PeterXifaras.com
http://www.Symphony-X.com
http://www.MusicWithNoExpiration.com

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2024

France: Abaji – Nouvel EP Carnet de Voyages Part 1

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Abaji
Nouvel EP Carnet de Voyages Part 1
Sortie digitale le 04/10/2024 chez Absilone
En concert au Pan Piper le dimanche 13/10/2024 à 17h
Musicien, chanteur, compositeur et grand voyageur, Abaji est de retour avec Carnet de Voyages, un EP cinq titres nourri de ses rencontres musicales de par le monde.
Après l’album Blue Shamansorti en 2021, le virtuose et multi-instrumentiste poursuit ses explorations musicales. “J’ai eu la chance et le bonheur de faire le tour du monde grâce à la musique et surtout de rencontrer des musiciens ET des instruments de musique ! Tout au long de ces voyages, je note dans ma mémoire des paysages, des sourires, des larmes et des sons, puis, en studio d’enregistrement, avec tous mes instruments rassemblés, je transforme ces souvenirs en mélodies, en rythmes et en chansons” a-t-il déclaré.
Sur Carnet de Voyages, on distingue un hulusi de Chine, une flûte bansuri d’Inde, une lyra kemence de la Mer Noire, un çura de Turquie, un charango de Bolivie, un bouzouki de Grèce, un oud-guitar de son imagination, des percussions d’un peu partout et la voix enveloppante d’Abaji.
Premier extrait du Carnet de Voyages, Abaji nous emmène au Mali pour Tango In Bamako, un titre qui relie le blues et la musique malienne. 
Auteur/compositeur/multi-instrumentiste/chanteur d’origine arménienne (né au Liban) mais vivant depuis longtemps en France, l’artiste Abaji est en fait un véritable globe-trotter, musicien virtuose, nomade mais aussi polyglotte sachant nous faire voyager à travers sa musique de l’Orient à l’Asie en passant par l’Afrique, l’Amérique et l’Europe.
Ethno-musicologue, spécialiste dans les médecines chinoises et les arts martiaux et humaniste devant l’éternel, Abaji chante en arménien, français, arabe, turc, grec pour honorer ses racines et lancer des passerelles entre les peuples.
Avec son nouvel EP Carnet de Voyages Part 1, Abaji nous entraîne au Mali (Tango In Bamako), en Arménie (Armenian Mountains) où il avait enregistré l’album Route & Roots, puis traverse l’Atlantique pour atteindre le Chili (El Cielo de Atacama). Le voyage se poursuit en Turquie avec Tuurkish Mood, pays qui lui est cher car sa mère est née à Istanbul et son père à Smyrne. Carnet de Voyages se clôt avec Zikrayat qui veut dire souvenirs en arabe, une chanson leitmotiv qui poursuit l’auditeur pendant longtemps.
A son Carnet de Voyages, Abaji a apposé les mots Organic World Music comme pour rappeler qu’à l’heure des réseaux sociaux et de l’IA incontournable, le rôle du musicien dans la société est de partager les émotions non artificielles.
Abaji présentera son Carnet de Voyages le dimanche 13 octobre 2024 à 17h sur la scène du Pan Piper à Paris, et le disque sera disponible dès le 04 octobre sur toutes les plateformes digitales via le label Absilone 

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