NICOLA CONTE’s new album „LOVE & REVOLUTION“ -> Simple a „must have“ for every Jazz music lover!

Nicola Conte’s newest release, Love & Revolution represents a bold new chapter in his long-term career – quite possibly his most collaborative record to date, and easily his most righteous as well! Different from his previous releases, Love & Revolution is being released by Impulse Records, which in essence is perfect when you consider that this album is infused with a sense of spiritual jazz. This is actually the perfect vibe, especially in how Nicola Conte links together the best 60’s and 70’s aspects of the labels aesthetic. An international all-star cast collaborats on this project, like the vocalists Nailah Porter, Jose James, Bridgette Amofah, Gregory Porter, Alice Ricciardi and Melanie Charles –  plus Till Bronner, Fabrizio Bosso, and Flavio Boltro on trumpet; Magnus Lindgren and Tim Warfield on tenor; as well as Timo Lassey on flute and baritone. Other musicians include Gaetano Partipilo, Pietro Lussu, Paolo Benedettini, Teppo Makynen and Pierpaolo Bisogno.

„Love & Revolution“  contains the benefits of beautiful arrangements from Magnum Lindgren in an album where the human voice is the protagonist, while blending seamlessly with a sound carpet (if you will) of extraordinary effectiveness. It is within this context that Nicola Conte assembled these extraordinary musicians for a live recording – reserving only a few additions during post production. Absolutely amazing and wonderful to listen to –  simple a „must have“ for every Jazz music lover!

                                                                                                                                                            Pre-listen & purchase the album here!

Tracklist: 1.  Do You Feel Like I Feel – 2. Love from the Sun – 3. Here  – 4. Black Spirits – 5. Mystery of You – 6. Shiva – 7. Ghana – 8.  Quiet Dawn – 9.  Scarborough Fair – 10. Love and Revolution – 11 . Bantu – 12. All Praises to Allah – 13.  Ra in Egypt – 14 . Temple of Far East – 15.  I’m the Air

 Release date: 27th of May 2011 | Label: Impulse!

Love & Revolution 2-CD Bonus

In addition, there is also available a 2-CD version of Love & Revolution, with 6 more cuts that include “Forest Flower”, “Freedom Day”, “The Black Apostles” and “Autumn In Our Town“.

„Love & Revolution“ – World Tour

In support of Love & Revolution, the mastermind launched a world tour with the same impressing, alternate  band lineup of Nicola Conte  Jazz Combo. The first concert was held at the Teatro Piccini in Bari on the 21th of May 2011,  followed by several live performances in all Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, United Kingdom. Much more upcoming showplaces are on the tour schedule, check all dates at www.nicolaconte.it and make sure to catch them live on stage somewhere nearby!

View a brief glimpse to the superb live performance of  „Love & Revolution“, recorded at the E.ON Jazz Night in the Design Factory / Bratislava on June 3, 2011 on YOUTUBE!

BEBO BEST & THE SUPER LOUNGE ORCHESTRA – “Saronno on the Rocks” (Release on the 18th of March 2011|Chin Chin Rec.)

It has taken some time until Lady Smiles finally has got an album to review again, which all trough found her biggest attention straight away as a fix place in her recent radio shows and of course in her dj-case too! Talking about “Saronno on the Rocks” – Bebo’s 3rd winner from Chin Chin Records!

Press release: After the huge success of their first 2 albums “Sitar and Bossa”, and “D’Jazzonga” Bebo is back with his finest yet! With the spirit of whatever “Nu Jazz” might be, with a way-cool cinematic bossa novajazz groove that could pass for a genuine late-’60s or early-’70s soundtrack recording, garnished with early 21st century electronic touches. Bebo blends elements of dance music, jazz, trip-hop, swing and downtempo into one delicious, happy cocktail and suggests the exuberant insouciance of parties, rides in convertibles on warm, full-moon nights, and an afternoon spent dancing barefoot with friends with a glass of sangria in your hand.

Track listing:
01 SARONNO ON THE ROCKS
02 HAVANA JAZZ DANCE
03 MAMBO & COLA
04 SING SING SING feat. Al Cafone
05 JAMES BOND THEME
06 JAZZ OR NU JAZZ
07 THAT’S THE WAY I LIKE IT feat. Luma
08 NOW AND EVER feat. Iain Mackenzie
09 CHILL RADIO BOSSA
10 THE SUN IS SHININ’
11 JAZZ CARNIVAL
12 DAIKIRI BOSSA DANCE
13 SING SING SING (Koko Chanel remix)

Lady Smiles album quotation: “Saronno On The Rocks” kicks much more, than any strong drink could ever do! Bebo’s uniqe, uplifting recipe of using ingredients from all over the world by mixing charming Bossa, finest Nu-Jazz, happy Grooves and diverting Swing, unconditionally guarantees a distinctive and irresistible sound, which always cast a spell on the listener! Warning: “You become totally hooked on it!” 

www.bebobestmusic.com

THE NEW EXCELLENT PICASSO’ STYLE ANIMATED VIDEO for Bebo Best & Super Lounge Orchestra

YouTube watch

Lady Smiles presents Bebo Best and his highly recommended new album in her monthly music magazine at Radio Orange/Vienna

Re-listen to this broadcast from 28th of Feb. 2011 in the archive!

“Bossa Nova Just Smells Funky” – The new BAHAMA SOUL CLUB album finally OUT NOW!

“ I first heard this outfit when they had just started posting music on their myspace page, since then I have been a massive fan!
But then again, the main man behind The Bahamas, Oliver Belz, has a very fine pedigree having been one of the prime movers behind the wonderful JuJu Orchestra. His debut album as The Bahama Soul Club, “Rhythm Is What Makes Jazz Jazz” was hardly ever off the show, and was one of my albums of the year in 2008.
But the big question is after making such a mark on his debut, can he deliver on that diffcult second album.

All the signs are there as he has retained some of the vocalists from the previous album such as Berlin resident Pat Appleton and Bella Wagner from just over the border in Austria, and to augment that very solid base he has also drafted in the combined talents of two of the finest vocalists in the UK, Xantoné Blacq, and one of my personal favourites John Turrell who was recently voted on my show as lead male vocalist for the UK Fantasy Funk Band.
From the start, this album slips into gear with the superb jazz cut that is “King’s Wig” to the last knockout punch of the dancefoor monster “Nassau Jam” I can tell that Oliver has lost none of that Midas touch. There is something quite unique and mesmerising about the sound of The Bahama Soul Club, it is a gumbo in the best sense of the word, throwing in Bossa, Soul, Afro-Latin, and Jazz all into the pot and coming up with a sound that is both immediate, timeless, and above all has the sun shining through every single tune.
The question I asked earlier was, does he deliver on the difficult second album and the answer has to be a resounding “YES!”
Make a friend of this album as, believe me, it will be friend for life, it is that good! “ (Review by Craig Charles, BBC 6Music)

-> Listen to some BAHAMA SOUL CLUB sounds at my.space <-

Release date: 13-08-2010 / Buyú Records

Compilation “Club Cookies” compiled by Lady Smiles – for extra power in life!

After having served the smooth grooving “Bar Bubbles” cocktail successfully, beat-fanatic Viennese Djane Lady Smiles presents her new recipe, the “Club Cookies”, to shake things up straight away! Club Cookies proves with twelve different, powerful ingredients that there are also “delicacies” besides the charts which spice up the monotonous life with extra energy to drive your days and nights. This special “Cookie Box” offers six “titbits” – prime released by Holophon – and six further irresistible beat seductions.

Feat. discerning House music discoveries from Italy’s newcomers Who Is Back, Andrea Barone, Mesa Verde and WKCollective, such as from the long time producers Phonic Lab and Fromwood. The killer versions from Austria’s top-acts Parov Stelar and Stefan Obermaier definitely would even grab the most motionless feet onto the dance floor, which remains boiling hot with the kick-ass coups from Germany’s club league Denace 2 Society, Aaron Bingle and Riccicomoto, followed by the spicy Spanish “Cookie” contributed by Pepe Link remixed by DJ Fudge – Rel: 19th of Feb. 2010 by Holophon Rec. – PLAY IT LOUD!

Listen & watch a short album mix down at: www.YOUTUBE.com/watch?v=YxA9Ntg0nEk

Than deep groove diggers in Austria, Germany, Swiss, Italy, Greece & Benelux buy the CD in all good record stores

World wide you can purchase the CD  at e.g.:

Dailyrecords.at

Amazon.de

Digital release available at  e.g.:

iTunes.apple.com
Junodownload.com

as at the most relevant download stores!

New TAPE FIVE album “Tonight Josephine” out now!

Rel. on  25-01-2010 by ChinChin Records

And the film goes on!
“Tonight Josephine”, the 3rd album from TAPE FIVE (the multi-international project based around songwriter/producer Martin Strathausen) is another perfect Retro-Homage to various facets from the 20th Century bar-music, conversations of clarinet and trumpet inspired by Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa, Josephine Baker and Benny Goodman.

The first half of the album is deeply inspired by the Golden Twenties. High calibre and style, like a black-and-white classic film, but coloured and varied like today’s block-busters. The second half of the album leads further back into the present, bringing some jazzy relaxed sounds. Fourteen amazing new songs interpreted in the old styles by the well known, distinctive top-vocalist Brenda Boykin,  London’s “fine up-and-coming jazz singer” Iain Mackenzie as “Bad Boy Good Man” Henrik Wagner and sweet voice Yuliet Topaz.

Driving Electro-Swing action with “Oscar feeling” indeed – go out and grap it in your favourit record & download store! More infos: www.tapefive.com

Eagerly awaited: MARIO BIONDI – “IF” out now!

Italians most charismatic singer Mario Biondi, one who pours all of himself into the music, finaly is back with his eagerly awaited new album “If”, after selling 300.000 copies and winning three times platinum with his previous two albums. The title is significant, it tells the black voice in Italian music, “why is a much tied to the ‘if’ that he might not ever see the light – if I had not made certain choices – if I had not met certain people – or if  I was really at stake. ‘If’ contains a commitment because of Biondi at 360 degrees, both in arrangements and in the writing of songs, a “step forward” in his career, which saw the light after two months and a half of registrations between Rome and Rio de Janeiro “thanks to the collaboration of many musicians friends.” While continuing to sing mostly in English, Biondi said they feel very nationalistic, “I have always said that the songs could not work in English – he explains – and yet I wonder why we Italians can not try to open ourselves to a serious international market” . Often dominates “the fear of putting at stake – continues the singer – but also the public that we pull tomatoes is part of our job.” A witness to the expectation created around the soul-jazz of Biondi – launched to the general public in 2004 by the single ‘This is what you are’ – are the 70.000 copies of ‘If’ already sold in advance that, even before leaving, apply to have another platinum. The album contains 11 new and 3 cover versions, “songs that I chose for affection and feedback with my plays.” Among the originals, the first single ‘Be Lonely’, a ‘real-life stories that teach not want anyone at all costs “and even a song written for Biondi by Burt Bacharach. “I am thrilled to be considered by people as important – says the singer – and I find it essential to deal with others!”

If  you await a song continuation of his album “Handful of Soul” you’ll be suprised – “If” left complitly the tipical style of  his previous Label Schema Rec. and is based far more in the real magnificent Bar Jazz field – highly recommended for adult, sensetive listeners!

available as CD + LP – rel. by Tattica S.R.L. on the 6^th of Nov. 2009

Listen to “I know it’s over” on YouTube

Track listing

1. Serenity (original titel “Sudden Senility” from H. Geller)

2. Something That Was Beautiful (written for Mario Biondi by Burt Bacharach)

3. Be Lonely

4. Love Dreamer

5. Blackshop

6. If

7. I Wanna Make It

8. No Mo’ Trouble

9. Ecstasy

10. I Know It’s Over (english cover vers.  “E Se Domani” from Carlo Alberto Rossi)

11. Winter In America (cover vers. from  Gil Scott Heron)

12. Everlasting Harmony

13. Cry Anymore

14. Little B’s Poem (coververs. from R. Hutcherson)

15. Bon De Doer

Compilation “BAR BUBBLES” – A Premium Cocktail for musical gourmets

“Bar Bubbles” is named this release of the German-Austrian Label Holophon , compiled by DJane Lady Smiles (rel. date: 1st of Oct. 2009). At last the Viennese bar music expert serves her interpretation of a seductive cocktail made of finest grooves and rare tunes beyond the mainstream. In contradiction to countless lounge releases within the last years Bar Bubbles is finally a compilation with lots of new, as well as until today mostly unreleased essences.

Regarding the track list Lady Smiles looked for new songs by well known and also less familiar artists as she tried to produce an international flair, using ingredients from all over the world by mixing Bossa, Funk, Nu Jazz, Headz and Grooves.

A look into the “menu” affirms it: Slade goes Swing – the finest element of this Premium Cocktail is the swinging version of Slade`s 70s-hymn “Far Far Away”, a Tape Five production interpreted by the Californian top-vocalist Brenda Boykin. Neither non-released until today was also the outro track “Bar Fly” by Lop.Nor, nor was the prime release of Monitor’s “PS” in a Papercut remix just as WKCollective, Riccicomoto and Pierce Vaughan. Furthermore first time on physical sound carrier a “dash of remix” – such as “Checkmate” in the price winning Mesa Verde resign mix. But also a splendid shot of Bossa and Tango donated by Brother Groove, Una Mas Trio, Glam Sam & His Combo, Alacran, Afternoons In Stereo and Spacestar cares for the varied sound flow. This perfect mix is decorated with a pinch of “airy sound” from The Bahama Soul Club, who asks right at the start the entitled question: “why don´t you come down and join us”? And not only for a trip into your favourite bar to enjoy a “Sunny Hipster” – Cocktail, which was specially created for the displayed compilation, but also to glide through the night “smoothly”, delighted by fourteen sparkling Bar Bubbles!

CD available at all good records in AT / G + CH

or world wide via eg. www.amazon.de

Digital release available at all relevant downoad stores, eg. : iTunes, Junodownload, etc.

Listen & watch a short album mix down at: www.YOUTUBE.com/watch?v=9eLndHLVvt8

dig & purchase!

CD recommendation – NICOLA CONTE

THE  sophisticated example for the art of Nu-Jazz!

Lets talk about “Rituals” from Nicola Conte, which is released on 17. 10.2008  by Schema / UMG

The italian artist, guitar player, song writer, Dj, remixer and producer, Nicola Conte has so many different talents, but most of – all again and again – he show his love for modern Jazz, Bossa Nova and the italien movie music from the 50ties and 60ties in all his compositions. Not to forget his influence by latin styles, african spirit and asian vibes. He found the perfect way to combinate all this ascendancies with modern Grooves, like Triphop and Downbeat.

On “Rituals” only the most excellent artists performs the music, like e.g. Till Brönner, Greg Osby, Chiara Civello, Kim Sanders, Gianluca Petrella. Except two tracks, Nicola Conte himself wrote the songs and with his jazzy guitar playing, he contribute to the perfect colored soundscape!

Playlist:

1. Karma Flower

2. Nubian Queens

3. Like Leaves in the Wind

4. Love In

5. Awakening

6. Paper Clouds

7. I See All Shades of You

8. Song for the Seasons

9. Red Sun

10. Black Is the Graceful Veil

11. Caravan

12. Rituals

Check it out at www.myspace.com/nicolacontetheofficialspace or go and buy the CD directly at your favourit record store!