Tag Archives: 2014

Tony MacAlpine: Concrete Gardens

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On April 21, 2015, “Sun Dog Records” label released “Concrete Gardens”, the eleventh Tony MacAlpine studio album. It was recorded 2014 – 2015, at Tony MacAlpine home studio in Pasadena, California, and was produced by Tony MacAlpine, and Michael Mesker.

Personnel:

  • Tony MacAlpine– guitar, keyboard, bass
  • Jeff Loomis– guitar solo
  • Aquiles Priester– drums
  • Pete Griffin – bass
  • Lucky Islam – bass
  • Sean Delson – bass
  • Adair Daufembach – mixing
  • Seva David Ball – mastering
  • Michael Mesker – executive production

Track listing:

  1. Exhibitionist Blvd
  2. The King’s Rhapsody
  3. Man in a Metal Cage
  4. Poison Cookies
  5. Epic Napoleon’s Puppet
  6. Sierra Morena
  7. Square Circles
  8. Red Giant
  9. Confession of a Medieval Monument
  10. Concrete Gardens
  11. Maiden’s Wish

Andy Sheppard Quartet: Surrounded by Sea

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On April 17, 2015, “ECM” label released “Surrounded by Sea”, the 13th Andy Sheppard album. It was recorded in August 2014, at “Auditorio Stello Molo RSI” in Lugano, Switzerland, and was produced by Manfred Eicher.

Personnel:

  • Andy Sheppard– tenor and soprano saxophone
  • Eivind Aarset– guitar
  • Michel Benita– double bass
  • Sebastian Rochford– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Andy Sheppard except where noted

  1. Tipping Point – Andy Sheppard, Michel Benita
  2. I Want to Vanish – Elvis Costello
  3. Aoidh, Na Dean Cadal Idir (Part 1) – traditional
  4. Origin of Species
  5. They Aren’t Perfect and Neither Am I – Sebastian Rochford
  6. Medication
  7. Aoidh, Na Dean Cadal Idir (Part 2) – traditional
  8. The Impossibility of Silence
  9. I See Your Eyes Before Me
  10. A Letter – Michel Benita
  11. Aoidh, Na Dean Cadal Idir (Part 3) traditional
  12. Looking for Ornette

Focus: Golden Oldies

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On April 14, 2014, “In And Out Of Focus Records” label released “Golden Oldies” the eleventh Focus studio album. It was recorded in 2014, and was produced by Bobby Jacobs.

Personnel:

  • Thijs van Leer– vocals, Hammond organ, flute, vocoder, non-lexical vocables
  • Menno Gootjes – guitar
  • Bobby Jacobs- bass guitar
  • Pierre van der Linden- drums, percussion
  • Jan Dumée– non-lexical vocables

Tracks listing:

All tracks by Thijs van Leer, except where noted.

  1. Hocus Pocus
  2. Tommy – Tom Barlage, Thijs van Leer
  3. House of the King – Jan Akerman
  4. Focus 1
  5. Sylvia
  6. Focus 3 & 2
  7. Aya – Yuppie – Hippie – Yee – Bobby Jacobs, Thijs van Leer
  8. Neurotica
  9. Brother – Roselie van Leer, Thijs van Leer

Armando Peraza

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On April 14, 2014, Armando Peraza died aged 79. He was musician (percussion, congas, bongos, timbales), recorded and performed with Machito’s Big Band, Charlie Parker, Slim Gaillard, Perez Prado, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Mingus, Dexter Gordon, Tony Martinez, Gato Barbieri, Cal Tjader, George Shearing, Randy Weston, Peggy Lee, Mongo Santamaria, Shelly Manne, Judy Garland, Victor Feldman, Stan Kenton Band, Harvey Mandel and Santana. As leader, Peraza recorded one album.

Mel Parsons: Drylands

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On April 10, 2015, “Cape Road Recordings” label released “Drylands”, the third Mel Parsons album. It was recorded 2014 – 2015, at “Surgery Studios” in Wellington, New Zealand and was produced by Mel Parsons and Gerry Paul.

Personnel:

  • Mel Parsons – vocals, guitar
  • Gerry Paul – acoustic and electric guitar, lap steel guitar, banjo
  • Neil Watson – guitar
  • Aaron Stewart – bass
  • Trevor Hutchinson- double bass
  • Craig Terris – drums
  • Nick George – drums
  • Ed Zuccollo – piano, Hammond organ
  • Vyvienne Long- cello
  • Ron Sexsmith – vocals
  • Andrew Keoghan- vocals
  • Anika Moa- backing vocals
  • Lisa Tomlins – backing vocals
  • Anji Sami – backing vocals
  • Lex French – trumpet
  • Ebony Lamb – choir
  • Anna Shaw – choir
  • Jamie Parlett – choir
  • Cameron “Dusty” Burnell
  • Kim Bonnington – choir
  • Louis Thompson-Munn – choir
  • Imogen Holmstead-Scott – choir
  • Katie McCarthy-Burke – choir
  • Justin Firefly Clarke – choir
  • Manu Scott – choir

 Track listing:

All tracks by Mel Parsons.

  1. Far Away
  2. Alberta Sun
  3. Driving Man
  4. Non Communicado
  5. Don’t Wait
  6. Far North Coast
  7. Good Together
  8. Friend
  9. Get Out Alive
  10. Down So Long
  11. First Sign of Trouble
  12. Fireworks
  13. Another City

Leon Russell: Life Journey

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On April 1, 2014, “Universal Records” label released “Life Journey”, the 37th Leon Russell album. It was recorded 2013 – 2014, at “Capitol Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Personnel:

  • Leon Russell – lead and background vocals, piano, liner notes
  • Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
  • John Clayton- bass, conductor, arranger
  • Dixieland Band
  • William Cantos – background vocals
  • Alvin Chea– background vocals
  • Perry Morgan – background vocals
  • Louis Price– background vocals
  • Graham Dechter – acoustic guitar
  • Robben Ford– guitar
  • Anthony Wilson– guitar
  • Chris Simmons- slide guitar
  • Greg Leisz- pedal steel, pedal steel guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar, soloist
  • Larry Goldings- Hammond B3
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Lee Callet – tenor saxophone
  • Charles Owens – tenor saxophone
  • Rickey Woodard– tenor saxophone
  • Keith Fiddmont – alto saxophone
  • Ira Nepus – trombone
  • Ryan Porter – trombone
  • Maurice Spears – bass trombone
  • Bijon Watson – trumpet
  • Gilbert Castellanos– trumpet
  • Clay Jenkins – trumpet
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet
  • James Ford – trumpet
  • Darrell Leonard- flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Jeff Clayton- clarinet, alto saxophone
  • James Gordon – clarinet
  • Christoph Luty – bass
  • Willie Weeks- bass
  • Jeff Hamilton- drums
  • Abe Laboriel Jr.– drums
  • Elena Barere – concert master
  • Alan Broadbent- string arrangements
  • Jill Dell’Abate – string contractor
  • Elton John- executive producer
  • Shari Sutcliffe – music contractor, production coordination
  • Chandler Harrod – engineer, Pro-Tools
  • Mark Lambert – piano engineer, vocal engineer
  • Elliot Scheiner- string engineer
  • Al Schmitt- engineer, mixing
  • Doug Saks – mastering
  • Ryan Roth – design, photography
  • Mike Diehl – design

Track listing:

  1. Come On in My Kitchen – Robert Johnson
  2. Big Lips – Leon Russell
  3. Georgia on My Mind- Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell
  4. That Lucky Old Sun- Haven Gillespie, Beasley Smith 4:09
  5. Fever- Eddie Cooley, John Davenport
  6. Think of Me – Mike Reid
  7. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)- Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  8. The Masquerade Is Over – Herb Magidson, Allie Wrubel
  9. I Really Miss You – Paul Anka
  10. New York State of Mind- Billy Joel
  11. Fool’s Paradise -Johnny Fuller, Bob Geddins, Dr. David Rosenbaum
  12. Down in Dixieland – Leon Russell

Glass Hammer: The Breaking of the World

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On March 31, 2015, “Arion Records/Audio Resources” labels released “The Breaking of the World”, the fifteenth Glass Hammer studio album. It was recorded in 2014, at “Sound Resources” in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was produced by Fred Schendel and Steve Babb.

Personnel:

  • Carl Groves – lead vocals
  • Susie Bogdanowicz – lead and backing vocals
  • Fred Schendel – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, guitars
  • Alan Shikoh – acoustic, classical and electric guitars
  • Steve Babb – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Aaron Raulston – drums
  • Steve Unruh – violin
  • Michele Lynn – lead and backing vocals
  • Bob Katz- mastering
  • Michal Xaay Loranc – cover and booklet art

Track listing:

  1. Mythopoeia – lyrics by Steve Babb, music by Steve Babb, Alan Shikoh
  2. Third Floor (A Play in One Act) – lyrics by Fred Schendel, music by Alan Shikoh, Fred Schendel
  3. Babylon – lyrics by Fred Schendel, music by Steve Babb
  4. A Bird When it Sneezes – music by Alan Shikoh
  5. Sand – Fred Schendel
  6. Bandwagon – lyrics by Carl Groves, music by Fred Schendel, Carl Groves
  7. Haunted – lyrics by Carl Groves, music by Fred Schendel, Susie Bogdanowicz, Michele Lynn
  8. North Wind – lyrics by Steve Babb, music by Alan Shikoh, Carl Groves
  9. Nothing, Everything – lyrics by Steve Babb, ,music by Steve Babb, Carl Groves

Soul Asylum: Change of Fortune

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On March 18, 2016, “Entertainment One” label released “Change of Fortune”, the eleventh Soul Asylum album. It was recorded in 2014, and was produced by John Fields, Dave Pirner, Justin Sharbono, Winston Roye and Michael Bland.

Personnel:

  • Dave Pirner– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Justin Sharbono – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Winston Roye – bass
  • Michael Bland– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Pirner.

  1. Supersonic
  2. Can’t Help It
  3. Doomsday
  4. Ladies Man
  5. Moonshine
  6. Make it Real
  7. When I See You
  8. Dealing
  9. Don’t Bother Me
  10. Morgan’s Dog
  11. Change of Fortune
  12. Cool

The Shins: Heartworms

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On March 10, 2017, “Columbia” label released “Heartworms”, the fifth Shins (The) studio album. It was recorded 2014 – 2016, and was produced by James Mercer and Richard Swift.

  1. James Mercer – voices, guitar, bass, chord organ, harmonica, synthesizer, ukulele, percussion
  2. Mark Watrous – guitar, piano, castanets, kalimba, strings, synthesizer bass
  3. Chris Funk – guitar, dulcimer
  4. Yuuki Matthews – bass, synthesizer, drums, percussion, mixing
  5. Richard Swift – drums, percussion, mellotron, synthesizer
  6. Joe Plummer – drums, engineer
  7. Jon Sortland – drums
  8. Brian Lucey – mastering
  9. Steve Drizos – percussion
  10. Jacob Escobedo – artwork, design

Track listing:

All tracks by James Mercer.

  1. Name for You
  2. Painting a Hole
  3. Cherry Hearts
  4. Fantasy Island
  5. Mildenhall
  6. Rubber Ballz
  7. Half a Million
  8. Dead Alive
  9. Heartworms
  10. So Now What
  11. The Fear

Joan As Police Woman: The Classic

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On March 10, 2014, “PIAS” label released “The Classic”, the fifth Joan As Police Woman (Joan Wasser) studio album. It was recorded in 2013, at “Ground Control Studios”, “Maid’s Room Studios”, “Trout Recording” and “Vibromonk”, and was produced by Joan Wasser and Tyler Wood.

Personnel:

  • Joan Wasser– vocals, guitar, strings, clavinet, electric piano
  • Oren Bloedow – guitar
  • Tyler Wood – bass guitar, electronic organ, trumpet, piano, synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals
  • Parker Kindred – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Doug Wieselman – baritone and tenor saxophone
  • Briggan Krauss – alto and baritone saxophone
  • Steven Bernstein – trumpet, French horn
  • Joseph Arthur, Nathan Larson, Michelle Zayla, Stephanie McKay, Toshi Reagon – backing vocals
  • Reggie Watts– outro on “Holy City”, human beatbox
  • Tyler Wood  – engineer, mixing
  • Murray Trider  – engineer
  • Jack McKeever & TJ Doherty  – engineer
  • Adam Sachs  – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Shatzky  – engineer
  • Lance Scott Walker – design
  • Stephanie Sidjakov – design, photography
  • Dan Monick – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Joan Wasser.

  1. Witness
  2. Holy City
  3. The Classic
  4. Good Together
  5. Get Direct
  6. What Would You Do
  7. New Year’s Day
  8. Shame
  9. Stay
  10. Ask Me