Concord Jazz Classics from Ella/Oscar, Monk, Tjader/Getz and Blakey Coming March 15

Concord Music Group continues its Original Jazz Classics Remasters series with the reissue of four new titles on March 15, 2011:  Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers - Ugetsu; Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson - Ella and Oscar; Thelonious Monk - Monk’s Music;

and Cal Tjader / Stan Getz - Sextet.

Originally launched in March 2010, and enhanced by 24-bit remastering by Joe Tarantino, the series showcases some of the most pivotal recordings of the past several decades the most influential and creative artists in jazz history

Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers' Ugetsu was recorded live at Birdland in New York City in June 1963 for Riverside. The set features trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, trombonist Curtis Fuller, pianist Cedar Walton and bassist Reggie Workman.  The CD ends with four bonus tracks, including a previously unreleased cover of George Shearing’s 1949 bop classic, "Conception."
The delightful Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson collaboration,  Ella and Oscar was recorded in May 1975 for Pablo and produced by jazz impresario Norman Granz, who’d founded the label just a couple years earlier. The album is a series of duets that also features bassist Ray Brown on four of the original nine tracks. Brown also appears on two of the four previously unreleased bonus tracks included in the reissue.
Thelonious Monk's Monk’s Music was recorded in New York in June 1957 for Riverside, with musicians that include trumpeter Ray Copeland, alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce, tenor saxophonists John Coltrane and Coleman Hawkins, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Art Blakey. Downbeat named the record one of the top five albums of 1958.
Cal Tjader/ Stan Getz Sextet was recorded for Fantasy at the Marines Memorial Auditorium in San Francisco in February 1958. Bandleaders Tjader and Getz are backed by pianist Vince Guaraldi, guitarist Eddie Duran, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Billy Higgins. There no bonus tracks because no alternate takes or outtakes have been found in the Fantasy/Concord vaults.

X Japan Signs with EMI in North America, Album due in Summer

X Japan, considered the most the most successful rock band in Japanese history, has signed an exclusive three-year manufacturing and distribution agreement with EMI Label Services to handle the band's releases in North America.  

The first release will be the track "Jade" on March 15, followed by the band's as yet untitled American debut set for a late Summer 2011 release.
X Japan is band leader/producer/songwriter/drums and pianist Yoshiki, vocalist  Toshi, guitarist Pata, Sugizo on guitar and violin, and bassist Heath. The group is in the studio finishing up the album, the band's first new studio album since 1996 and fifth overall.  Half of the songs will be drawn from some of the band's Gold and Platinum Japanese singles; the other half are brand-new songs, and an estimated 95% of the lyrics are being sung in English.

"Some of the songs on this new album were originally written with Japanese lyrics," Yoshiki said. "So translating them into English has been challenging.  For some reason, English needs more words, so I ended up re-writing many of the lyrics but kept the same message."
Most of the album has been recorded in Los Angeles at Yoshiki's own studio.  It's the same studio where Metallica recorded its classic "Black" album, and artists from Van Halen to Michael Jackson to KISS also recorded in the facility before Yoshiki bought it and turned it into a private studio.  Yoshiki, who lives in Los Angeles, traveled to Japan a handful of times to record with the rest of the band there.  In addition, some of the album has been recorded live over the Internet, with Yoshiki in L.A. and the band's other members at their studio in Japan.
"X Japan's music is everything from fast, super-heavy rock to ballads with classical piano - all of those elements are what makes X Japan's music," he said.   "We don't play just one kind of music - we want to take people on a journey."
The X Japan-EMI agreement follows the band's U.S. concert debut last August at Lollapalooza, and first-ever North American tour that wrapped up on October 10 with a sold out show at New York's Roseland Ballroom.  Many of the new album's tracks were introduced to western fans when they were performed on the tour, including "Rusty Nail," "Kurenai," "I.V.," "Born To Be Free," "Endless Rain," and the album's first single, "Jade."
In Japan, X Japan has sold more than 30-million units and filled the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record-setting 18 times. 
Check out song teasers from the new album at www.xjapanmusic.com.

Drive-By Truckers Return Feb. 15 with new album, 'Go-Go Boots' and Documentary on DVD

One of America's best band, Drive-By Truckers will release their elventh record, Go-Go Boots, February 15 on ATO Records.  The album was produced by their longtime producer, David Barbe (Deerhunter, Bettye LaVette, Sugar). The band will also release their documentary The Secret to a Happy Ending on DVD. 


Go-Go Boots will be issued on CD, in a Deluxe Edition and and viny as well as digital availability. The albu draws on the the band's country and soul roots and is a contrast to their more boisterous previous release.
"We recorded nearly 40 songs last year and into this year and fairly early on divided it into two separate albums," said DBT co-founder Patterson Hood. "The Big To-Do, released first, was the more straight forward 'Rock' album. Go-Go Boots is what I sometimes - semi-jokingly - refer to as our country, soul, and murder ballad album. Those elements definitely play into it, but it's a little more open ended than that."
The Secret to a Happy Ending is a chronicle of the band, which grew up with Southern Rock and also the soul music made in Muscle Shoals, Alabama by black and white musicians while the civil rights movement was in full throttle.  It’s also about leaving home. taking a punk tact to making a new kind of Southern rock, literate and meaningful, while also embracing musicianship and songcraft. FilmBuff will be releasing the movie on iTunes and across other digital platforms.

Drive-By Truckers; Photo by Danny Clinch

Additionally, DBT will show their appreciation for vinyl and independent record stores by releasing a special 10” 45 with “Thanksgiving Filter” and “Used To Be A Cop” on Record Store Day, November 26th. Both songs will be on Go-Go Boots and the release will be a limited pressing of only 2,500 copies and will feature a special sleeve designed by Wes Freed as well as a download card.
The band also will be releasing a series of Go-Go Boots "episodes" directed by Patterson Hood and Jason Thrasher.  As a preview, “Used To Be a Cop” can be viewed here,
The Drive-By Truckers are Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Shonna Tucker, Brad Morgan, John Neff and Jay Gonzalez.

Go-Go Boots track listing:

1. I Do Believe
2. Go-Go Boots
3. Dancin’ Ricky
4. Cartoon Gold
5. Ray’s Automatic Weapon
6. Everybody Needs Love
7. Assholes
8. The Weakest Man
9. Used To Be A Cop
10. The Fireplace Poker
11. Where’s Eddie
12. The Thanksgiving Filter
13. Pulaski
14. Mercy Buckets

For the band's upcoming tour dates, visit the DBT shows page.

http://www.drivebytruckers.com/

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Announce Spring Tour; Album 'Here We Rest' Due April 12

Singer-guitarist Jason Isbell and his band 400 Unit have announced dates for their 2011 Spring Tour in support of their upcoming new album Here We Rest, set for release on April 12 on Lightning Rod Records. The U.S. trek will run March 12 through April 23 including a performance at South By Southwest in Austin, TX on March 17th.

Here We Rest is the second studio album from the band and Isbell’s third. The group's 2009 self-titled debut received much acclaim. The band also released Live at Twist and Shout in 2008.
An Alabama native Isbell previously played with the Drive-By Truckers. 400 Unit  features keyboardist Derry deBorja, guitarist Browan Lollar, drummer Chad Gamble and bassist Jimbo Hart.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit 2011 Spring Tour Dates

March 12 – Destin, FL – Harbor Docks
March 15 – Baton Rouge, LA – Manship Theater Studio
March 17 – Austin, TX - SXSW
March 18 – San Antonio, TX – Sam’s Burger Joint
March 19 – Alexandria, LA – Spirits Food & Friends
April 8 – Florence, AL – Shoals Theater
April 9 – Birmingham, AL – Zydeco
*April 13 – Greeneville, SC – The Handlebar
April 14 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
*April 15 – Louisville, KY – Headliners
*April 19 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theater
*April 20 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
*April 21 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
*April 22 – New York City, NY – Bowery Ballroom
*April 23 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

* Co-headlining bill with Hayes Carll

http://www.jasonisbell.com

Band of Heathens Return with New Album 'Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster’s Son' March 29.

Austin's fine Band of Heathens return March 29 with its third studio album and fifth release overall, Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster’s Son, Produced by George Reiff (Chris Robinson, Courtyard Hounds, Ray Wylie Hubbard), the new release follows an Austin City Limits (PBS) appearance, festival performances and #1 Americana record,  The band returns to the road in March through April.

Heathens Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist and Colin Brooks formed the band in 2006 after each songwriter had established residency gigs on the same night of the week at Momo’s, a club on Austin’s famous Sixth Street. Bassist Seth Whitney came on board immediately, followed drummer John Chipman in 2007 as the band began to spend more time on the road.
The group's debut Band of Heathens was release in 2008, followed by One Foot in the Ether toward the end of 2009. Both hit the top of the Americana chart and stayed there for months. The Heathens were honored as Best New Band at the Austin Music Awards and nominated as Best Duo or Group by the Americana Music Awards. The band also issued the great concert set Live at Antone's in 2008 as a CD/DVD.

Band of Heathens Tour Dates:

Thurs., March 3  ANN ARBOR, MI
Fri., March 4  CHAMPAIGN, IL
Sat., March 5  ST LOUIS, MO
Fri., March  11  SAN ANTONIO, TX
Sat., March 12  DALLAS, TX  
Tues., March 15  AUSTIN, TX (SXSW)
Sat., March 19  HOUSTON, TX
Tues., March 29   DENVER, CO
Wed., March 30   ASPEN, CO
Thurs., March 31   PARK CITY, UT
Fri., April 1  BOISE, ID
Sat., April 9  SANTA CRUZ, CA
Sun., April 10  SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Mon., April 11  FOLSOM, CA
Tues., April 12   BAKERSFIELD, CA
Wed., April 13   LOS ANGELES, CA
Thurs., April 14  PHOENIX, AZ
Sun., April 17  DRIFTWOOD, TX

Strokes New Album 'Angles' Due March 22

The Strokes will release date their fourth album, Angles, March 22 on RCA records in the US, and March 21 in the UK on Rough Trade Records. A new single, "Under Cover of Darkness," will hit radio in February. The band will soon announce a U.S. tour and is already set to play Coachella 2011, second-billed after Kayne West on Sunday night.

Angles is the band's first new release since 2006's First Impressions of Earth, which followed 2003's Room on Fire and the band's 2001 debut Is This It. 
In 2010, Strokes returned to the road, playing major festivals in the United States and UK, including the Isle of Wight Festival, Lollapalooza, Hurricane Festival, Splendour In The Grass, Rockness, Outside Lands, and Austin City Limits.

Angles track listing:
1. Machu Picchu

2. Under Cover of Darkness

3. Two Kinds of Happiness

4. You're So Right
5. Taken For A Fool

6. Games
7. Call Me Back
8. Gratisfaction 

9. Metabolism
10. Life Is Simple In The Moonlight

Billy Joel Live At Shea Stadium Due on CD/DVD/Blu-ray March 8

Legacy Recordings will release  Billy Joel - Live at Shea Stadium, Tuesday, March 8, a full-length music film of  Joel's historic shows in July 2008 which were the last-ever concerts at the venue.

Billy Joel - Live At Shea Stadium will be available in a 2- CD/DVD set as well as a stand-alone DVD and stand-alone Blu-ray Disc. A full-concert companion to the acclaimed Lionsgate documentary The Last Play At Shea, Live At Shea features more than two hours of Joel and his band playing a set not just loaded with hits, but rarities, deep catalog, personal favorites and crowd-pleasing surprises including duets with guest artists Paul McCartney ("I Saw Her Standing There," "Let It Be"), Tony Bennett ("New York State of Mind"), Garth Brooks ("Shameless") and John Mayer ("This Is The Time") along with exclusive DVD/Blu-ray bonus performances with Steven Tyler ("Walk This Way"), Roger Daltrey ("My Generation") and John Mellencamp ("Pink Houses").
Built in 1964, Shea Stadium was the home of the New York Mets for 45 years. Designed as a multi-purpose stadium, Shea became the birthplace of stadium rock when the Beatles appeared there August 15, 1965, as the ballpark also became a venue for rock's biggest names, including The Who, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, The Police and many more.
 Joel staged his "Last Play At Shea" concerts on July 16 and July 18, 2008, playing for a combined audience of 110,000 fans.  After 45 years, two New York Mets World Series victories, the arena debut of The Beatles and finally, Billy Joel's "The Last Play At Shea," the last section of Shea Stadium was torn down in 2009.
A broadcast edition of Billy Joel - Live At Shea Stadium will premiere on PBS Great Performances in March. Check your local listings.


Billy Joel - Live At Shea Stadium:

1. Prelude/Angry Young Man
2. My Life
3. Summer, Highland Falls
4. Everybody Loves You Now
5. Zanzibar
6. New York State Of Mind (with Tony Bennett)
7. Allentown
8. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
9. She's Always A Woman
10. Goodnight Saigon
11. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
12. Shameless (with Garth Brooks)
13. This Is The Time (with John Mayer)
14. Keeping The Faith
15. Captain Jack
16. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
17. The River Of Dreams/A Hard Day's Night
18. We Didn't Start The Fire
19. You May Be Right
20. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
21. Only The Good Die Young
22. I Saw Her Standing There (with Paul McCartney)
23. Take Me Out To The Ballgame
24. Piano Man
25. Let It Be (with Paul McCartney)

DVD/Blu-ray Bonus Peformances: 

Walk This Way (with Steven Tyler)
My Generation (with Roger Daltrey)
Pink Houses (with John Mellencamp)