ACMJ International Blog

Michael Franks new album "Time Together" soon available

Michael Franks new album "Time Together" will be released soon. Here is taken from Michael's official website;

May 5, 2011 Hi Everyone,I'm in the studio as I write this, putting the finishing touches on "Time Together". On this project, I've had the pleasure of reconnecting with many old friends: Chuck Loeb, Gil Goldstein, Mark Egan, Charles Blenzig, Scott Petito, Veronica Nunn, Billy Kilson, Mike Manieri, David Spinozza, Romero Lubambo, Till Brönner and Eric Marienthal to name a few. It's been a wonderful 6 months and I can't wait for you to hear it all. More later. As always, Wishing you Peace, Health and Happiness, Michael "Time Together" should be available within a few weeks. The CD will be available online from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, and in local record stores, with digital downloads from most major services including iTunes.

(via www.michaelfranks.com)

 

Greg Mathieson Project / Baked Potato Super Live!

"The Baked Potato Super Live!" Vinyl was released only in Japan in 1982 and was reissued twice on CD. 1999 remastered reissued version was one of the miracles done by Cool Sound, but due to the copyright issue, 1999 version could not use the original album artworks. This album should be well-known treasure because this live materials recorded  at the famous "The Baked Potato" in Los Angeles on December 13, 14, 15, 1981 revealed how great Jeff drummer Porcaro was. Another important information I should add is that there were mistakes of tracklisting info of its original vinyl release; Track 3 was not "Go" but "First Time Around" and track 4 was not "First Time Around" but "Goe" (not "Go"), which are confirmed by Greg Mathieson at the time of 1999 reissue. Now in 2011, Cool Sound will re-release this masterpiece 2011 remastered edition with the original artworks LP style paper sleeve! This must be added to your collection if you are real Jeff Porcaro Fan. For your information, Tower Record Japan will distribute this CD from 25th April, a little bit earlier than other retailers.

• Label: Cool Sound Inc, Japan (COOL-130) (Original Label: CBS Sony, Japan)
• Release Date: May 11, 2011 (Original Release: 1982)
  
• Producers: Greg Mathieson, Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro, Robert "Pops" Popwell and Jay Graydon
• Greg Mathieson Project:
• Greg Mathieson: Keyboards
• Steve Lukather: Guitars
  
• Drums: Jeff Porcaro
  
• Bass: Robert "Pops" Popwell
• Recording Engineer: Jay Graydon
• Mixing Engineers: Steve Lukather and David Leonard (Mixed at Sunset Studio Sound, January 25, 30, 1982)
  
• Tracks:
  1. Bomp Me
  2. Thank You
  3. First Time Around
  4. Goe
  5. I Don't Know
  6. I'm Home
  7. The Spud Shuffle

The Bossa Nova Hotel Japan Tour in July

Cotton Club, one of the finest club in Tokyo, will proudly present you the hot shows in July. THE BOSSA NOVA HOTEL featuring MICHAEL SEMBELLO JANEY CLEWER and BRUCE GAITSCH will firstly perform live in front of Japanese audience! You can reserve your seats from 24th April.  

The Bossa Nova Hotel have created a new concept in music; blending the timelessness of classic love songs with the Brazilian bossa nova and salsa. Their first album "Moon Island" for EMI Music Japan (released in May, 2009) features "La Isla Bonita" written by Gaitsch with Patrick Leonard and originally performed by Madonna "Maniac" written and originally performed by Sembello, one of the Brazilian standard songs "A Day In The Life Of A Fool" ("Manhã de Carnaval") and Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love". It must be the great moment of 2010 summer for you if you will see their shows at Cotton Club.

Here is the details and the link for your seat reservation;

• Venue: Cotton Club Tokyo
• Dates: 16th, 17th, 18th July 2010
• Showtime (16th, 17th July): 19:00 (1st show) / 21:30 (2nd show)
• Showtime (18th July): 17:00 (1st show) / 20:00 (2nd show)
• Seat Reservation: Cotton Club Tokyo Resevation (English)

Bobby Caldwell / The Consummate Caldwell

"The Consummate Bobby Caldwell" showcases the celebrated blue eyed soul singer's forays into big band, swing and vintage torch songs from the '40s. The collection of timeless songs draws from Bobby's two top selling albums "Blue Condition" (1996) and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" (1999) that were recorded in real time with a 45-piece orchestra and 20-piece jazz band at the legendary Capital Studios where Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Nat King Cole recorded many of their biggest hits. The album features 5 previously unreleased tracks including "All Of Me", "Only The Lonely" and 3 tracks taken from the motion picture soundtracks; "Oh Boy (You've Really Got It Made)" from "Lake Boat (2000)", "The Tender Trap" from "Forces Of Nature (1999)" and "Young At Heart" from "Living Beyond 100 (1998)". And this album also features a rare track; "Luck Be A Lady" taken from the motion picture soundtrack CD "The Cooler (2003)".

• Label: Big Deal Records (BGL500202)
• Release Date: March 30, 2010
• Tracks:
  1. Luck By a Lady
  2. All of Me
  3. Smile
  4. April Moon
  5. Oh Boy (You've Really Got It Made)
  6. Only the Lonely
  7. The Girl I Dream About
  8. The Tender Trap
  9. Young At Heart
  10. The Best is Yet To Come
  11. Tomorrow
  12. Beyond the Sea
  13. All the Way
  14. Under My Skin
  15. Stuck On You
  16. Come Rain or Come Shine

Eric Tagg / Time For A Miracle

Eric Tagg's rarities collection album "Time For A Miracle" has just been able to download now via Itune, Amazon.com and CDBaby. Please also note that COOL SOUND, Japan will release the physical CD entitled "Offering From A Song Gardener" in June.  

Singer/songwriter Eric Tagg has been doing it for over 35 years, with three years spent in Holland, 5 years in L.A., and the rest around Dallas, leading bands playing all-original material as well as singing with Lee Ritenour, Don Grusin, David Foster, Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuna, Nathan East, Larry Carlton, Harvey Mason, and many others. Along with handling lead vocals on four Ritenour albums, Tagg has five solo albums of his own, featuring the songs in his 400+ catalog of originals. He worked as a session singer in Dallas for over 15 years, then turned to leading worship in various churches around Dallas, where he serves today, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

• Label: Sympathetic Music, USA (Japan: Cool Sound <COOL-128>)
• Release Date: March 15, 2010 ( Physical CD release: June 23, 2010)
• Tracks:
  1. My Little Ones
  2. Friend of Mine
  3. World Is In the Way
  4. Radio Silence
  5. Small Talk
  6. Over Now
  7. Something 2 Live 4
  8. Tailor-Made
  9. Time For a Miracle
  10. Blessed

Tom Hansen "Brazilian Night"

When I received an advanced copy of Tom Hansen early January of 2010 from Norway, I was a little bit surprised ar the CD jacket and its title "Brazilian Night" because Tom Hansen, the songwriter and the leader of this project, is based in the city Tønsberg located 10 miles south of the Norwegian capital city Oslo. On his debut album "Brazilian Night" Tom Hansen has been working with 6 different arrangers, all with inspiration from artists like David Foster, Jay Graydon, Chaka Khan, Mezzoforte, Larry Carlton, Shakatak, as Tom are saying "all arrangers has been raised up with David Foster and has been playing Through The Fire many times", so you can really hear this at the album.

On "Brazilian Night" the vocalist Victor Brooks and two Lava members; Svein Dag Hauge (guitar), Per Hillested (drums) and other great Norwegian studio musicians are featured at the album. More information about Tom Hansen and the release Brazilian Night here.

• Tracks:
  1. Brazilian Night
  2. Special Friend
  3. Remember 2000
  4. Stay With Me
  5. Chaka
  6. Jarreau
  7. Fate
  8. Breeze
  9. Columbus
  10. Magic Moments
  11. Time To Say Goodbye.

Omega Sunrise "Feel The Change": hidden treasure to be unearthed

I wonder if I said that there is not so many hidden treasures left to be reissued on CD. This recognition has not changed for me, however, OMEGA SUNRISE's 1983 album "Feel The Change" must deserve the hidden treasure for AOR / Westcoast / Fusion / Contemporary Christian music lovers. Omega Sunrise was a band that recorded and toured from 1979 through 1986. In 1983 they recorded their first album on New Jerusalem Records titled "Feel the Change" produced by Kim Hutchcroft well-known as the sax/flute player of the legendary "Seawind". The music of OMEGA SUNRISE was very close to that of Seawind featuring Debbie Seibert who sang like Pauline Wilson, backed by good horn section. On this album, you can listen to the cover versionof "Follow Your Road" originally performed by Seawind on their 1979's album "Light The Light".

The band released another album titled "Run from the Night" on Morada Records, USA in 1985. The album "Run from the Night" did fairly well with several songs charting in localized markets around the US. Unfortunately, this album seems to be hard to be reissued due to various contractual reasons at this moment. After touring for 3 years with a schedule of about 8 months on the road each year, Omega Sunrise played its last concert in the Summer of 1986 in Fresno, California.

• Label: Vivid Sound Corporatio, Japan <VSCD3336> (Original: New Jerusalem, USA <NJR-001>)
• Release Date: October 21, 2009 (Original Release Year : 1983)
• Producer: Kim Hutchcroft
• Omega Sunrise:
  • Debbie Seibert: Vocals
  • Mark Seibert: Guitar, Vocals
  • Mike Gonzales: Bass
  • Reggie Turner: Keyboards
  • Paul Thaxter: Drums
  • Ron Pierce:Trumpet, Flugelhorn
  • David H. Neece: Sax
  • Paul Natzke: Trombone, Vocals, Synth
• Tracks:
  1. Renewal
  2. Your Love
  3. Spot Light
  4. Can You Hear Him
  5. Too Hip
  6. Celestial Funk
  7. No Disguise
  8. First Love
  9. Eternal Day
  10. Feel The Change Comin'
  11. Follow Your Road

George Benson "Songs and Stories" featuring David Paich & Steve Lukather

NEA Jazz Master and 10 times Grammy-winning legendary musician George Benson will release his new album on August 25th entitled "Songs and Stories", a collection of tunes penned by some of the most prolific and enduring songwriters of the last half-century. Some were written specifically for this new recording, such as Bill Withers (who came out of retirement to write A Telephone Call Away for George), Rod Temperton's "Family Reunion" and Lamont Dozier's "Living in High Definition"; while others, including James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", Donny Hathaway's "Someday Well All Be Free" and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia" were hand-picked by Benson for their ability to convey simple but universal truths about the human experience. You cannot ignore this album because the album includes guest performances by David Paich, Gerald Albright, Lalah Hathaway, Lee Ritenour, Norman Brown, Patti Austin, Steve Lukather, John Robinson, Tom Scott and many others. Here is official video "The Making of Songs And Stories: Show Me The Love" featuring David Paich and Steve Lukather.

Last but not a least, I wonder if you would like to buy Japanese edition because of an exclusive bonus track only for Japan. If so, please click the below link to Amazon.co.jp or CD Japan.

Marco Taggiasco / Robbie Dupree new single

  Marco Taggiasco teams up with Robbie Dupree! The new single entitled "Got To Believe This Time" will be digitally available soon both on CD Baby and iTunes. As of August 14, due to the malfunction of CD Baby's digital download service, the release is obliged to be postponed. However this song must be worth waiting. You can listen to the excerpt version of this tune at Marco Taggiasco's official website until the release date. Please check back for updates!

Here is the credit of the song;

• Music by Marco Taggiasco, Lyrics by Robbie Dupree

• Lead Vocals: Robbie Dupree
• Keyboards: Marco Taggiasco
• Guitar: Giancarlo Capo
• Drums: Riziero Bixio
• Bass: Carlo Testa
• Alto Sax: Costantino Ladisa
• Backing Vocals: Andrea Sanchini, Calus Leonhardt, Robbie Dupree

Seawind "Reunion" CD release in April

In 2007, We have heard that the long-awaited Seawind Reunion CD recording was almsot finished! in 2007 and they started mixdown, mastering and so on. Finally, wait will be really over soon. The album "Reunion" will be released on April 22 for Village Records, a subsidary label of Sony Music, Japan. The group spent time in Los Angeles recording studios, while tracking all of their new songs. The new CD will also include 2007 remakes of their classics "Follow Your Road", "Free" and "He Loves You", on which Al Jarreau is featured along with Pauline Wilson. Further Al is also on the brand new song entitled "Hold On".  

Except Jerry Hey , The rest of entire group members reunited; Bob Wilson - Drums, Pauline Wilson - Vocals, Larry Williams - Keyboards, Sax & Flute, Kim Hutchcroft - Sax & Flute, Bud Nuanez - Guitar and Ken Wild - Bass are back. It seems that the band will do reunion tour after this release. We will have legends again in coming spring of 2009.

• Label: Village Records, Japan (Limited Edition: VRCL20001 Standard Edition: VRCL12003)
• Release Date: April 22, 2009
• Seawind is:
  • Pauline Wilson : Lead & Background Vocals
  • Larry Williams：Piano , Key , Sax & Flute
  • Kim Hutchcroft：Sax & Flutes
  • Bob Wilson：Drums(& Primary Composer)
  • Bud Nuanez：Electric & Acoustic Guitars
  • Ken Wild：Acoustic , Electric & Fretless Electric Basses
  • Larry Hall : Trumpet & Flugelhorn
• Guest Musicians :
  • Al Jarreau : Vocals & “Scat” Vocals　
  • Gary Grant : Trumpet & Flugelhorn
  • Bill Reichenbach : Trombones
  • Michito Sanchez : Percussion
• Tracks:
  1. He Loves You
  2. Kept By Your Power
  3. Sunshadow
  4. Hold On To Love
  5. Follow Your Road
  6. Wayne
  7. Free
  8. Everything Needs Love
  9. Pearl
  10. You’re My Everything
  11. Devil Is A Liar
  12. Liquid Spies