Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify. 
America has always been fascinated by the popular music exported back to us by our neighbors from across the pond. The British Invasion of the 1960s profoundly influenced music in every decade to the present. For the trio of Hart, Scone and Albin, the invaders are the feminine kind, each exhibiting an abundance of passion, grit and soul. Included in their new collection, “Leading the British Invasion,” are some of today’s huge hit makers who are heavily steeped in the classic forms of American music—blues, soul, R&B and rock. A different angle is given to compositions from Amy Winehouse, Adele, Dusty Springfield, Joss Stone and Sade—and Lorde (from New Zealand) for good measure.
International best-selling singer, songwriter and musician Melody Gardot is releasing her first live set, “Live in Europe,” celebrating the success of her live shows around the world. It includes concert performances recorded between 2012 and 2016 in places like Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich and London. Ms. Gardot says, “This album holds my heart, and the love of all the people who supported us along the way…simply a very long thank you to all of you.”
Also this week,
the greatly anticipated second release from the Reggie Pittman/Loren Daniels Quartet, “Smilessence”.
Pianist Ben Paterson salutes the grea
t drummer-less trios of Nat King Cole and Oscar Peterson with “That Old Feeling”.
Saxophonist Andrew Neu leads a big band of veteran L.A. musicians and superstars on “Catwalk: The Big Band Side of Andrew Neu.”