Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify. 
As a young man growing up in Louisville in the 1970s, Don Braden discovered the music of both Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder, and it immediately captured his heart, mind and soul. The esteemed saxophonist explains that “the messages within their music—built around core themes such as strength, love and joy–are imbued with African-American spirit, and yet embody a wide variety of human emotions and experience. They are delivered with power, artistry and elegance via memorable and singable melodies, rich harmonies, compelling lyrics, infectious grooves, outstanding arrangements and superb performances.” Don’s new CD, “Earth Wind and Wonder,” explores the wide-ranging catalog of Wonder and EWF.
“The Junction, the Manhattan Transfer’s first album in nearly a decade, brings the group’s trademark seamless four-part harmony for the next phase of the 10-time Grammy winning vocal quartet’s storied career. One of the co-writers on the disc is the group’s new member, bass vocalist Trist Curliss. He began subbing on the road for the late band founder Tim Hauser in 2013, officially joining after Hauser’s passing in late 2014. The album, dedicated to the memory of Hauser, was produced by another master vocalist, five-time Grammy winner Mervyn Warren, a renowned film composer, arranger, producer, and one of the founders of gospel/R&B a capella legends Take 6. The songs that the Manhattan Transfer chose to record with cool new twists, and Warren’s sparkling vocal arrangements, perfectly reflect the band’s forward thinking aesthetic.
Also this week, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, led by bassist Chris Brubeck and drummer Dan Brubeck, celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dave Brubeck’s seminal State Department tour as an official jazz ambassador for the United States with fresh takes on their father’s classic tunes on “Timeline”.
Saxophonist Jim Snidero and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Cannonball Adderly with explorations of his music on “Jubilation”.
Trombonist Nick
Finzer explores the mysteries of unexpected destinations with his new album, “No Arrival.”