Whaling City Sound warmly thanks the knowledgeable and committed readers of DOWNBEAT Magazine for the honor of making our label #5 on the list of esteemed jazz labels for the year 2020-21. While some deride polls as “popularity contests,” all of us at Whaling City Sound have no problem being considered near the top of those organizations who bring jazz to you on a regular basis.
We are also thankful that many of the artists featured on our releases in recent years, either as leaders, co-leaders, or side-persons, have been recognized by Downbeat readers. Congratulations to those who have achieved this well-earned recognition. If we left anyone out of the list below, we apologize, and again, thank you for listening and voting. Feel free to reach out to us if you would like to know more about which releases include any particular musicians. ~Neal Weiss, President.
Hall of Fame: Kenny Barron #2
Jazz Artist: Christian McBride: #2, Kenny Barron: #7, Teri Lyne Carrington
Trumpet: Ingrid Jensen
Trombone: Steve Davis
Soprano sax: David Liebman #2,
Alto sax: Greg Abate: #2
Tenor Sax: Gerry Bergonzi
Flute: Ted Nash, David Liebman
Piano: Chick Corea, #1, Kenny Barron, #3
Keyboard: Mark Cary
Organ: Joey DeFrancesco, #1: Larry Goldings, #3
Guitar: Russell Malone
Bass: Ron Carter, #2: John Patitucci, Linda May Han Oh, Dezron Douglas
Drums: Teri Lyne Carrington, #3: Joe Farnsworth; Johnathan Blake, Jeff “Tain” Watts
Dave Zinno and his Unisphere bandmates—Mike Tucker on tenor sax, Eric Benny Bloom on trumpet and flugelhorn, Leo Genovese on keyboards, Tim Ray on piano, Rafael Barata, drums and percussion, and special guest Rafael Rocha on trombone—have been writing and practicing, biding their time until jazz scene reopened. In that time, Unisphere took advantage and managed to piece together, Fetish, a brilliant and beautiful album. The colorful panorama, tonal palette, and sonic breadth featured on Fetish are breathtaking. Zinno’s Unisphere is jubilant, rapturous, and free. Everyone contributed compositions or arrangements to the project, which creates a stunning picture of the diversity represented by this group. Fetish is the sound of that catharsis, that anticipation, a primal release of aural energy. “This project is the culmination of a year without live music,” says Zinno. “Every ounce of energy and ambition, in reserve from not expending it for so long, is on this record. I hope people feel what we felt while creating it.”
New World N Jazz Dave Zinno Unisphere “Fetish” 9th Most Added (+12) JazzWeek radio 📻 chart 9/20/21
“Dori Rubicco might suggest a cabaret date but this is a solid jazz date to the point that it opens with an instrumental from the quintet [Bill Miele-b, John Harrison III-p, Yoron Israel-drm, Donn Legge-gtr, Bryan Steele-ts/ss, Ian Rubbicco Leggecello]. Following the instrumental are 10 standards plus one original by the singer. Rubbicco does a very nice job on “Imagine” ,“Throw It Away”and “Twisted” in particular. Rubbicco has a strong voice and a healthy touch of Melissa Manchester. I believe this is her first release and please let there be more.”
Recording live at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, May 18, 2017
Recording Engineer: John Mailloux, Bongo Beach Productions with Joe Knight, Zeiterion Theatre
Audio mix and mastering: John Mailloux, Bongo Beach Productions
ROMAN SUN 7:42 John Harrison III Publisher: BMI
IMAGINE 6:47 John Lennon Publisher: BMG TWO KITES 4:46 Antonio Carlos Jobim Publisher: BMI PRETTY FUNNY 5:09 Benj Pasek & Justin Paul Publisher: ASCAP NO REGRETS 6:43 Harry Tobias & Roy Ingraham Publisher: ASCAP WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW 7:09 Carole King & Gerry Goffin Publisher: BMI THROW IT AWAY 6:49 Abbey Lincoln TWISTED 8:12 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Publisher: BMI Right Here Waiting 3:43 Dori Rubbicco Publisher: BMI I CAN SEE CLEARLY 5:50 Johnny Nash Publisher: ASCAP THAT’S ALL 3:31 Alan Brandt & Bob Haymes Publisher: BMI
You might hear Jay Rodriguez and wonder, “Is there anything you can’t do?” The fact is, it might be tough to track down something along Jay’s musical continuum that he hasn’t done. A versatile bandleader, with flute, clarinet and saxophone chops, the Colombia-born, New York City-bred musician is profoundly talented and incredibly prolific. Since graduating from the New York School of Performing Arts and attending the New School of Jazz at its inception alongside Larry Goldings, Brad Mehldau and Roy Hargrove. He has had musical adventures in salsa with Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Paquito D’Rivera, pop/hip-hop with Prince, Guru, the Wu-Tang Clan, DJ Premier and Groove Collective, straight-ahead with Doc Cheatham, Mingus Big Band, David Murray, Craig Harris, Jason Miles and Miles Davis. He has played alongside Joe Lovano, Gil Evans, Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, Bernie Worrell and Joan Osborne, to name a few. His original work is daring, groovy, breathtaking and soulful, sometimes all at once. His new recording, Your Sound: Live at Dizzy’s Club, captures all of lovely rawness in real time. Accompanied by Billy Harper on tenor sax, Larry Willis on piano. Eric Wheeler on bass, JT Lewis on drums and percussionist Billy Martin, Rodriguez frees himself up to showcase his work on saxes, flutes, and bass clarinet. The result is magical. Over his career, Rodriguez has tackled composition, arranging, accompanying, and leading. It is high time for the world to hear all the wonderful things Jay Rodriguez—musician, personality, iconoclast, and innovator—has to offer.
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WBGO News Monday 2/19 to plug Jay Rodriguez’s album release with a track for Nate Chinen’s Take Five! Confirmed!
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Jay Rodriguez will be featured in the “Keeping Live Jazz Alive” benefit taking place at the Southampton Arts Center on February 3 at 6pm.
Music industry consultant and publicist Ginny Shea has garnered international exposure for her clients through radio and video promotion, print media, and her vast industry network.
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