Producer/Composer Terri Lyne Carrington releases The Mosaic Project on Concord Jazz

According to a news release, Hebert-Carrington Media co-founder Terri Lyne Carrington has released her visionary musical odyssey entitled The Mosaic Project (Carrington’s fifth album overall and her first on Concord Jazz).
Carrington, a veteran producer and composer, is joined by Esperanza Spalding, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nona Hendryx, Cassandra Wilson, Helen Sung, Tineke Postma, Geri Allen, Patrice Rushen, Ingrid Jensen, Sheila E. and Gretchen Parlato, with special appearances by iconic figures such as the legendary Angela Davis.
Since her debut in 1989, Carrington has established a reputation for assembling artists of varying styles into an eclectic brand of jazz that incorporates elements of bebop, soul, funk and much more. The Grammy-nominated artist creates music that adheres to the traditions of jazz yet speaks to a much broader and more diverse audience. Carrington brings this same diverse sensibility to The Mosaic Project, an album that once again gathers a myriad of voices and crystallizes them into a multi-faceted whole that far outweighs the sum of its parts.
The Mosaic Project is a beautiful gathering of great female artists,” Carrington said. “Though it is my project, it is the personalities, the lives, and the talent of all of these women that make this project so special and indeed a group offering and unique statement we made together based on common, yet diverse, points of view.”

Stefon Harris and Blackout to Release “Urbanus” in August


Vibraphonist-composer Stefon Harris is set to release his 7th album as a bandleader in August. The 10-track “Urbanus” picks up where 2004’s “Evolution” left off in that it features Harris’ ensemble Blackout that’s as versed in modern jazz as it is with rhythms, melodies and soundscapes associated with R&B, pop, hip-hop and funk.
Marc Cary complements his acoustic piano with Fender Rhodes and alto saxophonist Casey Benjamin lends his captivating vocoder work to the proceeding. Harris’ broadening textures and colors comes to play with his sensational woodwind and string arrangements on a few of the compositions. New Blackout bassist Buster Williams rounds out the group.
Harris and Blackout will be on tour to promote “Urbanus” (on Concord Jazz label) starting in September 2009.