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Ae n-t Te r Rt a i An m Ie nNt

WELCOME TO THE A-TRAIN NEWSLETTER! The A-Train newsletter is back for 2008. With it comes several new releases, positive reviews and exciting live Top News

performances. Enjoy! •6 A-Train artists Happy New Year to all! We hope you found your holidays fulfill- nominated for GRAMMYS

ing. Now that our tummies have settled down from all the festive •A-Train gets digital rights feasting, we can venture into 2008, a nice round number sure to to ARTizen music

bring with it a nice phat catalog of musical tastes and adventures. •A-Train acquires digital As zesty as “Oh Seven” may have been, this year we are filling up rights for Ziriguiboom on the robust, including new acquisitions from both the • hits #1 on World Ziriguiboom/ and ARTizen labels, as well as stack- Music European Charts ing chips for those oh-so-tasty Grammy Awards, celebrated by •New releases from nominations from six A-Train supported artists! And if that isn’t ARTizen artists and Henry enough to ring in the New Year, we have a treasure trough (trove?? – Kaiser

no trough i.e. play on food theme) of new releases to dish out on the •New tour dates for side. So come fill yer plate with all we’re spreadin’ around. Don’t , Will Bernard, and Arianna worry, we won’t tell if you take seconds. Solare - The A-Train Staff

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NEWS & REVIEWS

It’s GRAMMY Time! accessible with releases from , critical acclaim. “The variation on this , Jason Miles, Chris record is great, soft pieces and fierce Congrats to all the Grammy nominees Standring, and more. 11 moments alternate, with "And Nothing for a year of outstanding accomplishment! new titles to whet the appetite. Visit the But" offering probably one of the most Though they didn’t all win, A-Train is proud to support the following artists New Release section and find something to beautiful free sax moments of the year, munch on… starting slowly but then gaining whose albums are readily available for momentum ending again in a great finale. download: www.artizenmusic.com Yet it's not all power play or sweet • Konono Nº1 Live At Couleur Café emotions, there are some joyous moments, (Crammed Discs/Rykodisc - Best Say This Three Times Fast… moments of great interaction, just for the Traditional Album) Ziriguiboom joy of making music together, and the two • Peter Kater Faces Of The Sun (Silver A-Train is proud to announce the drums really do some great things together, Wave Records - Best New Age Album) digital acquisition of Crammed Discs rolling and thundering at times, subtle and • Black Lodge Watch This Dancer! Ziriguiboom label, the imprint launched in sensitive at others. An album with a high (Canyon Records – Best native American 1998 by Crammed Discs in collaboration Music Album) level of "woohaa", bringing everything with A&R/Producer Béco Dranoff. great music should offer: true emotions, • R. Carlos Nakai, Cliff Sarde, Ziriguiboom's aim has always been to find adventure, variation, interplay, tension, William Eaton & Randy Wood and present original artists and as-yet- Reconnections (Canyon Records - Best surprise and entertainment. “From the unexposed aspects of modern Brazilian ‘Out Trios’ series at Atavistic, this is native American Music Album) music by producing and releasing keystone definitely the best one.” -Free • Johnny Whitehorse Totemic Flute Chants albums. Today, Ziriguiboom is synonymous (Silver Wave Records - Best native www.artizenmusic.com with the best in modern sounds from Brazil American Music Album) (WINNER) and boasts releases from Bebel Gilberto, www.crammed.be Suba, Auco 103, DJ Dolores, and more. www.silverwave.com Let’s Go Disko! As a fantastic intro to this dynamic label A- www.store.canyonrecords.com Another Crammed Discs success! The Train happily offers Bossacucanova’s pioneer of the Balkan club scene, Classics Revisited. Straight from Ipanema, Congratulations to another A-Trainer, SHANTEL, has hit number 1 in the World Rio de Janeiro, comes an updated album of Will Bernard, who picked up a Grammy Music European Charts for his latest solo smooth soulful themes recorded by new nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz album Disko Partizani! This is the sound and classic Bossa Nova stars, featuring Album with his latest release for Palmetto of new , centered in the middle of artists from the original Bossa invasion of Records, Party Hats. Be sure to check out the old continent, but incorporating the early 60's and reconstructed by three our selection of other WB classics vibrant influences from the emerging young Carioca DJ/Producers. A must including, Directions To My House and frontier that stretches all the way to have for lovers of the swaying sounds from Motherbug, both currently available for Mitteleuropa, the South East, Greece, the South! your listening pleasure, as well as his tour Turkey and beyond. His video is in www.crammed.be dates hitting the US! rotation on MTV in several countries and www.willbernard.com can be seen, along with a candid interview www.palmetto-records.net Up From Under…An All and a few audio bytes, on the crammed website. Around Winner www.crammed.be ARTizen Has Arrived We are very excited to announce the ARTizen is now officially in cahoots latest addition to the A-Train line-up, the with A-Train! One of smooth jazz’s most latest album from , Up From Under, released by Atavistic in 2007 to successful independent labels now digitally

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NEW RELEASES

Jackiem Joyner - Babysoul Entertainment, the Today Show and was one of People Magazine's Top Jackiem's insistent and seemingly Fifty bachelors. limitless invention on the thumpin’, finger snapping title track is all about Lao Tizer - Diversify the urgency of getting out there and Lao Tizer has had a nearly life-long showing everyone what he’s got. affair with the charms of the piano Thinking back on dealing with starting at age five and beginning difficult characters on the business formal education at age nine. He side of things along the way, recorded three solo keyboard/piano "Elevation" finds Jackiem in a titles while still in his teens and retrospective place ruminating upon his life so far in the music moved to Los Angeles to pursue a business while the tune's ebullient character suggests an inner broader career and discover a mentor resolution and dedication to move only onward and upward. The in famed guitarist Chieli Minucci of dreamy, ambient closer “Innocence” strips away the obstacles and the internationally acclaimed group, Special EFX. Lao's first band gives him a fresh, optimistic mindset towards the future. recording, Golden Soul was met by universal acclaim and acceptance. A single from that CD, "Her Poetry" charted at Radio & Record's Jason Miles - To Grover, With Smooth Jazz chart and Billboard's Top 50 Contemporary Jazz chart in Love addition to garnering a nomination for “Best New Artist” at the The Grammy-nominated King of the National Smooth Jazz Awards. His sensitivity tempered with an innate Homage, Jason Miles assembles an feel for composition and marvelous technique will win him a broader, all-star cast of R&B and jazz motivated fan base with Diversify. superstars on a heartfelt tribute to innovator, melodicist, musician - Christmas with Grover Washington. This is not your and Rick Braun ordinary tribute CD filled with mere For the fifth year in a row, A Peter exercises in nostalgia, but one filled with cutting-edge, contemporary White Christmas Tour has visited performances by flutist Herbie Mann, vocalist Regina Belle, sax man locations throughout the country as Steve Cole and guitarist Russ Freeman, among others. Each track one of the most popular holiday exhibits high standards of musicianship from start to finish, from the tours in smooth jazz. This year, lead of Russ Freeman on "East River Drive" to the soulful sax there's a new CD to go along with wailings, this CD dusts off, shakes down, and hands you some searing the show. “It's taken from the live soul, scorching riffs, and serious . show and…recorded live in studio exactly the way we play the arrangements live,” said White. “We didn't make any changes…It's Jimmy Sommers - Sunset pretty raw, and that's what we wanted to capture.” "The arrangements Collective for each song evolved night after night on tour,” Abair notes, “I think Sunset Collective features that's what makes this CD so interesting and special. It's a mix of all performances by such diverse and three of us adding to the other's music and leaving our mark on some intriguing artists as Vikter Duplaix, great Christmas classics.” ”I can see the joy on the faces of our fans,” Macy Gray, Paul Oakenfold, Rahsaan adds Braun, “It's as if together we're bringing the Christmas spirit to Patterson, Paul Brown and Brian life.” All the joy must be striking the right note, as A Peter White Culbertson as well as a bonus remix Christmas is now celebrating its fifth year. by DJ Spinna and bonus track with Ginuwine. Jimmy has worked with Eric Benet, Coolio and on previous releases all of which have had enormous radio response form both Smooth Jazz and Urban Adult Contemporary. A true crossover artist with deep media appeal to boot. He's appeared on Regis & Kelly, Dateline, E!

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NEW RELEASES

Richard Elliot - Metro Blue even just the first time, it brought back memories and images from my Metro Blue from Richard Elliot is the own past… and I could not help but smile! This is Rick Braun’s first scintillating debut from the artist- release on his own record label, ARTizen Music. owned, artist-friendly ARTizen Music Group. Contemporary rhythms Rick Braun/Richard Elliot - inspired by R n'B grooves cruise R n R throughout Metro Blue’s deeply When Rick Braun and Richard Elliot funky tracks. Featuring the decided to start ARTizen Music Group passionate, incendiary of it was a pretty fair bet that Richard Elliot, Metro Blue will incite collaboration would be on the boards. fervent favor at radio, press and retail alike. Richard has sold literally There is an implicit pun evoked in millions of records in his career and performed around the world. naming this release. Amongst solo Elliot has enjoyed 20+ Radio & Records Chart-topping hits and is a records, touring, and contributing perennial Billboard Jazz chart stalwart logging more than a year each guest appearances on other records, it for his last three titles. Before going solo to jazz stardom Richard was was hard to squeeze in a collaborative recording—never mind a social a true wizard of the funk in the Bay Area's legendary life. So when they found some time for R(est) n R (elaxtion) - what do horn section. they do? They make a record. True to its namesake, R n R is all about fun. Rick Braun/Richard Elliot - Sessions volume 1 Shilts - HeadBoppin (with bonus Sessions volume 1 is--as the title track) implies--the first of a series of Solo release by Down to The Bone intended releases where the emphasis sax man/leader and co-founder: Paul is on fun and spontaneity, elements “Shilts” Weimar. A native of London sometimes missing in the studio and a sax player from the age of 10, culture but in no short supply on the Shilts has played with people as performing stage. This is recorded in diverse as , Lulu, Jimmy mostly one take with little or no editing Page; touring American soul acts or overdubs as evidenced by the "notes of character" here and there. (Temptations) and was a member of The repertoire is drawn from Rick's greatest hits: "Grazing in the Britpop hit makers, Breathe. HeadBoppin’ is a blend of modern Grass" from the hit Shake it Up cd, radio and fans faves "Notorious", sounds and retro flavors, produced by Shilts and Artizen co-owner "Nightwalk" and "Coolsville". Certainly an unexpected highlight is Rick Braun. As the title implies, its sure to get your head…boppin. Rick's emotional vocal on "Love Will Find a Way". Previously, Sessions volume 1 was available only at Rick's concerts. We now Soul Ballet - LAViSH proudly offer it to all. Soul Ballet is the brainchild of multi- instrumentalist/producer/composer Rick Braun/Richard Elliot - Rick Kelly. A chilled out, funky blast Yours Truly (with Bonus Track) of sonically brilliant, magnificently Cover tunes. Nine of them. But performed nujazz originals. LAViSH before you think, “Oh, no…not is the title and lush is the keyword in another CD of cover tunes,” let me describing this radio friendly paint the picture for you. Rick Braun contemporary classic. has put together a CD of tracks that have never been covered in a fully instrumental way. These songs have real meaning to him. These songs bring back amazing memories for him. And as I listened to Yours Truly,

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NEW RELEASES

Henry Kaiser - Social Set name. This CD is a reissue of two vinyl records: Volume 1: The Social Set Henry Kaiser - Buddhist Sto- and Volume 2: The Science Set, ries of Awakening recorded in 1980, October 19 and 21, Unreleased album with Henry respectively. They were produced by Kaiser, Josh Michaell and Rev. Heng The Beak Doctor/Metalanguage Sure. Rev. Heng Sure likes to talk. Records (originated by Greg Wander into the Berkeley Buddhist Goodman, Henry Kaiser and Larry monastery where he resides as Ochs in 1978) during The pastor, and if you're lucky enough to Metalanguage Festival of Improvised Music: a scrummage of find him there, he might ask you to musicians who had previously recorded on the label. Volume 1 sit down for a cup of tea and consists of two extended whole-group pieces and was recorded at Arch conversation about anything from ancient Chinese Buddhist texts to Street Studios in Berkeley, . the pros and cons of the latest Macintosh operating system. Before you know it, you've been chatting for two hours. Actually, you've been Henry Kaiser - Science Set listening while he does most of the talking. The Metalanguage Festival of Improvised Music brought together a Henry Kaiser - Night Sky Day scrummage of musicians who had Dream (With Knut Reiersrud) previously recorded on The Beak Knut Reiersrud (1961) is known to Doctor/Metalanguage label. The most people as a guitarist. It's now Science Set was recorded in twenty years since he had the honor performance on October 21, 1980, at of playing with his legendary heroes. The Great American Music Hall in Since then he has played at 5,000 , a grand hall with lots of age and rubbed-off gold. We concerts, made more than 100 got the feeling, gazing from the stage at the high ceilings above the records, of which he has considered wrap-around box seating, that it was The Roman Coliseum. If we only five to be worthy of releasing squeezed into our Lion costumes, we could make a night of it. The under his own name, and in between times learned to master ten contests were in duos, trios, quartets, and an occasional solo: someone different string instruments. The problems arise when you try to battling himself. explain what kind of guitarist he is. A man who always travels around with eight because they have been tuned differently according Henry Kaiser - Bird Returns To to where the music comes from is versatility personified. Forest Unreleased album with Henry Kaiser, Henry Kaiser - Zen Kaiju LaDonna Smith and Davey Williams. Collaboration between Henry Kaiser LaDonna Smith has been doing and Kiku Day, a ji-nashi shakuhachi improv for almost 30 years. A (hocchiku) player from Copenhagen, virtuoso violinist, teacher, and co- Denmark with American, Japanese, founder of The Improvisor ("the Irish and Russian roots. Asian international journal of free inspired and experimental. improvisation"), she is the image of feminine empowerment, the female criminal in pursuit of the ecstatic, potent, subversive and transcendent. Davey Williams has been a member of various types of ensembles, has performed at most of the leading venues for and festivals of new composed and improvised music in North America and Europe (well over 1500 concerts since 1974); has appeared on over 40 published recordings, many under own

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NEW RELEASES

Al Huang and David Darling - The Tao of Poetry The first in this series of CDs offers poetry by eleven Chinese poets. From Tao Chien's classic hermitage song, "No Words," from Year 400, to Wong Wuxiu's poem, "Seeking Finding," written in 1993, these poems feature Chinese chanting in original language and free-flowing English translations by Chungliang, complemented by deeply integrated and soulful music composed and played by David. They have selected a range of poems to enlighten hearts and minds. This is a collaborative poetry/music project for the benefit of Living Tao Foundation and Music for People.

Arianna Solare - Book of Us Buried Treasures...Found and Not Lost Arianna Solare has created a timeless sound in her debut EP, Book of Us, R. Carlos Nakai - Canyon Trilogy that resonates with the classic recordings of the 60’s and 70’s yet is Using digital technology, R. Carlos Nakai creates the unique to the contemporary music of today. Created in the City of Angels, sound of the cedar flute echoing in the canyons and Arianna’s birthplace, Book of Us was valleys of the vast Southwest. His seventeen free flow- recorded at Los Angeles’ Blue Forest ing compositions soothe the spirit and carry the lis- Studios; featuring guitarist Angelo tener to the far realms of the imagination. Awarded a Vermuelen, drummer Chris Steele and bass player Henrik Linde, as well as appearances by cellist Brent Arnold and pianist Dan Trollinger. certified Gold Records in 1998 ~ the first ever Book of Us reveals an artist who has found a voice that truly speaks to awarded for a Native American music album. her generation and beyond, with words of honesty and sincerity. www.store.canyonrecords.com Arianna has formed musical compositions that allow these words to glide over a wave of sounds that are at once intensely penetrating and at the same time melodically addictive.

Coming Soon

Vapor Trails- DJ Dolores - 1 Real Think Of One - Kamping Shaabi Kasai All Stars (Crammed Discs) Roger Smith – Sittin’ In Radhika Miller Catalog Brian Dunning’s Puck Fair Samuel Markus – The Only Ones Larry Ochs - Mirror World Chris Standring - Love and Paragraphs

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TOUR INFO

Wadada Leo Smith Date Venue City

2/9/08 S. Steven Dweck Center Brooklyn, NY

2/18/08 Harvard University Boston, MA

3/6/08 - 3/7/08 The Other Minds Music San Francisco, CA Festival

7/1/08 - 8/5/08 The Residency at Djerassi Bay Area, CA For full tour dates, visit Artists Program http://music.calarts.edu

Will Bernard Date Venue City

2/15/08 The Graduate San Luis Obispo, CA

2/17/08 Mystic Theater Petaluma, CA

2/29/08 El Lunario Mexico City, Mexico

3/1/08 El Lunario Mexico City, Mexico

3/7/08 Jeremiah’s Listening Room Williamsport, PA For full tour dates, visit http://www.willbernard.com 3/29/08 The Stone Church New Market, NH http://www.myspace.com/willbernard 4/11/08 Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA

Arianna Solare Date Venue City

2/3/08 Air Conditioned Bar Santa Monica, CA

2/10/08 Air Conditioned Bar Santa Monica, CA

2/28/08 The Stone Hollywood, CA

For full tour dates, visit http://ariannasolare.com/

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