NEW RELEASES - KEVIN HAYDEN TRIO, BOOKER T, ARETHA FRANKLIN

KEVIN HAYDEN TRIO - ILLEGAL PLAYLIST

Milwaukee-based Kevin Hayden Trio will return in April with their third studio album and the follow-up to 2012’s Paris, entitled Illegal Playlist. The new album will be co-produced by Chicago's nationally recognized jazz pianist, Greg Spero (Buddy Rich Big Band) who recently appeared in London with drumming legend Dave Weckl. Lead by drummer Kevin Hayden, the trio features Terry Harris Jr. on piano and younger brother Alan Harris on bass. They come together once again to give listeners a jazz rooted, genre crossing album that boasts a special guest appearance by hip-hop artist Klassik. Klassik recently performed with the Kevin Hayden Trio in a collaborative show headlined by grammy nominated pianist, Robert Glasper of the Robert Glasper Experiment.

BOOKER T - EVERGREEN

A surprisingly great album by Booker T – recorded after his Memphis years with The MGs, and his duets with Priscilla – and done in a sweetly mellow style that has Booker emerging as a whole new style of songwriter! As with all the post-MG albums, Booker sings lead vocals on all tracks – in a gently, almost folksy mode that fits beautifully with the compressed production of the set. There's almost a Terry Callier-ish quality to a few of the cuts, and on others, Booker's hitting a cool LA style that's kind of a west coast take on the Memphis vibe – but with a few more rock-based touches. Book plays a bit of organ and some keyboards on the set, and titles include "Jamaica Song", "Mama Stewart", "Flamingo", "Tennessee Voodoo", "Lie To Me", and "Evergreen". CD features lots of bonus tracks too – "Life Is Funky", "Take Me To The River", "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", "Higher & Higher", "Love Is Strange", and "Evergreen (single version)". ~ Dusty Groove

ARETHA FRANKLIN -IN THE BEGINNING: THE WORLD OF ARETHA FRANKLIN 1960 - 1967

A sweet overview of the early years of Aretha Franklin's career – her formative days at Columbia Records, when she was working in a variety of styles before heading over to bigger fame at Atlantic! Even at this early stage, Aretha's one hell of a singer – and, despite what folks who listen to Jerry Wexler might say, this early Columbia work is pretty darn amazing throughout – steeped in a number of different modes, with bits of jazz, R&B, and early soul sewn together beautifully throughout. The double-length set is filled with key early moments from Aretha – and titles include "Don't Cry Baby", "Lee Cross", "Skylark", "One Step Ahead", "Evil Gal Blues", "Take A Look", "Runnin Out Of Fools", "People", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "Take It Like You Give It". ~ Dusty Groove