FAREWELL TO THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA
Brazilian samba/bossa nova singer and songwriting legend Astrud Gilberto has sadly passed aged 83...
Born in Bahia (and not Ipanema) as Astrud Weinert, she was the daughter of a Brazilian mother and a German father. Astrud married musician/composer João Gilberto in 1959 and later joined his band. The couple soon separated and Astrud began a relationship with Stan Getz, the famous US jazz saxophonist one her husband's musical collaborators. After this relationship also fell apart due to his abusive nature, she moved to the US. Although not professionally recognised as a singer at the time, Astrud had grown up steeped in music. Her mother was a multi-instrumentalist and she had sang regularly with her husband in Brazil. Astrud's "beguiling, whispery voice" and staunch approach to singing played a substantial role in making 'The Girl From Ipanema' a worldwide hit and win a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1965. Other successful Astrud tracks include 'Fly Me To The Moon', 'Summer Samba (So Nice)', 'Berimbau' and 'Corcovado (Quiet Night Of Quiet Stars)'. She worked with the likes of Quincy Jones, Stanley Turrentine and Brazilian pianist Walter Wanderley. The Black Eyed Peas and Cut Chemist also sampled her more recently.
JAZZAMATAZZ VOLUME 1: THIRTY YEARS ON
May 2023 sees the three decade anniversary of Guru's landmark solo debut album...
Recorded in NYC, production was handled by the former Gang Starr member himself and married together his two big musical loves; hip-hop and jazz. Guru's work with DJ Premier had already set the tone in the late 80's/early 90's with tracks like 'Jazz Thing' and 'Love Sick' and 'Jazzamatazz Vol. 1' was a natural course for the Boston rapper to pursue as a solo affair. The 12 track set features contributions from the likes N'Dea Davenport, Dee C Lee, Carleen Anderson and rapper MC Solaar plus a stellar line up of musicians being involved: Donald Byrd, Simon Law, Courtney Pine, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ronny Jordan... to name an esteemed few. 'Jazzmatazz' galvanised both Guru's fans and jazz connoisseurs alike, showcasing where hip-hop and black music was back in 1993, joining the ranks of ATCQ, Digable Planets, Pharcyde, Souls Of Mischief Pete Rock and CL Smooth who were already dipping into the hybrid 'jeep ready' sound. By 2007, 'Jazzmatazz' had propagated three sequels, but none had the impact of the first. Three years after the last of the series appeared, Guru sadly passed at just 48.
UNRELEASED DAFT PUNK TRACK TO BE PREMIERED
Daft Punk will unveil a previously-unreleased song this Friday 12/5/2023 at Paris' Pompidou Centre..
Called 'Infinity Repeating', it features Julian Casablancas from The Strokes. According to the Pompidou Centre's website, the track will be played in "ultra-high fidelity" on a sound system composed of 30 speakers, promising both a "cinematic experience" and "collective experience" that will feature a video played on the giant screen of the 350 seat forum in the French capital. It is believed the venue was chosen by Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christosto to premiere the song because of their shared history there, both attending their first rave at the museum back in 1992 as teenagers. Daft Punk had announced their split back in February 2021 with an 8 minute visual titled 'Epilogue' and which featured a scene from their 2006 film 'Electroma'. However, the new track is lifted from the duo's upcoming and expanded 10th anniversary re-issue of 'Random Access Memories', their Grammy Award winning fourth and final album and also features 35 minutes of previously unreleased music in total.
SINGER AND SONGWRITER LINDA LEWIS DIES
London born Linda Ann Fredericks became better known as vocalist/songwriter/guitarist, Linda Lewis..
She enjoyed hit singles with 'Rock-a-Doodle-Doo', 'Sideway Shuffle', and her version of Betty Everett's 'Shoop Shoop Song'. Her five-octave vocal range and ability to perform a wide array of genres, which benefitted her solo success during the 1970s, as well as work with the likes of David Bowie, Rod Stewart and Elton John. A self-taught guitarist and keyboard player, Linda performed at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970 with her career spanning some four decades. She also toured with Cat Stevens, another one of many big names for whom she provided backing vocals, who also included Steve Harley and Cockney Revel, Rick Wakeman, Joan Armatrading and Jamiroquai. Linda's passing at the age of 72, was confirmed by her sister Dee Lewis Clay who said, “It is with the greatest sadness and regret we share the news that our beloved beautiful sister Linda Lewis passed away today peacefully at her home. The family asks that you respect our privacy and allow us to grieve at this heartbreaking time." Thank you for the music Linda.
LONDON SUPER CLUB PRINTWORKS CLOSES DOORS
After the announcement last year, the 6000 capacity, multi-purpose venue finally shut on 1/5/2023...
First opened in 2017 on the site of an old printing plant in London's Surrey Quays and part of a regeneration project in the area at the time, the venue is now the victim of further redevelopment. According to the Evening Standard, the local council in Southwark council acknowledged the value and success of Printworks, but implied that the use of the space was only ever intended to be temporary. During its six years in existence, the club has played host to the likes of Chemical Brothers, Deadmau5 and Aphex Twin as well as many regular label nights with Defected Records and Glitterbox. In a statement, Printworks owner Broadwick Live said it was delighted to be in discussions with developer British Land about a return to the venue in 2026, following the site’s redevelopment. Despite a petition of over 11,000 signatories, the venue is set to be turned into an office space, though the owners will continue to operate their other London venues; Dockyards and The Beams. Some of the final DJ performances at Printworks came from Peggy Gou, Camelphat, Sub Focus and DJ Koze, before Bicep's emotional closing set last Monday.
THE ICONIC HARRY BELAFONTE DIES
Known as the “King of Calypso”, Belafonte also expanding to acting and later, activism...
Born in Harlem 1/3/1927, he, his mother and brother moved to Jamaica in 1936 before returning to Harlem 4 years later. After serving in the US Navy in World War 2, he enrolled at NYC's Erwin Piscator Dramatic Workshop and was soon performing at nightclubs, earning his first recording contract in 1949 making hits such as 'The Banana Boat Song' and 'Jump In The Line'. He also appeared in a string of movies and famously became the first Black person to win an Emmy in 1960. Belafonte stepped back from Hollywood later that decade and shifted his focus to activism, working with Martin Luther King Jr., becoming a key figure in the civil rights movement. He took out a life insurance policy on King that helped support his family after his assassination. He also helped organise the 'We Are the World' charity record for African famine relief and released a 1988 album in protest of apartheid. Mindful that he grew up in poverty, Belafonte didN't think of himself as an artist who became an activist, but an activist who happened to be an artist. He sadly died of heart failure at his NY home on 25/4/2023 at the age of 96. Rest in glory maestro.
ANGIE STONE ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
Celebrated US singer, songwriter and actress Angie Stone, returns with her 10th studio album...
Entitled 'Love Language', it includes a reunion with Musiq Soulchild for the new single 'The Gym', a dreamy collaboration which finds Stone and Soulchild playing on fitness jargon to shed from a failing relationship. The pair previously duetted with Soulchild on the track 'The Ingredients Of Love' which featured on her 2001 sophomore album 'Mahogany Soul'. The new album arrives on 19/5/2023 courtesy of her new deal with Conjunction Ent/SRG-ILS Group and follows her 2019 'Full Circle' LP. When asked why she felt is was time for a new album, Angie says "I didn’t originally set out to write an album, I was just recording songs to kind of keep myself busy long enough to, you kind of lose it a little bit, lose the passion, lose the fire. But I was like, why not? It’s been a minute. It’ll be cool to put something fresh out in the streets."
