Bill Evans News

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce the release of Live At Woodstock, capturing Creedence Clearwater Revival's full, hour-long performance from the historic festival. Out August 2nd, Live At Woodstock will be available as a 2-LP vinyl set, housed in a gatefold jacket, as well as on CD and digital platforms (including hi-res 96/24). Fans can preview the album with the first digital single, a?oeBorn on the Bayou,a?? available on iTunes and streaming services today.

 Giants of jazz and the next generation of stars highlight New Jersey Performing Arts Center's (NJPAC) spectacular jazz performances for the 2019-2020 season. This year will mark the eighth annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival which will consist of diverse performances from Nov. 9 - 24.

Craft Recordings is excited to announce a new deluxe reissue of Isaac Hayes' GRAMMY® Award–winning album Shaft. Set for a June 14th street date and limited to 5,000 copies worldwide, the two-CD collection will offer the newly remastered, classic soundtrack—as originally released in 1971—plus all of the original music from the film, which did not appear on the best-selling LP. In-depth liner notes from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompsonround out the set. A single-disc version consisting of only the remastered soundtrack will also be available.

Artistic Director Mark Yonally and Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) are proud to present Saving The World, a science fiction tap dance story show set to all-original music composed and performed live by Diana Lawrence, directed by Raphael Schwartzman, written by Slam Poetry Creator Marc Kelly Smith and choreographed by Yonally, June 8 - June 30, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

1969 marked a year that was full of both trepidation and excitement for Stax Records. Just one year before, the Memphis soul outlet ended its relationship with musical giant Atlantic Records, effectively leaving the label as an independent entity, without a music catalog (which had previously included a formidable collection of hits by Otis Redding, Carla Thomas and Sam & Dave, among others). Under the guidance of co-owner Al Bell, the label proceeded to rebuild and release an impressive collection of 27 albums and 30 singles in just a handful of months—a period known as “Soul Explosion.” The gamble paid off, and at the 1969 Stax sales summit—themed “Getting It All Together”—the label reaffirmed its place as a soul powerhouse. Craft Recordings celebrates the 50th anniversary of this prolific, make-or-break moment for Stax—and its enduring legacy—with a wide selection of physical and digital reissues. Additionally, Craft will pay tribute to the label throughout the year with a series of playlists, original content, contests and more.

1999 marked a momentous year for Scottish rock band Travis. Singer/songwriter Fran Healy, guitarist Andy Dunlop, drummer Neil Primrose, and bassist Dougie Payne had been together since the beginning of the decade, and were gearing up for the release of their sophomore album, The Man Who, following the release of their 1997 debut, Good Feeling. Though the album found moderate success in the UK and set the band up for extensive touring—opening for the likes of Oasis—Travis were still reasonably unknown internationally. All of that was about to change.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Porter Carroll, Jr in The Evolution of Cabaret. On May 18th 2019, at 9:30pm. Porter Carroll, Jr. founder of Atlantic Starr the Rhythm and Blues Hit machine from the 70's and 80's and performing worldwide in his brand new roll with the number one selling duo in Music history Hall & Oates as their percussionist and vocalist returns to Feinstien's/54 Below by popular demand, with his own sold out shows in 'The Evolution of Cabaret', featuring a tasty musical panoply that runs the gamut from R& B and improvisational Jazz to soul, funk, blues, Rock & Roll and more.

At Broadway and 52nd Street in New York City, the nightclub Birdland was the legendary center of the jazz world, where the glitterati of Broadway, Hollywood and the sports world regularly filled its 500 seats. In August 1959, the biggest star in jazz was Miles Davis, who earlier that year recorded Kind of Blue, regarded then and now as the most innovative and best jazz album of all time. The Miles Davis Sextet, as constituted that summer, was regarded as the best jazz combo ever. Honoring his love of all things jazz, Randy Ross Ph.D., an accomplished saxophonist and member of the jazz group the Blue Morning Quintet, spent several years researching Miles Davis and the amazing musicians in his Sextet. After gathering enough information to paint a clear picture of these jazz greats, Ross wrote his world premiere play BIRDLAND BLUE, directed by Ben Guillory, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The Robey Theatre Company, the group producing the show at LA Theatre Center through May 12.

As the 40th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal approaches, the city gets ready to celebrate! It marks the return of music to the streets, massive festive gatherings and fun in the downtown core, magical musical discoveries and events you simply can't miss! In other words - a memorable Montreal summer!

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce the first-ever vinyl edition ofJames Taylor's 2007 live album, One Man Band. Available June 7th, the double-LP set is pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound and pressed at RTI, this uniquely intimate performance captures Taylor at his best—paired only with his guitar, drum machine and esteemed keyboardist Larry Goldings (John Mayer, Sia, John Scofield) plus pre-recorded accompaniment of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus on “My Traveling Star” and “Shower The People.” Full of his signature wit and warmth, Taylor's anecdotes—interspersed throughout the evening—offer background on some of his most popular songs.

2019 marks the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records, one of the most revered jazz labels in the world. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Prestige was at the forefront of modern jazz, releasing sessions from some of the most influential names in music, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, and Sonny Rollins. To honor the history of this pioneering label and its exceptional output, Craft Recordings will release a variety of content throughout the year, including deluxe box sets and vinyl reissues, as well as video content and curated playlists.

The living legends of jazz, veteran musicians who have achieved greatness in performing jazz are now being honored at The Nash with the creation of The Jazz Beacon Award. Conceived by Lewis Nash as a way to recognize the important role and contributions these musicians have given to the world of jazz, The Nash inducted its first honoree, bassist Ron Carter, during his March 23rd appearance at the downtown Phoenix jazz club.

John Coltrane's breakout year, when his mature saxophone sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. The upcoming box set Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings (out March 29 (5-CD & digital formats) and April 26 (8-LP format) on Craft Recordings), chronicles that exciting year session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige label in those 12 months. The collection captures Coltrane in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.” In addition, Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings comes on the heel of the 60th anniversary of that breakthrough year, and serves as the cornerstone release marking the 70th anniversary of Prestige Records.

This winter, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival will take over the city with a jam-packed 10-day program filled with premieres, Australian exclusives and international collaborations from 31 May to 9 June 2019.

Craft Recordings has revealed the full details on their upcoming title, Poppies: Assorted Finery from the First Psychedelic Age, a compilation of 1960s-era psychedelic rock featuring cult-classic artists such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, Circus Maximus and Southwest F.O.B.

At the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco today, March 7, Grammy winning Brazilian singer and pianist Elias performs songs from her previously unreleased 1995 album devoted to composer Mitch Leigh's Tony-winning score to the Broadway hit Man of La Mancha. This concert kicks off Elias' four-night residency.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Chick Corea Trilogy with Christian McBride & Brian Blade & Special guest Joey Alexander on Friday, April 12th at 8:00 p.m.

At the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco on Thursday, March 7, Grammy winning Brazilian singer and pianist Elias performs songs from her previously unreleased 1995 album devoted to composer Mitch Leigh's Tony-winning score to the Broadway hit Man of La Mancha. This concert kicks off Elias' four-night residency.

Though it's been 52 years since his tragic passing, John Coltrane's importance and influence have never been greater. Though active for a relatively short period—from 1957 to '67—he was an intrepid spirit who developed at a feverish pace. Coltrane's breakout year, when his mature sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. Coltrane '58: The Prestige Recordings, out March 29th on Craft Recordings, is a box set (8-LP, 5-CD & digital formats) that chronicles the exciting story session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige label in those twelve months. This collection captures him in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.”

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, returns to Carnegie Hall for four concerts in March in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. The first two programs, conducted by Ádam Fischer, include Bartok's Two Pictures and Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3 and Symphony No. 3, "Eroica" on Saturday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m. Maestro Fisher returns the following afternoon, Sunday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. with Haydn's Symphony No. 97 and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, 'Turkish' featuring Leonidas Kavakos along with Mozart's Symphony No. 41, "Jupiter."