Today we release the final single before the release of the upcoming album "Life Enigma" by violin-virtuoso Jean Luc Ponty. Enjoy "Even The Sun Will Die" now and experience the skill and virtuosity of Jean Luc Ponty yourself.
Originally released in 2001 this record shows Ponty on top of his game, blending different genres into a cohesive and exciting album.
You can pre-order your copy here: https://MPS.lnk.to/LifeEnigmaFA
Signals From Planet Earth
After the great success of "The Infinite Human Caravan" we present you the 2. single from the upcoming album "Life Enigma" by Jean Luc Ponty: "Signals From Planet Earth"!
This clever composition could have been used as film or game music any day of the week and surprises the listener with new hidden nuances around every corner of the track.
Give it a listen here: https://MPS.lnk.to/Signals
Originally released in 2001, "Life Enigma" by Jean Luc Ponty was a modern masterpiece back 23 years ago. If you listen to the music now, you could still say the same, nobody would suspect the music to be almost a quarter century old.
Even better so that MPS is bringing back this special album! Including a brand new artwork, as well as new liner notes by Jean Luc Ponty himself.
Today also marks the release of the first single "The Infinite Human Caravan", a perfect example for the pioneering mind of Ponty and his band.
Pre-order the album now and take a listen here: https://MPS.lnk.to/LifeEnigmaFA
Go check out the full interview with Ed Motta where he talks about his new album "Behind The Tea Chronicles" that was released by MPS. Get to know Ed and his ideas behind the album and explore his world of music & art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6-p5Ybgnyc
Ed Motta's new album "Behind The Tea Chronicles" is out today!
Listen or buy: https://MPS.lnk.to/BehindTheTeaChroniclesFA
His 14th studio album discovers cinematic moods and draws inspiration from old TV series and movies, taking the audience on a musical journey that crosses over musical borders. With exciting songwriting and heartfelt lyrics, Ed Motta delivers an album that shows all his skill and highlights the amazing musicians that are playing alongside him.
Today MPS releases "The Best Of The MPS Years" with Monty Alexander. Starting the MPS collaboration in 1971 with "Here Comes The Sun", Monty Alexander had started to establishe himself as one of the great pianist of jazz early in his career. So it's no surprise that this compilation shows the amazing journey he took in the course of his still ongoing career: Featuring great artists like Ernest Ranglin and John Clayton along the way, this release includes some of the best songs Monty ever recorded. With tracks from his legendary 1977 live performance in Montreux to his reggae influence on Cobilimbo and Rass!, everyone can enjoy the different sides of Monty’s play.
Pre-order and listen now: https://MPS.lnk.to/MontyAlexanderBestOfMPSFA
Volker Kriegel - Inside: Missing Link
Today we release a special reissue for all the jazz rock fans - Volker Kriegel's "Inside: Missing Link". This magnificent opus from 1972 shows a then 28 year old Kriegel and his band - including Albert Mangelsdorff, Alan Skidmore, Heinz Sauer, John Taylor, Eberhard Weber and other greats - at their absolute best. From groovy guitar and ryhthm parts to perfected solos throughout the album, this gem comes as a 2 LP Gatefold or 2 CD Digipak. Devided into two parts, one session was played with a quartet dominated by the guitar as lead instrument, the other as an octet including wind instruments showcasing a "freer" way of playing jazz. Remastering from the original master tapes has been done by Grammy-nominee Christoph Stickel. Additional liner notes were written by Olaf Stötzler. Listen or buy now: https://VA.lnk.to/InsideMissingLinkFA
Tony Scott & The Indonesian All Stars - Djanger Bali
Today is the day - after decades of not being available the legendary "Djanger Bali" album is finally brought back by MPS. The unique band formed by Tony Scott & The Indonesian Allstars in the mid-60s delivers an amazing performance, crossing over genres and adapting the style of Indonesian Gamelan music into the recordings of western jazz. Viewed as a true collectors item, we are very happy to bring you this special release as a AAA remaster (vinyl). "Djanger Bali" is available as gatefold LP and CD digipak with carefully designed new booklets. Get your copy today!
https://MPS.lnk.to/DjangerBali2023FA
Nathan Davis - The Hip Walk
It's almost time - After decades, Nathan Davis' "The Hip Walk" will be reissued by MPS for the first time! If you haven't heard of this amazing record you're in luck today: take a first sneak peak and take a listen to the titel track of this special recording. With Francy Boland on piano, Kenny Clarke on drums, Jimmy Woode on bass, together with Carmell Jones on trumpet, this star studded recording is one of the best by Nathan Davis. Fun fact: who would have guessed that Nathan played the trombone before switiching over to the sax? Pre-order your copy today!
https://MPS.lnk.to/TheHipWalk2023FA
Ed Motta - Safely Far
MPS is proud to announce the signing of Brazilian jazz- and soul-star Ed Motta and to reveal his new single!
“Safely Far”, the first single from the upcoming Ed Motta album "Behind The Tea Chronicles" is out now! Listen and watch the lyric video:
https://MPS.lnk.to/SafelyFarFA
After a five year break the “Colossus of Rio” is back with his 14th studio album, taking us on a journey, crossing musical boarders and inviting you to listen not only to groovy soulful songs but also to dive into almost cinematic moods. Ed Motta about his new album: "I wanted to create something truly unique with 'Behind The Tea Chronicles.' Movies and old TV series have always had a profound impact on my imagination and musicality. I wanted to pay homage to those influences and use them as connecting points to craft an album that is not only musically engaging but also takes listeners on a nostalgic and cinematic journey. It is an ode to the freedom and a commitment to the art."
Behind The Tea Chronicles is slated for release on October 20th, 2023. Prepare to be transported into a world of captivating melodies and evocative storytelling as Ed Motta unleashes his musical genius once again. Behind The Tea Chronicles will be released as a 1LP, digipak and digitally.
Julia Kadel Trio - Powerful Vulnerability
"Powerful Vulnerability" - Julia Kadel Trio // Out May 26th
Listen or buy: https://MPS.lnk.to/JuliaKadelTrio-PVFA
"Vulnerability is one of the keys to more strength. It contains a power and potential and at the same time a hope for more stability and connection to oneself as well as to others. I wish there were more spaces where people can show themselves vulnerable."
MPS XMAS 2022
We're wishing everyone a wonderful festive season which you can hopefully spend with your loved ones. As every year we will put on Christmas by The Singers Unlimited and can only recommend it to eveyone enjoying beautiful Christmas tunes.
Stay safe and all the best wishes! Your MPS team
Christmas by The Singers Unlimited: https://MPS.lnk.to/tsu_christmasFA
Robben Ford & Bill Evans - Passaic
"Passaic" the third and final single from Robben Ford Music and Bill Evans upcoming album "Common Ground" is out today.
Listen here: https://MPS.lnk.to/PassaicFA
Two weeks to go until the album is released, but beside the single we have another treat for you. You can now listen to snippets from all of the tracks from the album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N0OeEdVT_k
Robben ford & Bill Evans - Common Ground
Robben Ford Music & Bill Evans- Common Ground. Out September 30th.
Pre-order: https://MPS.lnk.to/CommonGroundFA
Recorded in Nashville, this jazz rock album features a first-class rhythm section with bassist Darryl Jones (recording and touring with the Rolling Stones since 1993 and former sideman of Miles David and Sting) and drummer Keith Carlock (currently a touring member of Steely Dan).
“It’s always a great and sought-after pleasure to work with some of the best musicians in contemporary music, and making this record was for me one of those occasions." Robben Ford
Sentimental Mode Teaser
Stay tuned for "Sentimental Mode", the next single from Robben Ford Music and Bill Evans upcoming album Common Ground.
Pre-order the album: https://MPS.lnk.to/CommonGroundFA
Jean Luc Ponty - Sunday Walk
Jean-Luc Ponty - Sunday Walk (2022 Remaster) / CD, LP, Digital
Listen or buy: https://MPS.lnk.to/SundayWalkFA
“The re-issue of this album by MPS makes me extremely happy as I consider it to be one of my best recordings from the 60s. “ Jean-Luc Ponty
Legendary drummer Kenny Clarke com-pared Jean-Luc Ponty to Dizzy Gillespie. Fellow violinist Stuff Smith marveled, “He plays violin like Coltrane plays saxophone.” Born in 1942, the French violinist trans-ported jazz violin playing into the world of modern jazz. On Frank Zappa’s urging, Ponty moved to the States in 1973. Over the next years he toured with Zappa as well as the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In 1975 he founded his own band and became one of the most prominent figures of the jazz-fusion movement in the USA, selling millions of albums that all reached the top of the U.S. charts
On the 1967 Sunday Walk the band saunters through two blues, a waltz, and a standard before reaching Suite for Claudia which begins at a blistering pace with Ponty’s saxophone-like “brilliance and fire” playing. It then settles into a medium swing groove with Wolfgang Dauner’s infectious piano play followed by a smoldering Ponty. Daniel Humair’s crisp drum solo segues into a heart-felt waltz. After all, this was written for Ponty’s wife. Ponty is here with a group of Europe’s finest at their youthful best. The way they play, it’s all a walk in the park. Beside Dauner and Humair, legendary bass player Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen completes Ponty’s quartet.
Jim Hall - It's Ncie To Be with You
JIM HALL - IT'S NICE TO BE WITH YOU (2022 CD + LP Reissue)
Pre-order or listen now: https://MPS.lnk.to/JimHallInBerlinFA
American guitarist Jim Hall resides at the top of the jazz guitar pantheon. At the time of his death in 2013 at the age of 83, he had long been considered one of the jazz greats, a major influence on generations of jazz guitarists. It seems that virtually every major musician wanted to play with Hall. His work as a sideman ranged from swing era giant Ben Webster to new music pioneer Ornette Coleman. HIs recording credits include a series of classic albums with groups headed by Jimmy Guiffre, Sonny Rollins, and Bill Evans; Hall often spoke of Rollins and Evans as two of his major influences. This intimate June 1969 musical get-together was due in large extent to the close friendship between the Hall and legendary German writer/critic and producer Joachim-Ernst Berendt. As Hall, his wife and daughter were visiting him in Berlin, Berendt noticed that, although he had been recording extensively with a number of major jazz figures over the last years, including several collaborative get-togethers, Hall had not recorded an album solely under his own name in over a decade. Berendt immediately set up a trio recording for Hall that included two internationally renowned musicians with whom Hall had previously worked, the Afro-American expatriate bassist Jim Woode and Swiss-French drummer Daniel Humair. In such a transparent setting, Hall unfurled his finest qualities. Humair perceptively summed it up: Hall played with “more clarity, more purity, more sensitivity” than any other guitarist of the period. It resulted in an album of intensely introspective music.
Alphonse Mouzon - By All Means
Alphonse Mouzon - By All Means (2022 Reissue)
Feat. Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour & Freddie Hubbard
Remastered from the original master tapes
Pre-order here (CD, Vinyl, Digital): https://MPS.lnk.to/ByAllMeansFP
At the time of his death in 2016 at the age of 68, drummer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Alphonse Mouzon had for decades been a major force within the jazz, fusion, R&B and pop arenas. The early eighties was a time when Mouzon toyed with disco and channelled funk. His musical amalgam was a far cry from the Saturday Night Fever brand – he brought more funk, more soul, more spontaneous creativity into the mix.
For By All Means, Mouzon brought together musicians who were masters in virtually any musical style. The rhythm section belonged to the who’s who of the LA studio scene. Electric bassist Scott Edwards had worked with such stars as Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & Aretha Franklin. 21-year-old guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. was just beginning his stellar career, had recorded with Aretha Franklin and within a few years he would participate in Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Bad and would go on to work with the likes of Elton John, George Duke, Al Jarreau, and Marcus Miller. Lee Ritenour began playing and recording with Mouzon in 1974. At the age of 17, Ritenour first worked with Tony Bennett. He was also brought in to put a little more rock in the rock ’n roll of a couple of takes on Pink Floyd’s seminal “The Wall". Over the years he has recorded with many of the giants of pop, rock, and jazz, and his own recordings have had a slew of Grammy nominations. Herbie Hancock stands beside Mouzon as the other major presence on the recording. Like Mouzon, at the beginning of the eighties he delved into disco, adding danceable grooves to the mix. During this period Mouzon was Herbie’s drummer on four of Hancock’s albums, so it seems appropriate that these two like-minded musicians came together for this recording. The Seawind Horns provide the last
