Surveying the soul of pop music

Saxophonist Theresa Grayson’s “Live2Love,” a compelling mix of pop gems from past to present and soul-jazz originals, will be released November 5th.

Houston, Texas (16 September 2013): Theresa Grayson wears her passion for soulful pop music proudly. From Aretha Franklin, Hall & Oats, Sade and Tony! Toni! Toné! to Bruno Mars, Maroon 5 and John Legend, the saxophonist-flutist mines hits from decades past to present on her sophomore album, “Live2Love,” which will be released November 5th by L2L Records. The disc also showcases five soul-jazz originals, four of which were penned by Grayson including the first radio single, “Afterthoughts,” an urbane track featuring soprano sax, scat-like vocalization and live instrumentation typical of the set from producer Terence Fisher.

Grayson alternates between expressive tenor and soprano sax on “Live2Love” augmented by graceful flute flourishes. She wields soprano on the lush ‘70s retro themed “More Pressure.” The frenetic pace on “Locked Out of Heaven” gushes streams of flowing melody. Grayson presents “Sarah Smile” as a soulful tenor serenade and she surprises with soothing lead and backing vocals on “Smooth Operator.” “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” soars upon a futuristic sonicscape giving flight to the saxtress’ impassioned calls. “Moves Like Jagger” prances feverishly with a sense of urgency established by a driving beat. The stately “Natural Woman” receives an anthem-like rendering. Lights dim for “Spend My Life” and “Close Your Eyes,” seductive urban adult contemporary grooves lit by Grayson’s sensual soprano and a vocal chorus. Desire permeates the ballad “Just A Little Time” while the longing continues on the classic slow jam “It Never Rains in Southern California,” which closes the collection.

“Leading my own band for several years, I have always had a set list that mixes feel good originals and cover songs with unique arrangements that get people up dancing and my goal with ‘Live2Love’ was to capture that spirit in the studio. I’m really happy with these arrangements of songs from multiple eras, and as a songwriter and arranger, I appreciate the chance to introduce my own material. The music is a reflection of my heart and the melodies I play are the steps of my own experiences. My desire is to touch a special place in the listener’s heart and create a warm feeling of peace and happiness. I want to leave the listener smiling, knowing that this was more than just a recording, that it was a life experience that I want to share with them,” said Grayson, who will preview the album at an October 26th concert date at Sugas Deep South Cuisine & Jazz Bar in Beaumont, Texas.

Having been reared in the church, the Tyler, Texas-born and Houston-raised Grayson debuted in 2010 with “It’s All About You,” an outing comprised of inspirational instrumentals. The fashionably coiffed and flashily wardrobed Grayson has strutted her high heels on concert stages with Peter White, Mindi Abair, Michael Bolton, Will Downing, Marion Meadows and Ronnie Laws as a sidewoman and an opener. She earned a pair of master’s degrees and is pursuing a doctorate in music education. Additional information is available at http://www.TheresaGrayson.com.

Grayson’s “Live2Love” contains the following songs:

“More Pressure”

“Locked Out of Heaven”

“Sarah Smile”

“Smooth Operator”

“Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”

“Moves Like Jagger”

“Natural Woman”

“Spend My Life”

“Afterthoughts”

“Close Your Eyes”

“Just A Little Time”

“It Never Rains in Southern California”

A Master Marks A Milestone

Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan to embark on a historic 50th anniversary U.S. concert tour

accompanied by his accomplished sons-students Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan.

Houston, Texas (4 September 2013): Way back in 1963, a young sarod player from India named Amjad Ali Khan first came to perform Indian classical music for American audiences. Half a century later, the now highly-regarded master of the stringed instrument definitive of the Indian classical music sound is set to launch a 50th anniversary U.S. concert tour this Saturday in Houston, Texas. The four-week trek that runs September 7th through October 4th will incorporate a teaching residency at Indiana University, a book launch event at the Indian Consulate and a performance at the United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence in New York City (October 2nd).

Continuing a family lineage that makes him a sixth-generation performer, the Grammy-nominated Khan will be accompanied on the concert swing by his sons, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan, prodigious sarod players trained by the virtuoso. The concerts are comprised of three sections. Amjad Ali Khan performs the first half backed by a pair of tabla (percussion) players. Brothers Amaan and Ayaan perform a sarod duet to open the second half before Amjad Ali Khan joins to interact with his scions – disciples of the master – for the final portion performed as a sarod trio, during which the audiences witness the time-honored rite of passage as the father passes down his musical inheritance to his sons.

“The occasion of the 50th anniversary of my first concert in the United States allows me to reflect on the growth of Indian classical music there and change with the sarod in particular. There is no essential difference between classical and popular music. Music is music. I want to communicate with the listener who finds Indian classical music remote,” said Amjad Ali Khan, who splits his time between living in India and New York. “Since my childhood, I always wanted my instrument (sarod) to be able to express the entire range of human emotions…to sing, shout, whisper, and cry. All the emotions! It has been a long journey so far and by the benevolence of the heavens, the sarod has become far more expressive than it was 25 years ago.”

Amjad Ali Khan’s five-day residency for course credit at Indiana University from September 23-27 will examine the fundamentals of Indian classical music along with the lifestyle, relevancy to the modern world and how composition aids in the preservation of its tradition and techniques. He gave a similar class at Stanford University last winter. Having been taught by his father, Haafiz Ali Khan, Amjad Ali Khan penned a recently published book on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his father-guru’s passing entitled “My Father, Our Fraternity,” which will be feted at the Indian Consulate on October 1st in New York City.

Together the Khans have performed all over the world since 1996, including at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Kennedy Center and the Sydney Opera House. Following Indian classical music precepts, their performances are improvisational with the compositions often determined the day of the show inspired by the moods and emotions of the artists. Amjad Ali Khan, who has received esteemed honors from UNESCO, UNICEF, World Economic Forum, the Indian, French and Japanese governments and had Amjad Ali Khan Day declared by Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in 1984, considers the audience to be the soul of his motivation. The musicians collaborate with each serving as the performer, composer and conductor. Having made their U.S. debut in 1991, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan have proven their own mastery of the sarod, which has garnered awards and acclaim for recording projects in Indian classical and contemporary music settings. After the American tour, the Khans will perform in France, Belgium and Amsterdam in November and return to the U.S. in late February for concert dates through March. Additional information is available at http://www.sarod.com, http://www.AmaanAliKhan.com and http://www.AyaanAliKhan.com.

Celebrate Amjad Ali Khan’s 50th anniversary U.S. concert tour this fall with Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan on the following dates:

September 7 Houston, Texas Wortham Center (joined by Rahim AlHaj)

September 10 Philadelphia, Penna. Philadelphia Ganesh Festival

September 13 Chicago, Illinois Chicago World Music Festival

September 14 Baltimore, Maryland Johns Hopkins University

September 15 Boston, Massachusetts Berklee Performance Center

September 16 Boston, Massachusetts New England Conservatory of Music

September 19 San Francisco, Calif. SF JAZZ Center, Miner Auditorium

September 22 North Brunswick, NJ North Brunswick Township High School

September 23-27 Bloomington, Indiana Indiana University residency

September 28 Bloomington, Indiana Lotus World Music & Arts Festival

October 1 New York, New York Book launch at the Indian Consulate

October 2 New York, New York UN’s International Day of Non-Violence (private)

October 4 Louisville, Kentucky Kentucky Center for the Arts