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 Celebrated Singer/Songwriter Joni Mitchell Marks Her Return

LOS ANGELES, July 25, 2007 – Hear Music announced today that legendary singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell will be the next artist signed to the newly formed label.  Hear Music will release "Shine," a 10-song collection which follows Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full" as the second album released on the label. Starting on September 25 "Shine" will be available in the U.S. and Canada at both traditional retailers and Starbucks Company-operated locations.  Other global markets will release the album the week of September 24.

"I am thrilled to be able to work with the Hear Music label on my new CD," said Mitchell.  "Starbucks and Concord Music Group are joining me in releasing a project which has enabled me to appreciate what I loved about making music in the first place.  I am very grateful to them."

Described by Mitchell as "as serious a work as I've ever done," "Shine" presents beautiful melodies, dark lyrics and a sparseness that recalls and even progresses beyond some the artist's most seminal recordings. Much of the lyrical content reflects Mitchell's social and theological consciousness and her longtime plea for the health of the planet.

"Joni's voice, both in the physical and lyrical sense, is as powerful as ever," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment who also oversees Hear Music. "In addition to her extraordinary songwriting ability, she is a Renaissance artist in the every sense and we are honored to release this timely and exceptionally moving work."

Born out of a burst of creative energy, "Shine" is one of three new artistic endeavors launched by Mitchell this year.  The first, "The Fiddle and the Drum," a ballet based on Mitchell's music, debuted with the Alberta Ballet in Calgary earlier this year with Mitchell serving as co-creator and artistic director.  The second is a politically charged visual art exhibit by Mitchell that will debut in New York in the fall.

Two songs included on "Shine," "If" (based on Mitchell's favorite poem by Rudyard Kipling) and "If I Had a Heart," were featured in the "The Fiddle and The Drum" when it premiered on February 8, 2007. It was then that The New York Times described Mitchell's "If I Had a Heart" as "one of the most haunting melodies she has ever written." The album also contains a joyous reinterpretation of her classic hit song, "Big Yellow Taxi" which was also featured in the ballet.

All music on "Shine" was composed, arranged and produced by Joni Mitchell. All lyrics were written by Joni Mitchell except "If" which was adapted from Rudyard Kipling's "If."

Track Listing

1.      One Week Last Summer

2.      This Place

3.      If I Had a Heart

4.      Hana

5.      Bad Dreams are Good

6.      Big Yellow Taxi

7.      Night of the Iguana

8.      Strong and Wrong

9.      Shine

10.       If

Fantasy Records to Release Light Your Light, the New Album from Toots & The Maytals

In Stores August 28, 2007, Light Your Light, Which Features Appearances by Bonnie Raitt and Derek Trucks, is his Debut for the Label

New York, NY – On August 28, 2007 Fantasy Records will release Light Your Light, the latest album from Toots & The Maytals.  On the heels of his Grammy triumph for 2004's True Love, Toots comes roaring back with an equally powerful collection of standards and instant classics.

Produced by the masterful Richard Feldman, Light Your Light revisits some of Toots' favorite compositions, shining a modern light on hits such as "Johnny Coolman," which features an appearance by guitarist Derek Trucks, and "Pain in My Heart", an homage to Otis Redding.  "I listen to Otis. He was my tutor.  That love I have for him, it's like my brother.  I pick 'Pain in My Heart' so people bring back memories of him."  He goes on to say, "Not a lot of people can do Otis and have that kind of range.  He was a bigger guy than me and I just try to sing like him." 

On the track "Light U Light", Toots urges people "to really try to live upright and show love to who you meet, whether black or white, no matter who.  Let your light shine among people, among God."  He wants fans to hold their lighter high, but be cautious "mind you burn your finger."  The album also gets a little help from the incredibly vibrant Bonnie Raitt who joins Toots on the track, "Premature." 

 "Don't Bother Me" and "Do You Remember" draw on youthful memories of love and larceny. "I Got A Woman" receives a "Kingston" twist. "Love So Strong" and "Celia" are geared to the ladies.  The songs feature the raw intensity and knock out vocal performances Toots is known for.  All together, they provide evidence that the tribute to Toots at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2007 was well deserved.  One of ska and reggae's founding fathers, Toots is stronger than ever in this new century as he continues to light his light for a new generation of fans.

Tracklistings:

1. Johnny Coolman (featuring Derek Trucks)
2. Premature (featuring Bonnie Raitt)
3. Pain In My Heart
4. Love So Strong
5. Don't Bother Me
6. Celia
7. Image Get A Lick
8. I Gotta Woman
9. See The Light
10. Tribute (Guns of Navarone)
11. Do You Remember
12. Light U Light

GRAMMY-NOMINATED TRUMPETER CHRISTIAN SCOTT TO RELEASE HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED  SOPHOMORE ALBUM ANTHEM ON AUGUST 28, 2007

"Christian Scott is one of the most progressive musicians of our time.  He embodies the same thing we all loved about Miles Davis, in the way that he's pushing the envelope and breaking new musical ground.  More than a great jazz musician, Christian Scott is a great artist and truly unique voice in music." – Randy Jackson

New York, NY – On August 28, 2007, Concord Jazz will release Anthem, the highly anticipated sophomore album from Grammy-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott.  Anthem is a powerful collection of 12 tracks teeming with jazz, fusion, rock, neo-soul and hip-hop and features an appearance by Brother J of X-Clan on the finale track "Anthem (Postdiluvial Adaptation)".  The tracks on the album give us a taste of Christian's hometown, New Orleans, and the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, however it also reflects the many changes Scott has gone through since releasing his debut album in 2006.  "My life changed completely.  So, the compositions on Anthem aren't just about one thing" he says.  "There's something here for everybody so that everyone can hear their own personal anthems."     

Anthem follows Christian's critically-acclaimed debut album Rewind That.  Released on March 28, 2006, Rewind That received rave reviews from the press.  Billboard Magazine named him one of the "Top Ten to Watch in 2006."  The LA Daily News raved, "The major-label debut from this jazz trumpeter has been generating no small amount of hype – and in this case, the accolades are deserved.  Rewind That is the real deal."  Journalists weren't the only people praising Christian.  In an interview with Downbeat Magazine Chris Botti said, "Lately I've been listening to a lot of CDs by new trumpeters. The only one I like is Christian's. He's the new voice in jazz trumpet.  I love his point of view.  He doesn't sound like any other young trumpet player."  The Recording Academy took notice and nominated Christian for his first Grammy Award. 

The accolades caught the eye of quite a few industry heavyweights.  He recently went into the studio with Prince to record a few songs for Prince's new album and also shared the stage with him at Prince's venue in Las Vegas, 3121 in the Rio Hotel.  Christian recently wrapped a session with Randy Jackson for Randy's new album coming this fall and performed with Mos Def at his sold out show at New York's Highline Ballroom.  Christian is also taking his talents to the big screen.  He was asked to appear and perform in the new Steven Soderbergh film, "Leatherheads" starring George Clooney and Renee Zellweger.

Tracklisting:

     1.    Litany Against Fear  (5:51)

     2.    Void  (5:00)

     3.    Anthem (Antediluvian Adaptation)  (7:25)

     4.    Re:  (2:14)

     5.    Cease Fire  (5:48)

     6.    Dialect  (4:40)

     7.    Remains Distant  (5:29)

     8.    The Uprising (5:42)

     9.    Katrina's Eyes (6:37)

   10.    The 9  (4:51)

   11.    Like That  (6:41)

   12.    Anthem (Postdiluvial Adaptation) - Feat. Brother J of X-Clan  (4:56)

Paul McCartney will appear on NPR's World Cafe on Friday, July 6th, 2007!

Hosted by David Dye, National Public Radio's World Cafe can be heard on nearly 200 stations nationwide.  To find out which of your local stations broadcast The World Cafe, please check out Worldcafe.org or listen online to the WXPN/Philadelphia stream Monday to Friday 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time by going to  xpn.org/listen.php.

Late in the day of broadcast, the audio will also be available on the National Public Radio website at:  

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4724307

Please tune in!

Chick Corea & Bela Fleck will appear on NPR's World Cafe on Friday, June 29th, 2007!

Hosted by David Dye, National Public Radio's World Cafe can be heard on nearly 200 stations nationwide.  To find out which of your local stations broadcast The World Cafe, please check out Worldcafe.org or listen online to the WXPN/Philadelphia stream Monday to Friday 2pm to 4pm Eastern Standard Time by going to  xpn.org/listen.php.

Late in the day of broadcast, the audio will also be available on the National Public Radio website at:  

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4724307

Please tune in!

"Memory Almost Full" Ships Gold AND AN ESTIMATED SIX MILLION PEOPLE HEAR ALBUM AT STARBUCKS GLOBAL LISTENING EVENT  

LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2007 – Hailed as one of the best albums in Paul McCartney's solo career, "Memory Almost Full" was released yesterday to widespread critical acclaim from publications including Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, People Magazine and The New Yorker to name a few.  Hear Music's inaugural release, "Memory Almost Full" shipped more than 500,000 copies. In addition, the video, "Dance Tonight" has been added in medium rotation at VH1 and the radio single "Ever Present Past" continues to maintain a strong presence across multiple radio formats including AAA, Classic Rock and AC. An estimated six million people heard the new album in a single day as part of Starbucks unprecedented Global Listening Event where more than 10,000 Starbucks locations in 29 countries and territories played the album across all time zones.

"Memory Almost Full," reunites McCartney with longtime producer and friend David Kahne and provides a very personal retrospective drawing upon childhood memories from Liverpool, summers long gone, and the times spent writing music with John Lennon.  McCartney will discuss the new album with xx on ABC's Good Morning America on June 7.

Here's what critics are saying about McCartney's new album:

"This majestically reminds us, there's only one Paul McCartney." -Q Magazine

"His most vibrant record in years."  -Newsweek

"It's his version of Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind…if Time Out of Mind had cutthroat pop instincts and whistling solos. A- " -Entertainment Weekly

"...his lyrical reverie is countered with a propulsive rhythm and melody that keep him philosophically moving forward." - Los Angeles Times

"...With this album he looks inward, reflecting on his past and reaching toward the future with a mix of wistfulness, irony and hope."             -USA Today

"..the five track sequence that (almost) closes the album offers a dramatic contemplation of mortality from boyhood to the inevitable finale of death. It's a curious, affecting sequence… 5 Stars" -Observer Music Monthly (5 Stars), UK

'McCartney's first release on Starbucks's own imprint means that this surprisingly magnanimous record will be the strongest item on the menu.'  -The Times (4/5), UK

"...one of his most consistent albums in years - a worthy addition to his historically impressive catalog." -Newsday

"It is McCartney once again doing what he always did best: singing a sad song and making it better."  -The Chicago Tribune

"Memory Almost Full contains some of his most joyous tunes since he sang about Silly Love Songs.  There's much to admire here."  - The Sun (4/5), UK

About Hear Music

Hear Music is an innovative record label and partnership between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group.  Rooted in quality, authenticity and passion, Hear Music works directly with artists, both emerging and established, to bring quality music to the widest possible audience, in both Starbucks locations and traditional music retailers worldwide.

For official Paul McCartney news and information go to www.paulmccartney.com

Hi all,

Check out the great Ozo feature which ran on NRP's Weekend Edition Saturday!!

NPR