JARO PREVIEW FALL-WINTER 2014-15 by Ulrich Balß

I’ve been producing first LPs and then CDs for Jaro Medien for over 30 years. Now, in an unusual step, Jaro would like to make recommendations and forecasts, both from me as “record exec”, as well as from our employee/partners, just to keep you all up to date. We take months to develop our projects, and what’s been in our heads all that time is now either ready or in production. Here is a preview of what’s ahead for Jaro in the coming months;

First off, there’s a new release of a wonderful recording from Aquabella; “Ayadooeh!“(Jaro 4323-2) with 16 World Music “hits”, from “Pata-Pata” to “Im Nin Alu”, immortalized by Ofra Haza.  All titles are A-Cappella.

At the end of September, at long last “AtlanticBeat” from Oquestrada (Jaro 4231-2) arrives. We’ve been waiting for this, their second release, for three years. In the mean time, the band played at the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize, transmitted to 150 countries worldwide. You can see the great Youtube video of their Oslo appearance. Highly praised in their native Portugal, we can pass on these laurels in advance! Here in Germany, the invitation to Ina Müller’s Late Night Show introduced the group to a much wider public. They’ll be back in Germany, playing a tour of 10 concerts this November.

October sees the release of “Go with the wind” (Jaro 4319-2). Seven years in planning and only recently realized by Jasper Van’t Hof on church organ and Tony Lakatos on Sax. The two virtuosi are especially proud of the fact that the organ doesn’t sound “churchy“. In fact, there are some highly complex structures, especially the jazz phrasings that emerge, along with truly elegiac and often ethereal saxophone intonations of Tony Lakatos. At the beginning of November they will perform together at the Gedächtniskirche in Berlin.

I’ve just finished choosing the selections and playing order of the new CD which The American Songbirds recorded. There are live performances from their 2014 tour, including Dolly Parton’s classic “Wildflowers” and “I’m so lonesome I could cry” from the great Hank Williams. Let yourself be surprised! Their 2015 tour plans will be firmed up, also in October. The CD will release spring 2015, but exclusively for their fans and Jaro mail-order customers, it will be available for this Christmas!
You’ll love it!

With Spring arrives the third studio CD from Hazmat Modine, which will be premiered across Europe between  May 27 and the end of June. The music is already recorded, and on it’s way to be mixed and mastered in New York City in the coming months.

Rachelle Garniez, accordionist for Hazmat Modine, and one of the four American Songbirds, shares this tip: She’ll be performing a solo tour with an all-new program around Germany between October 20 and 25.  She’ll be accompanied by bassist Tim Luntzel. Billboard calls her a “Diva with a difference“, and this tour is my very personal tip as well.

We’re all excited and you’ll be delighted by all the great music coming soon from Jaro!
Ulrich Balß