Motéma’s Kellylee Evans, Jon Regan, The Cookers & Monty Alexander

MOTEMA MUSIC RELEASES U.S. DEBUT OF CANADIAN JAZZ/SOUL/HIP HOP STAR KELLYLEE EVANS AND SIGNS SINGER/SONGWRITER/PIANIST JON REGEN

JULY 22nd RELEASE
Motéma Releases U.S. Debut by Canadian Jazz/Soul/Hip Hop Star Kellylee Evans / First Video “And So We Dance” Premiered This Month By Wall Street Journal & OkayPlayer. Dynamic, hip and modern, the Juno Award-winning effervescent jazz and soul vocalist Kellylee Evans makes her U.S. debut with the critically acclaimed recording, I Remember When. Blending soul, R&B and hip-hop, it re-imagines modern hits from hip-hop, soul and R&B heavy hitters including Dr. Dre, Eminem, Stromae, John Legend and Kanye West. Her first video “And So We Dance” was premiered by Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog and OkayPlayer. Recently featured at the City of Philadelphia’s annual Welcome America week-long Independence Day celebration, Kellyee’s New York City CD release celebration is set for September 9th at Subculture.

Taiwanese World Music Group A Moving Sound Tours 23 Cities on Three Continents from July to October / U.S. Tour Dates in September. In 2011 Motéma introduced this extraordinary group, featuring ethereal vocalist Mia Hseih, to much acclaim on NPR’s All Things Considered, Huffington Post and by The Guardian among others. This summer A Moving Sound embarked on its most extensive international tour ever, visiting 23 cities on three continents. Their U.S. tour begins in September.

Pedrito Martinez Group Named One of “80 Coolest Things in Jazz Today” by DownBeat Magazine. The dazzling conguero Pedrito Martinez and his group were recently selected by esteemed jazz magazine DownBeat as one of the “80 coolest things in jazz.” We knew that! The pick is part of DownBeat’s 80th anniversary celebration and is found in their 80th anniversary collectors edition.

Motéma Signs Singer/Songwriter and Acclaimed Pianist Jon Regen to A Multi-Album Deal / Label Debut in 2015 To Be Produced by Famed Producer Mitchell Froom. New York City-based singer/songwriter/pianist Jon Regen, a piano protégé of Kenny Barron who is often compared to Harry Connick, Jr., Randy Weston and Billy Joel, just signed to Motema. Regen’s 2011 self-released album Revolution garnered critical acclaim and his 2013 instrumental release, Change Your Mind, hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts.He just made headlines at the Jazz à Juan Festival and will return to the U.S. to head into the studio this summer with legendary producer Mitchell Froom (Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Randy Newman) to record his new album, slated for spring 2015.

Monty Alexander Signed by Booking Agency Unlimited Myles. The great Jamaican jazz pianist and composer Monty Alexander was just signed to the noted booking agency Unlimited Myles. Currently on his acclaimed worldwide 70-city Harlem Kingston Express Vol 2: The River Rolls On tour, Alexander is a revered performer who only seems to be getting hotter in his 70th decade.

The Cookers Just Completed 4th Album which Debuts Donald Harrison With the Group. Now on their most robust tour to date, The Cookers will release their new album, Time and Time Again – which features the debut by saxophonist Donald Harrison with the group – on September 16th .

2014 ANNOUNCED RELEASES

JULY
(22) KellyLee Evans: I Remember When

AUGUST
(19) Awa Sangho: Ala Ta
(19) Michael Carvin: Flash Forward

SEPTEMBER
(16) The Cookers: Time and Time Again
(19) Omer Avital: New Song
(19) Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetze – Griot: The Soundtrack

NOVEMBER
(4) Koko Jones: Who’s That Lady?
(4) Roberta Donnay & Her Prohibition Mob Band: Bathtub Gin

KEY MOTEMA NYC EVENTS COMING UP

JULY
(17) Joe Locke Group featuring Jim Ridl, Clarence Penn, Lorin Cohen and vocalist Kenny Washington at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center.
(20) Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland Jazz Club.
(27) Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland Jazz Club.

AUGUST
(3) Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland Jazz Club.
(8) Awa Sangho at Drom.
(17) Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland Jazz Club.
(24) Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland Jazz Club.
(31) Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra at Birdland Jazz Club.