THE CONTEST HAS CLOSED AND WE’LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER SOON. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS!

Special thanks to Joel Dinerstein, Tulane University American studies professor and jazz author, for assisting Dan Storper, Founder and CEO of Putumayo, on this post.

Putumayo’s new CD release, Jazz, which is now available in most Whole Foods Market stores, features legends such as Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley and many others performing beloved American standards. (Read on for a chance to win a 4-CD jazz collection from Putumayo.)

The late 1950s was a golden age for jazz and three-quarters of this collection was recorded in that period. Through recent sound engineering breakthroughs, most tracks have been significantly re-mastered, providing a sound quality only available in the last few years. The CD also features rare, full-page archival photos of each artist performing and extensive liner notes by Joel Dinerstein.

As Professor Dinerstein explains, “Jazz is an art form of ensemble individuality. First, a jazz artist has to develop a unique, identifiable voice — a combination of tone, style and phrasing that creates an instantly recognizable sound. Just as no one would mistake Billie Holiday’s vocal phrasing for Anita O’Day’s, Oscar Peterson’s piano style is easily distinguishable from Hampton Hawes’, as is Chet Baker’s trumpet playing from Louis Armstrong’s. A great jazz vocalist inhabits a song as if it were a one-act play told by a first-person narrator as the musical scenery constantly, subtly shifts to mirror the twists and turns of the singer’s emotional dynamics.

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We’re excited about showcasing Brett Dennen in April’s “Artist Discovery” initiative. Brett’s new CD, “Loverboy,” comes out April 12 and is already creating quite a buzz. Brett opened for John Mayer and has toured with Dave Matthews, Rodrigo y Gabriela and the John Butler Trio. He’s also made big splashes at Bonarroo, Austin City Limits, Coachella, and the Newport Folk Festival. You may also have heard his work on Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood, House – or a slew of other shows. We hope you enjoy his music along with his tips for eating healthy while on the road.

I eat very healthy. Ninety percent healthy. The other ten percent of the time I allow myself to indulge; but for the most part, I’m healthy. I consume lots of raw foods and when I eat cooked foods, they tend to be whole foods: vegetables, sea veggies and quinoa. I am pretty much a vegetarian, except for seafood. I love sushi! I love oysters!

Whenever I explain my eating habits to people, I always hear, “How do you eat healthy on the road?” It’s actually quite easy. Every city of some significance has a Whole Foods Market, or something similar. At every venue I ask that they stock up on foods I like so that it is there waiting for me when I arrive. When I have some time to kill, I go out shopping and stock up on items to put on the bus for days off or for some of the places I may go where I know that healthy food is harder to find.

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THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS! CONGRATULATIONS TO MICHAEL DIPIETRO FROM NEW YORK CITY FOR WINNING THE 5-CD SET FROM PUTUMAYO’S “DREAMLAND” SERIES.

Read on to enter to win a 5-CD set from Putumayo’s Dreamland series. Dan Storper is the CEO and Founder of Putumayo World Music.

Over the years, Putumayo Kids, which began in 1999, has released 20 CD collections to help introduce children to other cultures through fun music from around the world. Though best known for its fun, upbeat Playground series, Putumayo Kids has been quietly releasing albums that have become staples for parents to help their young children fall asleep. Surprisingly, parents have enjoyed these Dreamland CDs as much as their kids! They help just about anyone relax and wind down after the stresses of the day.

With Acoustic Dreamland, I wanted to bring together beautiful English-language songs recorded by some off my favorite performers of adult and children’s music. We’ve also included a mini-storybook featuring the lyrics of the song Dreamland that parents and children can read or sing along to. Written by Mary Chapin Carpenter and sung by Lucy Kaplansky, it’s a lovely tale of falling asleep and dreaming of distant places. I’ve tested these songs on my 5-year-old son and they have really helped him ease into sleep.

In addition to original songs, the collection also features songs written by James Taylor (You Can Close Your Eyes), Allman Brothers (Blue Sky) and Wilco (My Darling).

You’ll find Acoustic Dreamland in most Whole Foods Market stores now. Do you like to fall asleep listening to music? What are your favorite relaxing tunes? Leave a comment below by March 8th for a chance to win a 5 CD collection from our Dreamland series.

Musical powerhouses John Legend & The Roots are presenting fans with a fiery new offering, WAKE UP! This CD, available in Whole Foods Market stores now, features soulful music from the 60′s and 70′s all with an underlying theme of awareness, engagement and consciousness- effectively telling listeners to WAKE UP! (Read on for a chance to win an autographed CD.)

The album features eleven evocative songs infused with sounds of gospel, rock and reggae inflections with hip-hop influences. The album is highlighted by familiar tracks like “Wholly Holy” by Marvin Gaye and “Little Ghetto Boy” by Donny Hathaway mixed with the more obscure selections of Baby Huey and the Babysitters’ “Hard Times,” and “Hang on in There” by Mike James Kirkland.

The album features one original composition, Legend’s song “Shine,” which is featured in Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim’s upcoming documentary film Waiting for Superman. The song, a “Stevie-Wonder-meets-gospel” stunner, clearly demonstrates the strengths of this specific group of musicians.

WAKE UP! blends Legend’s expressive, thoughtful vocal interpretations with an element of funk that only The Roots can provide. Watch to John Legend & The Roots talk about what this album means to them in this video about the Making of WAKE UP!

Got a favorite song that helps you wake up to the needs of the world around us? Leave a comment below by October 13th telling us what it is and we’ll pick three random winners to receive a CD and poster. One of the CDs is even autographed!

An inspired indie band dedicated to the environment? Music to our ears! Fifteen years into their career, Guster is operating at the peak of their creative powers,creating inspired music and practices for the entire music industry. In 2004, band member Adam Gardner and his wife Lauren Sullivan started Reverb – a non-profit organization dedicated to greening musicians’ tours. Since its inception, Reverb has helped transform the touring practices of over 100 major tours including Coldplay, John Legend, and many others.

Give a listen to Guster’s new album, Easy Wonderful — a sneak preview for Whole Story readers since the album comes out in stores next week. And check out Adam’s musing below about “What does Guster have to do with Whole Foods?”

Guster "Easy Wonderful" by guster

From Adam Gardner:

Hey there, this is Adam, Guster’s guitarist/vocalist. If you’re wondering, “What does Guster have to do with Whole Foods?” That’s a fair question. The answer is until recently, nothing. But then something changed — we realized how we share the same passion for protecting the planet and have joined forces to try to make good stuff happen on a local, national and global scale. Read the rest of this entry »

Would you like to do some good for others while enjoying some good family tunes? Many Hands fits the bill. This nationally-released and critically acclaimed CD, now available in Whole Foods Markets, was produced by Dog on Fleas’ Dean Jones, and it includes new songs by Pete Seeger, Dan Zanes, They Might Be Giants, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Elizabeth Mitchell, Randy Kaplan, Recess Monkey and many other top family music artists. All profits from this release will benefit the Haitian People’s Support Project and their long-standing work to help the people of Haiti.

After the January 12th, 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of the Haitian capital, family musician Dean Jones (Dog on Fleas) found himself feeling helpless and desperately wanting to help the people of Haiti. Having close friends in Haiti and feeling a deep love and respect for the music from the region, Jones felt the need to create something that could help the ongoing rebuilding effort.

The idea for Many Hands came to him in the middle of the night and the very next day several of his fellow family musicians signed on. Almost all of the tracks on the album are previously unreleased, most of them recorded especially for this release. The gathering of artists featured here is a strong assortment of the unique and special talents creating and performing for today’s all ages audiences, from the legendary Pete Seeger to family hip-hop star Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. In addition, everyone involved in the process of getting this album out into the world from replication to distribution has also either drastically discounted or donated their services.

Pick up the CD in our stores and go to the ManyHandsCD website to learn about CD release shows around the country. If you happen to be in the Northampton, MA area this weekend, check out the family benefit concert for Haiti at the Pines Theater on Sunday, September 26th.

Thanks to Sean Johnson, Founder of Wild Lotus Yoga studio in New Orleans, who collaborated closely with Putumayo on this project and provided this blog post.

Yoga is Putumayo’s first CD release featuring songs selected to accompany yoga practice and serve as a relaxing soundtrack for daily life. Rooted in ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions, the practice of yoga has evolved over the past 5,000 years. Adopted by millions of people around the world, yoga provides a vehicle for greater health and spiritual awareness. Music has long had a close relationship with yoga, particularly in the Bhakti tradition, which incorporates musical chants into its practice.

With his extensive background as a yoga instructor and musician, Sean Johnson, founder of Wild Lotus Yoga studio in New Orleans, collaborated closely with Putumayo on this project. Combining songs used in his classes with Putumayo’s global research, Yoga creates a musical flow that works as well during yoga practice as at home for meditation or relaxation. Sean’s expansive liner notes, which include a glossary of yoga terms, will help people better understand the practice of yoga and its relationship to music. Read the rest of this entry »

Podcast: Download

Thanks to Jimmy Dunne, President of Inspire – a music and branding company partnering on music initiatives with Whole Foods Market – for providing this blog post.

It’s a rare occasion that the celebrated singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne offers insight into his persona beyond the music. He is a character steeped in lore and mystique… he doesn’t let us know exactly when the heartbreak began in his tender songs, or in his quiet life.

The exclusive interview we have for you (see the video below) won’t answer that question. Nonetheless, we are grateful to Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs and RCA/Jive Records for providing us with an enticing interview that reaffirms the mystery surrounding Ray’s music, and that shows the sincerity of his relationship with his band-mates. As the band and Ray describe, their acclaimed new album arose magically, out of thin-air sessions of musical honesty between trusted friends.

Grammy nominated Ray Lamontagne’s heartbreak-tinged songs spring with the southern blues and spontaneity of The Pariah Dogs. God Willin’and the Creek Don’t Rise is rainy moonlight on the front porch, the voice of a man mustering up just enough spirit to sing the truth. Enjoy a listen to two songs from this fantastic new release…

Beg Steal or Borrow

For The Summer

We’re proud to be selling Ray Lamontagne’s wonderful new CD in your local Whole Foods Market. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Thanks to Jimmy Dunne, President of Inspire – a music and branding company partnering on music initiatives with Whole Foods Market – for providing this blog post.

It takes a special artistry to write an honest pop song. Truthful songwriters touch on our dark sides in order to achieve the light- but few manage to get us to dance. Introducing The Weepies: a band that will have you smiling- and spinning- as they transform human frailty into an excuse to celebrate true love. You can listen to their entire new album, Be My Thrill, right here.

The Weepies - Be My Thrill by Nettwerk Albums

One of the most charming aspects of The Weepies is their personal story: they are a husband and wife singer-songwriter duo who fell in love over music. In our interview below, it’s easy to see how their relationship translates into such touching songs. As they sing about unpaid bills, the weeds smothering once-alive love, or the restlessness that holds us all back from loving well, they are capturing the beauty of treasured relationships and simple truths.

We asked The Weepies (Deb Talan and Steve Tannen) to share a little about their unique romance…(enjoy)…

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Thanks to Jimmy Dunne, President of Inspire — a music and branding company partnering on music initiatives with Whole Foods Market — for providing this blog post.

As you’re navigating through the glitter, glam, and superheroes this back-to-school season, you’re bound to get a little nostalgic of your own childhood.  We want to help you embrace the memories with three fantastic new albums that harken back to a different age… Read on for an opportunity to win a gift bag of all three CDs!

Sting – Symphonicities

Sting has finally produced an orchestrated album, performing the greatest hits from both The Police and the solo eras.  His long-awaited collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is breathtakingly cinematic— yet buoyant —with the same classic energy that has resounded from him since the Police first stole the stage in 1978.

Sheryl Crow – 100 Miles From Memphis

Sheryl Crow has tapped into her soulful roots and produced an album of all new music that sounds like it’s straight from the 70’s.  It’s stacked with surprises— including Justin Timberlake’s vocal colors on “Sign Your Name” and Keith Richards’ signature riffing on “Eye to Eye.” 100 Miles is a truly entertaining, summer-glinted treat.

Marc Cohn – Listening Booth: 1970

A timeless voice covers the most lasting songs from a “pivotal year in music:” 1970.  Simon and Garfunkel’s “Only Living Boy in New York”; Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed”; John Lennon’s “Look At Me”; all collide in an album that’s ripe with treasured moments.

Treat yourself with your own little end-of-summer goodie— all three of these CDs are available in our stores now.

So, who were you listening to in high school? The Police, Sting (solo), Sheryl Crow, Marc Cohn or someone else entirely? Tell us in the comments below, and we’ll select five random winners to receive a gift bag of all three of these new CDs. Enter your comment by August 18^th!

Jimmy Dunne is President of Inspire and a Grammy-nominated songwriter, TV and film composer, and television writer and producer; with songs that have been recorded on 27,000,000 records worldwide and garnered a number of CMA, ACMA, Juno, and BMI and ASCAP songwriter awards and multi-platinum Billboard recognitions.