Phat City - Paul Brown:
Over the past 20 years or so, Paul Brown has worked as a producer & engineer, recording with most of the prominent names in the SJ genre, from Boney James to George Benson, from Sam Riney to Peter White. In so doing Brown has secured a reputation as a one of the best in the business at what he does. Brown's production talents have resulted in a very impressive string of over 40 #1 hits and a pair of Grammy Awards. A short while back, Brown was about to experience a very rare break in his schedule. Without any sessions planned for a two month period, Brown decided to return to the guitar, his first love, & finally record his own long overdue solo debut. It's called Up Front and appropriately places Brown up front with his prowess as a guitarist as the focal point of the project.

CD: Up Front (2004)
Label: GRP
Site: Paul Brown

When I Get There- Maximum Grooves:
Maximum Grooves is the latest project spearheaded by veteran keyboardist & producer Jason Miles. With a career that spans over 30 years, Miles has had the opportunity to work with a lengthy list of great players. However, it's only within the past few years that Jason has drawn the most recognition through his involvement as leader of several all star projects. Jason was the man behind A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins and the tribute cd To Grover, With Love. Nevertheless, Miles has had many other triumphs as a producer and writer, including an Emmy nomination, two award-winning children's videos as well as two highly acclaimed jazz albums under his own name. In any event, this latest project sees the gathering of yet another cast of top musicians intent on exploring groove-based jazz. Operating as a session supergroup of sorts, the assemblage has been dubbed Maximum Grooves and since many of the guest artists hail from various regions of the US, Miles rather fittingly called the cd Coast To Coast. From that endeavour we have When I Get there with Gerald Albright featured on sax.

CD: Coast to Coast (2004)
Label: Telarc
Site: Jason Miles

Regalame La Silla Donde Te Espere - Nestor Torres:
Born & raised in Puerto Rico, Torres has been playing the flute since the age of 12. Following high school, his family moved to New York where Nestor found work with a variety of Latin-based jazz bands. Shortly thereafter, Torres enrolled at the Berklee College of Music and for a time he also studied at the New England Conservatory. In the early 80s, Nestor hooked up with a Latin act and subsequently moved to Miami, where he's been based ever since. In 1990, Torres released Morning Ride, a cd which climbed to the top of the contemporary charts and one which also became a best seller. Sin Palabras or Without Words is now Torres eighth release and his first on the Heads Up Record label. This latest project sees the teaming of Torres with James Lloyd from Pieces of a Dream. In addition to contributing piano and various keyboards to many of the tracks, Lloyd is largely responsible for the production duties on the album. The pairing works quite well, opening new musical vistas for Torres to explore and adding a slightly funkier edge to Nestor's sound. From that release we're featuring Regalame La Silla Donde Te Espere or Give Me the Chair Where I Waited for You.

CD: Sin Palabras (Without Words) (2004)
Label: Heads Up International
Site: Nestor Torres

Suede - Marion Meadows:
Meadows began in music on the clarinet, but switched to the sax as a teen. He studied for a time at the Berklee School of Music in Boston as well as the S.U.N.Y. School for the Arts. After college, he hooked up with Norman Connors and played with Connors & his Starship Orchestra for several years. In 1990, after a series of session dates and sideman gigs, Meadows made his solo debut. In recent years Marion has definitely kicked things up a notch ...or two... with the release of several exceedingly fine efforts. This is especially true with Player's Club. Now on this, his 8th project to go along with one best of effort, the sound and style that Meadows has been honing for years is displayed to perfection.

*Café Jazz Pick of the Week*

CD: Player's Club (2004)
Label: Heads Up International
Site: Marion Meadows

Keep On Keepin' On - Barry Danielian:
Trained in jazz from an early age, Danielian graduated from Berklee with the Faculty Performance Award. In addition, he was recognized as the Outstanding Jazz Soloist while attending Notre Dame. Some of Danielian's most memorable performances have been with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Branford Marsalis. However, equally valuable in the development of his style were gigs with Latin giants Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente. Since the mid 90s, Barry has worked as one of New York City's most in-demand session players. In that capacity Danielian has contributed to more than 200 recordings with a host of pop notables including Celine Dion, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Natalie Cole, and James Taylor. The result of these varied and wide-ranging experiences has seen the growth of Danielian as an all-around performer and one who is well versed in just about any musical style. Common Ground is Danielian's solo debut. On the effort, the former member of TOP incorporates much of what he's learned over a 15 year period as a sideman to deliver a fresh & intriguing spin on the urban scene.

CD: Common Ground (2004)
Label: Tariqah Records
Site: Barry Danielian