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November 7th, 2004 Edition #338 Previously 
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Highlights!
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| Showcase CD The Benoit Freeman Project 2: Not surprisingly, the teaming of two top artists in the genre results in one of the top albums of the year. David Benoit and Russ Freeman first worked together back in 1986 on Moonlighting, the landmark debut from The Rippingtons. Following this, Freeman pursued a career as leader of that band and as a guitarist and producer. Meanwhile, Benoit continued a highly successful solo career that has made him one of the most popular artists in Smooth Jazz. In 1994, they came together on a full-fledged collaboration that was appropriately titled The Benoit Freeman Project. Considering their previous work, this was in a sense a reunion album. The success of the Benoit Freeman Project has for many years fueled demand for a follow-up record. Although there have been other occasions on which Freeman & Benoit have combined their efforts, it has only been on a track or two. Now a decade later, the time seemed right for another reunion. |
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| As with their previous collaboration, a live organic feel is achieved by using a topflight rhythm section. The lineup includes Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Alex Al on bass, & Luis Conte on percussion. Benoit and Freeman act as co-producers on the album resulting in a warm, rich, full-bodied sound, yet the material is given room to breathe. The entire cd, apart from the strings, was recorded live from February 10th thru until the 12th, 2004 at Record One in Studio City, CA. For the string dates, Benoit insisted they go to Nashville. In addition, there are a few special guests such as Chris Botti & Vince Gill who lend their considerable talents to the project. In spite of all this though, the majority of the passion on the album is generated by the outstanding interplay between the acoustic piano and classical guitar. | |
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| Fresh Trax: Part One | |
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Until
Further Notice - Joey Sommerville: The essence of Sommerville's music lies in his experiences in the Baptist church. As a teenager, the Detroit native would judge the caliber of his playing by the number of people in the congregation who 'got happy'. He attended Florida A&M University on a scholarship and played with both their symphonic and jazz bands. Shortly after completing his course of studies, Joey was recruited to serve as the principal instructor for an Atlanta-based recording academy. He honed his engineering chops under the tutelage of several top industry veterans and in 1996 he founded Sojo Music, an independent production company and record label. In this capacity, he's built an impressive resume for his work as a mixer and producer for a number of artists and for his extensive work in commercials. In 2001, he contributed to Bob Baldwin's hit single "Business Call" which reached the Top 20 on the Gavin charts. Sommerville's approach to music is representative of a new generation who have embraced advances in technology. This fact is well illustrated by Ride To This, his debut, From that effort, co-produced by Bob Baldwin, we present Until Further Notice. Cowritten with Baldwin who also contributes some tasty keys to the track, this is a totally soothing piece with an infectious groove and melody! CD: Ride to This Label: Sojo Music Inc. Site: Joey Sommerville |
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Stephanie
- Christiaan Mostert: In a lengthy career that dates back to the early 70s, Mostert has worked with an extensive list of artists. He's appeared or recorded with John Mayall, Joe Walsh, Peter Cetera, Smokey Robinson, Dr. John, Ray Charles, Michael Bolton, and Greg Allman among others. As well, Mostert was for many years a member of the touring band for the Eagles. After the dissolution of the group he followed that with further touring for Glen Frey and Don Henley. As well, Christiaan has worked numerous spots for commercials and soundtracks. Finally though, after about 30 years in music, the veteran saxman has just released Midnite Breeze. This is Mostert's first solo foray into the realms of Jazz, Smooth Jazz, and R&B. The set features a dozen original selections and boasts a lineup of some top flight LA musicians. From that release we have Stephanie the first single. Derol Caraco, who has played extensively with Skipper Wise in Colour Club and Windows, contributes some fiery guitar work to this spirited track that shows Mostert at his best! CD: Midnite Breeze Label: Rhombus Records |
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two | ||
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Where
Our Love Grows - Swing Out Sister: |
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A
Walk in Paradise - All-For-7: All-for-7 is a new project led by keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Hutchinson and drummer Kevin Stevenson. Stevenson hails from Cleveland, Ohio and was influenced by both his father and uncle, who were a jazz singer and a jazz drummer respectively. He played clarinet in junior high, took drum lessons from his uncle, and also sang in a choir in high school. Kevin attended university in Cleveland and after playing with several different groups back in his hometown, he relocated to NYC in 1979. While there, Stevenson took part in several productions both on and off-Broadway and had a variety of musical experiences which included playing with the Grammy winning Tabernacle Choir. However, it wasn't until 1985 that Stevenson connected with Hutchinson at a studio session. |
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| Meanwhile, Jerry Hutchinson grew up in The
Bronx. He began learning how to play piano at the age of seven, and was
taught by his father who played several instruments. Initially Jerry showed
no interest. However, his dad stuck with the lessons and in the course
of a few months things all changed. To this day, Hutchinson remains thankful
to his father for instilling him with the determination to stick with
it. After graduating from high school, he attended college in Huntsville
Alabama, where he sang baritone with a group that went onto become Take
6. In 1985, he returned to NYC and began work as a studio player. It was
shortly thereafter that he met Kevin Stevenson. Although the chemistry was immediate it was some time before the two began to write & produce as a team. In any event, the fruit of their collaboration is the recently released disc titled All-For-7. The name of the project may well be an allusion to the age at which Hutchinson began piano. Nevertheless, this is a fine first effort and from it we have A Walk in Paradise, a wonderfully soothing piece that is full measure for its title! CD: All-For-7 Label: HipoHash Music |
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Biarritz
- George Collichio: |
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our Web Site: | |||||
| If you enjoy your Smooth Jazz with just a bit of talk, then you'll love this installment. Today we're putting the focus on new music. We have brand new tracks from Marilyn Scott, Mindi Abair, & Stacey Knights. We're introducing Nightbyrd and music from their debut. Chris Botti & Sting team up on a selection from Chris's new release. David Mann is featured on a track from the cd Marvin, Teddy & Luther, a project that was produced by Mann and features smooth covers of music originally recorded by Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, and Luther Vandross. From the tribute cd, Forever, For Always for Luther there's a nice tune by Rick Braun that I hope you'll enjoy. Then we have a few favourites from The Urban Jazz Coalition and Eliane Elias. And as if that wasn't enough, we continue a bit of a theme when Doc Powell, who played with Luther Vandross, is featured on Then & Now. There's more including a pair of selections that feature George Duke on the Rhodes electric piano. The first is on a track from the Ray Fuller cd The Weeper, and the second is from the latest by Incognito. The latter is a funk-filled eight-minute excursion that we use to close this presentation of After Hours. But, suffice it to say, we have so much good music, I've had to split this installment into two segments. So once you're done listening to part one, please be sure to click on the second paw to hear part two. In any event, we begin with Joyce Cooling and Camel Back as we get into the great grooves of After Hours ! | |||||
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Then & Now Feature: Doc Powell
Doc Powell: Powell is New York native who discovered his love for music early on. By the age of six he was already playing guitar and in his teens he began recording and performing live. His first big break occurred when Wilson Pickett chose "The Doctor" as his musical director. This led to a stint with Luther Vandross and an affiliation that lasted 15 years. In turn, this raised Doc's profile considerably. It paved the way for him to work with a lengthy list of top artists and to develop a solo career that now includes a total of eight releases. We're running this one a bit in reverse, a sort of Now & Then I guess you could say as we begin the feature with a tune from Cool Like That, his latest. We have Push, the opening track and one that features Kirk Whalum on sax. Also be sure to check out, Ode to Chet, Pacific Coast Drive and Sade's Song from the above albums respectively! |
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