This Week at CafeJazz.ca !
On today's show,
it's Jay Soto and Stay Awhile, his sophomore release, in our showcase
spotlight - to that end we've chosen our usual trio of tasty tracks.
Then, coming up in hour 2 we focus on all the latest & best in new
music with Fresh Trax - on this occasion we have a 5-pack that may
well represent our finest offering for the year. Headlining this
edition are Les Sabler and Eric Marienthal. Also appearing is Blake
Aaron, while new to the show are keyboardist Burt Brion and DeeLight
out of Germany featuring Ken Norris on vocals. Then later that same
hour there's a retro pack with Jeff Golub, Jeff Lorber, Walter Beasley,
& Ricardo Silveira. Other past faves include Brian Hughes, Eliane
Elias, Peter White, and Nura while also appearing are Pieces of
a Dream, Special EFX, Dephazz, and Andrew Neu!! |
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Showcase CD
Stay Awhile - Jay Soto:
In
spite of trying drums when he was 5 and perhaps because of the
rigors of classical piano which he experienced a couple of years
later, Jay Soto knew when he picked up the guitar at the age of
12 that he'd found his passion. His early exposure in music ranged
from Beethoven to the hymns sung in his church but to broaden
that musical base, Soto attended Arizona State University. Today,
Soto continues to honour his church roots as the music director
for St. Helen's Church in Glendale, Arizona while as a composer
and arranger, his music has appeared on hit TV series such as
Sex and the City and All About Us.
Following his stint at Arizona State, Soto gained valuable experience
as the lead guitarist for the Christian group Vessel, and for
Zum Zum Zum, a highly acclaimed Latin group. Then in 2004, Jay
experienced a career-altering event when he entered Guitar Center's
"Guitarmageddon" competition and came within a whisker of winning
making it to the finals.
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all paved the way for Long Time Coming, Soto's well-received self-produced
debut that was released the following year. Now with a couple of more
years to further hone an ever so impressive set of chops and having enlisted
the production expertise of Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown, and Darren Rahn,
Stay Awhile is Jay's outstanding recently issued sophomore effort!! |
Photo: Coutesy of
Jay Soto.com
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It's
with the utmost pleasure then that we place album & author in our
showcase spotlight. We begin with a track called Just Like That
while the beautifully expressive Daydreamin' creates a welcoming
space at the top of hour 2. Ultimately, our finale features the
suitably entitled Grooveland with Gary Meek guesting, whereupon
we've reserved Jay's current hit called Slammin' as an added bonus
to close the After Hours portion of the show.
With licks to spare, terrific writing, impeccable production, and
incredible pacing Jay Soto's Stay Awhile cd is choice and destined
to be among a few elite projects vying for Café Jazz top honors
for the year!!
CD: Stay Awhile
Label: Nu Groove
Site: Jay
Soto ; Soto/Nu
Groove |
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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Shine - Blake Aaron:
We
last heard a full project from Blake Aaron back in fall of 2004 and although
a single was issued a couple of years later, for a variety of reasons,
the release date for his follow up effort just kept getting pushed back.
From getting married, to buying a new home and then to starting a family,
the new album has been three full years in the making. However, with the
recent issue of Desire the saying all good things come to those who wait
has never rung more true. The project easily represents Aaron's most consistent,
mature, and refined offering to date - and from it we've chosen a selection
that is, in a word, simply gorgeous!!
CD: Desire
Label: Innervision
Site:
Blake Aaron |
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Blue Water - Eric Marienthal:
Sacramento
native, Eric Marienthal attended Berklee in Boston before landing his
first high profile gig with Al Hirt back in the late 70s. In the 80s,
he played a variety of sessions including a stint at Walt Disney studios
following which, in 1986, he connected with Chick Corea. As a member of
Corea's acclaimed Elektric Band, Marienthal took part in a pair of projects,
while releasing his own solo debut in 1987.
Over the years, Marienthal has demonstrated his adeptness at a variety
of styles becoming not only one of the most popular performers in smooth
jazz but also highly regarded as a sessionist. Meanwhile, in 2001, Marienthal
added joining The Rippingtons to an already impressive resume. With several
well-received albums to his credit, Eric's latest release is entitled
Just Around The Corner and from that effort, we have Blue Water, the excellent
advance single!!
CD: Just Around The Corner
Label: Peak Records
Site: Eric
Marienthal ; Marienthal/Peak |
| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Let's Get It Going - Burt Brion :
Born
and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Brion relocated to San Diego where he
taught school for a time. During the late 80s and early 90s, he lost his
eyesight for a couple of years as he battled an autoimmune illness - it
was during this period that Brion's musical talents come to the fore as
he began to play in churches and around town in order to earn a living.
Eventually he regained his eyesight, but by then Burt's passion to play
had also been rekindled. For the past 15 years, Brion's keys and vocals
have been featured at a variety of private gatherings - however, with
the issue of his smooth jazz debut, actually released in 2005, his profile
has substantially increased. He's amassed an impressive resume topped
by several appearances at Humphrey's backstage lounge, acknowledged by
many as that city's premier jazz venue!
More recently, Brion's star has continued to rise with Say The Word gaining
ever-increasing exposure and airplay. From that effort, we have the lead
track highlighted by Burt's superb piano playing and the snappy scatting
of Deborah Flores!!
CD: Say The Word
Label: Mister B Records
Site: Burt
Brion |
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Summerlove
- DeeLight feat. Ken Norris:
The
Oh Yes Record label, it's associated publishing company, and it's production
studios were established in 1991 by German producer & composer Claus-Robert
Kruse. Although since it's launch date, the label primarily had been a
vehicle to support Kruse and his own production projects, that mission
has expanded over the years. At this point Oh Yes supports a wide range
of styles and artists and remains a purely online distributor. For his
part, Ken Norris made his European debut at Le Printemps de Bourges Festival
in France around the time of the release of his first cd and that was
followed a couple of years later by a second cd of original jazz material.
In 2001, his performances earned recognition at the Crest Vocal Jazz Festival.
Meanwhile he's also appeared as a featured guest soloist with or as a
member of several big bands and orchestras and been broadcast nationally
on German radio.
With music by Bob Cruise, lyrics & vocals by Ken Norris, and a sweet
sax solo courtesy of Prince Alec, the perfectly laid-back Summerlove,
released about mid-way thru the year, is a lounge-flavoured gem and presents
the Euro-vibe at its finest!!
CD: Summerlove (Digital Single)
Label: Oh Yes Records
Site:
Oh Yes ; Ken
Norris ; Prince
Alec |
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Club
Street - Les Sabler:
On
Sweet Drive, Les Sabler's 4th and latest release "There were no compromises,"
says Sabler. Since we here at the Café have been privy to all the details
pretty well right from the planning stages onward we can attest to the
veracity of this statement. After enjoying a #1 record up here in Canada
with Bridge the Gap, Sabler remained committed to elevating his game.
He devoted great time & energy to the critical process of song selection
and by enlisting the aid of ace-bassist & producer Brian Bromberg, plus
many of his favourite A-players for the project, Sabler delivers a veritable
diamond of an album. Quite simply there is something on the project
for everyone, from the soulful romance of You've Got It Bad Girl, the
Stevie Wonder penned album opener, to the full-bore fusion-flavoured
jam of the Ron Moton composition Twenty-Two.
The first radio promotion is Club Street, "a kinetic electric guitar
and sax thrill ride" (courtesy of publicist
Rick Scott for Great Scott P.R.oductions) written by Travis Vega
that we have anxiously been waiting to play for the better part of a
year. Activated by the synergy between Sabler's pumped guitar playing
and the spunky sax work of Gary Meek, the track "alters its pace between
mellow straight-aways and careening downhills". (RS
as previously cited) Suffice it to say, we're pretty revved about
both the project & its lead single and that you'll be hearing more from
Mr. Sabler & Sweet Drive right here in the weeks ahead!! In the meantime,
if you're looking for a Sweet Drive, join Les & us as we take a
musical cruise down Club Street !!
***Café
Jazz Pick-of-the-Week!!***
CD: Sweet Drive
Label: The Music Force Media Group
Site:
Les Sabler
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive
to our Site and Select Affiliates : |
| Featured on
this edition is Norman Brown - we've gone to each of Brown's solo releases
for a seven track installment of Then & Now; that's coming up about a
dozen or so minutes in. Otherwise, something that's become a tradition
as new music rules - we have six fresh & tasty selections to round out
the hour. Today's line-up includes Acoustic Alchemy, Nate Harasim and
Bob Madsen & the World Machine, as well as something brand new from Britain's
Shakatak. New to our show is the music of Gene Burkert while as an added
bonus we have a selection from Jay Soto that surprisingly we've never
played before and that's our closing track!! |
Then & Now Spotlight Artist: Norman Brown
Just Between Us
MoJazz
1992
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After The Storm
MoJazz
1993
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Better Days Ahead
MoJazz
1996
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Celebration
Warner Bros.
1999
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Just Chillin'
Warner Bros.
2002
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West Coast Coolin'
Warner Bros.
2004
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Stay With Me
Peak Records
2007
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Norman
Brown:
Originally hailing from Shreveport, Louisiana, and raised in Kansas
City, Missouri, Norman Brown picked up his first guitar at the age
of eight and although Jimi Hendrix was his first inspiration, he steered
in the direction of jazz because of his father's love of Wes Montgomery.
Brown explains, "He would sit down in the basement and listen to me
practice for hours and hours. And he really liked Wes Montgomery …
so I learned that style".
Norman Brown: 2004 Music Festival
for Mental Health
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After
high school, Brown's increasing interest in jazz led him to
relocate to Los Angeles and to attend the Musicians Institute
where he also taught for a time. In 1992, he signed with the
fledgling MoJazz division of Motown, delivering three critically
acclaimed releases - the compilation The Very Best of Norman
Brown released in 2005 well chronicles those years.
The close of the 90s saw Brown move to Warner Bros. where
he first connected with ace producer Paul Brown - their second
collaboration on Just Chillin' went on to win several Grammys!
A few years and three cds later, changes at Warner Bros. led
to Brown again shifting labels this time landing a deal with
Peak Records. With the issue of Stay With Me, his label debut,
the album became Brown's seventh solo release, that to go
along with a project recorded as BWB during his Warner years.
So, with that all said that nicely sets the stage for a seven-track
Norman Brown Then & Now feature.
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We begin at the beginning and Brown's 1992 Just Between Us debut and
its title track - that's followed by Lydian from After the Storm and
Better Days Ahead the title track - those three selections providing
a good sampling of the MoJazz years. That brings us to 1996 and nearly
halfway in the feature. Celebration kicks off our review of the Warner
Bros. phase of Brown's career with The Feeling I Get and Up 'N' At
'Em rounding out that portion. Meanwhile capping our second set and
the feature, we have one of our current faves, Soul Dance with Sam
Riney guesting on sax! In all, it's a breezy collection filled with
tasty grooves and delicious licks and well illustrates why Brown is
consistently considered among the best in the genre!!
Site: Norman
Brown ; Brown/Peak
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