Showcase CD
Mesmerized - Jay Soto:
Although
he's still a relative newcomer to smooth jazz, Jay Soto is quickly
making a name for himself among a select few in the genre. After
gaining some valuable experience with the Christian group Vessel
and then with the Latin band Zum Zum Zum, Soto came within a whisker
of winning 2004's Guitarmageddon competition. That proved a game
changer as since then, Jay's career has literally taken off. His
debut released the following year, opened the door a crack and then
a couple of years later that door swung wide open with Stay Awhile!
The latter project landed Soto a NuGroove record deal while spinning
off the #2 hit for the year in the tune Slammin'. It's been a busy
couple of years for the young Phoenix-based guitar whiz in the interim
as, in addition to gigging with or opening for The Ripps, Jeff Lorber,
Alchemy, and others, Soto became a first time father!
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Jay Soto
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Although
he's continued to write, Jay was only recently able to get back
into the studio and lay down the tracks for what is already his
3rd release. Just issued, it's called Mesmerized and with that title
it seems to nicely convey our own personal fascination with the
talents of the gifted Mr. Soto! Therefore, it's now a kick to present
Jay Soto and Mesmerized as the focus for the spotlight segment!
We've chosen three flashy tunes, beginning with the deliciously
swampy Bayou Blues! The track Sunday Smile gets us feeling pretty
slaphappy at the top of hour 2, while on this occasion Soto casts
his final spell with an easy groover called A Love Like Mine. Rhythmic,
creative, and engaging it's inescapable, Jay Soto's Mesmerized is
not only a winner-of-a-disc, it's easily earmarked for a place near
the top of the heap in 2009!
CD: Mesmerized
(2009)
Label: NuGroove Records
Sites: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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Archangel - Hart Ramsey:
Although
Hart Ramsey is a newcomer to the smooth scene, he's well respected as
a producer, keyboardist, engineer, & songwriter. A veteran studio player
who has worked in support of many artists, nonetheless, first & foremost
Ramsey considers himself a family man as a father of 5 and grandfather
of 4. Additionally, he earned a doctorate in Pastoral Ministry and currently
he leads the congregation at Northview Christian Church in Dothan Alabama.
Even so, it's now time for Ramsey's to take a turn at center stage with
Charge It to My Heart his contemporary jazz debut. From that release,
we have the celestial Archangel with Rick Watford guesting on guitar!
CD: Charge It To My Heart (2008)
Label: Prayer Closet Records
Sites:
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A
Distant Memory - Spyro Gyra:
Down
the Wire is now Spyro Gyra's 7th on the Heads Up label and somewhere around
their 31st overall. The title is an adaptation on the phrase "Life is
being on the wire, everything else is just waiting," attributed to the
late aerial performer Karl Wallenda. On this latest project, Jay Beckenstein
& the boys continue to walk the musical tightrope as they explore a variety
of contemporary styles in their own unique way. From the effort, we've
selected a tantalizing tune co-written by Jay & keyboardist Tom Schuman!
CD: Down The Wire (2009)
Label: Heads Up
Sites: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Songbird
- Craig Chaquico:
After
nearly two-and-a-half decades as a member of Jefferson Starship, Craig
Chaquico left the pop world, reinvented his sound, and quickly earned
award-winning status as a solo acoustic performer. His '93 debut proved
Billboard's #1 New Age album for the year while his '94 follow up rocketed
to #1 in its first week - subsequently earning a Grammy nomination. While
continuing to record thruout the period since, Chaquico has drawn recognition
for his charity work and weekly free hospital concerts. Now after a short
hiatus, we're checkin' out Craig's most recent and first non-seasonal
release in about 5 years! From Follow the Sun, we're hip to Chaquico's
take on Kenny G's Songbird and a track that set the standard in the early
days of smooth!
CD: Follow The Sun (2009)
Label: Shanachie Records
Sites: 
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She's
A Tease - Noel Webb:
Classically
trained on violin, Noel Webb first played professionally with the Boston
Symphony orchestra, at age 14. He travelled Europe and America playing
with many of the best musicians in the world but with influences such
as Jimi Hendrix & Muddy Waters, it isn't surprising to hear that he found
that form too restrictive; in fact, he was actually kicked out of some
orchestras simply because he played with too much feeling. After a fair
degree of experimentation with styles, Give It All, is now Webb's 5th
and most recent, and from it, Webb plays with more than just a bit of
gusto on the moody She's A Tease!
CD: Give It All (2009)
Label: Red Lab Records
Sites:
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Secret
Of The Way - Jim Peterik's Lifeforce:
Although
his is not necessarily a household name, some of the bands that Jim Peterik
has played in most likely are. In a career dating back to the mid-60s,
Peterik has enjoyed a few mega hits. First, there was the 1970 smash with
The Ides of March and the tune Vehicle - then a dozen or so years later
Peterik out-did that success with his band Survivor and Eye of the Tiger
from Rocky 3, which went double platinum. On this occasion, we're checkin'
Lifeforce and Peterik's first foray into smooth jazz; from that effort
we have Secret of the Way and a jazz tune that really rocks!
CD: Lifeforce (2009)
Label: World Stage International
Sites:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| ... this edition is gonna blow you away as we have the second
in a two-part series wherein each spin selections has the word wind in
its title - this one naturally enough is called Second Wind! So stay
tuned if you will for breezy tracks such as Inherit The Wind, Wind Jam,
and The Wind One Day, with 13 zephyry tunes in all! Michael O'Neill opens
the show and he's backed by David Benoit, Louie Shelton, and the pairing
of Wilton Felder & Bobby Womack with a classic from the 80s. Peter White
kicks off set #2 and we continue with The Jazzmasters and guitarist Lawson
Rollins. Then there's Andrew Glover and the twangy jazz stylings of Johnny
A. Meanwhile, the finishing set has Ray Garand, Neal Davis, and Slim Man
- as well, Bob Madsen gives us the gale force track for which we named the segment!
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