Showcase CD
Bloom - Cindy Bradley:
Born
and raised in Buffalo, NY, Cindy Bradley's first instrument was
the piano, which she began at the age of six. She chose the trumpet
in the 4th grade for the school band and then by the age of twelve,
she was performing professionally in a jazz group. It was this
period more than any other, that led to Cindy's affinity for the
genre and subsequently she went on to earn a bachelors in jazz
studies from Ithaca, and then a masters in performance from the
New England Conservatory. Relocating to NYC shortly thereafter,
Bradley honed her chops and seasoned her sound as a sideman, touring
and recording with a variety of groups from funk, top 40, and
R&B, to jazz-fusion and straight ahead bands. After her promising
premier release a couple of years back, Bradley came to the attention
of Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records, who connected the budding performer
with ace-producer and Grammy-winner Michael Broening. To say the
least, the collaboration works exceedingly well the proof being
Cindy's sophomore project that's rather appropriately entitled
Bloom. |
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here's a disc that's a definite winner and one that sees Ms Bradley,
poised to burst into full blossom as a serious contender for 'the
breakthru artist' for the year! It's therefore a pleasure to pause
and present Cindy Bradley and Bloom as the focus for our spotlight
segment! We've chosen some great music - in triplicate no less -
beginning with the soulful title track. |
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Cindy Bradley
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Bradley
is ably aided by Broening's work on keys, and in addition there's
label mate Tim Bowman on guitar, Mel Brown on bass, and Freddie
Fox on rhythm. It's virtually the same combo (with Mike White on
drums replacing Bowman) on the easy sway of Swing Set at the top
of hour 2! The uber funky Broening-penned Brooklyn Bounce sees saxman
and fellow 'Tripper' Jaared join the festivities while White bows
out - it's the groove and rhythmic smack of this track that may
well be the most vibrant of the day and it's our pièce de
résistance! A veritable 'tour de force' that's full of passion
and yet more than just a bit poetic, Cindy Bradley's Bloom has all
the poise, polish and allure of a future classic in the making!
CD: Bloom (2009)
Label: Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records
Sites - Cindy
Bradley: 
Michael Broening:
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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Not In Love With Me - T.Partl & HP.Höger:
On
the cutting edge, we have Thomas Partl and Hanspeter Höger, or Thompascal/HP.Hoeger
as they're otherwise known. Coming to us from the Tyrol area of Austria,
a picture-book region noted for its natural beauty where jagged snow-capped
peaks tower above fast-flowing rivers, green meadows, and onion-domed
churches, the pair are producers of Lounge-Chillout and Nu-jazz music.
Using the splendour of the district as inspiration and a backdrop for
their creations, they've collaborated for about 15 years and have issued
several projects, while successfully placing a variety of tracks on various
compilations. Nonetheless, the tune we have for you on this edition is
so fresh, it's yet to be released. Featuring some choice sampled vocals
by an unidentified singer, this is a catchy, yet progressive ditty entitled
Not In Love With Me!
CD: MP3 single (unreleased)
Label: Independent
Sites - Thomas Partl:
Hanspeter Höger: |
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Neptune's
Waltz - Les Sabler :
Our
good friend out of the Tampa Bay area is fresh off the Café Jazz #1
cd in 2008 with the album Sweet Drive. His latest release entitled
Live was recorded during a performance at the Sarasota Opera House back
in 1995, around the time of issue of his second disc. While Sabler toyed
with the idea of releasing a record over the years, for a variety of reasons
the tapes sat in 'the archives' until the recent passing of one the band
members, Steve Gould, reignited Sabler's drive to share the performance
with his fans. The seeds sown that fateful night have just come to fruition
with the action proving not only timely, but the process also therapeutic.
Chock-full of energy and spontaneous moments, the quality of the venture
belies the fact that it's been 14 years in the making - from Les Sabler
Live, we have the rarefied weave of Neptune's Waltz featuring the flute
playing of the late Steve Gould! 
CD: Live (2009)
Label: The Music Force
Sites: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Shot In The Dark - Four80East:
Nearly
20 years since the launch of Boomtang Records, and after the expiration
of 12 full calendars since their own Four80East debut, Rob DeBoer & Tony
Grace continue to operate as a crack dance remix and production unit.
The veteran Toronto-based team hit upon the Four80 concept as a looser,
more creative, and more open ended side venture, that allowed the melding
of a dance vibe with some jazzy and more eclectic elements. They've continued
in that vein with Roll On as the most recent in a string of genre-busting
performances. From that effort, now their 5th to date, we've rather fittingly
perhaps opted for track #5 in Shot In The Dark. With DeBoer on keys, bass,
& guitar, and Grace on drums, they share in the programming. Add to this
exceptionally fertile mix the tantalizing trumpet of Bryden Baird and
there it is - electro-trip-jazz at its absolute finest!
CD: Roll On (2009)
Label: Native Language Music
Sites:
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Summertime
- Clarence McDonald & Evolution:
With
musical credits that extend back to the late 60s, Clarence McDonald has
enjoyed an over 40-year career. His keys have adorned a myriad of landmark
hits - among them (and you'll recognize many of these if not all) Best
of My Love, Lovely Day, How Sweet It Is, Shower The People, That's What
Friends Are For, Summer Breeze, Sara Smile, and many more, a list that's
nearly 300 songs long. In the process McDonald has recorded with Ray Charles,
Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, and other iconic performers! Now backed
by his band Evolution, the multi-talented McDonald steps out as the front
man on Live From Hollywood. For the most part the project consists of
songs that McDonald has either written, produced, or recorded - however
he's not averse to a good cover or two. From this latter category, we've
selected one of the absolute best we've ever heard, Summertime, a George
Gershwin composition that's been celebrated thousands of times. McDonald
not only delivers one of the finest interpretations ever of an American
classic, it's done live and direct!
CD: Live From Hollywood (2007)
Label: The Music Group
Sites:
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Spanish
Harlem - Brian Tarquin :
He's
been described as a guitarist of 'considerable skills' by Jazz Times and
one with 'cosmopolitan flair' by Jazziz - Brian Tarquin is certainly all
that and a whole lot more. After a trio of great releases on the Instinct
label in the late 90s and early in the 00s, and with many tracks that
appeared on various compilations, Brian Tarquin seemingly disappeared
from the smooth scene early in the new millennium. In actuality, he was
probably busier than ever. In 2000, he switched gears forming Asphalt
Jungle, a project in collaboration with Chris Ingram based in rock and
electronica. Additionally, Tarquin is a TV composer of some repute. He's
written for MTV and for dozens of shows - for his work on All My Children,
he was Emmy-nominated and became a two-time winner, in 2003 and again
in 2005. But there's another dimension yet still - as owner of Jungle
Room Studios and Bohemian Productions, Tarquin is the mastermind behind
the many projects emanating from a label focusing on guitar instrumentals.
In this regard, we have Brian Tarquin Presents ... Fretworx released late
last year. From that effort, we've selected the assertive stance of Spanish
Harlem featuring Frank Gambale!
CD: Fretworx (2008)
Label: NuGroove Music
Sites:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| ... nowadays there's one thing there
just doesn't seem to be enough of and it's time. We hope to address that
with today's edition which is called Time, There Will Always be Time and
this will be the first of a 5-part series with each & every spin selections
having time, or some variation, as part of its title. So stay tuned for
a few ageless and epic sounds such as The First Time, This Time Around,
and It's Time for Love, with 13 temporal tunes in all. Opening this show
is Jay Soto and he's backed by Gregg Karukas; as well as there's Danny
Lerman and Chris Botti. Norman Brown launches set #2 and we continue with
Snake Davis, Roberto Perera, Alex Bugnon, and Chieli Minucci. Meanwhile
the final frame has Scott Wilkie and Marc Antoine in addition to Marion
Meadows - then in the end, it's Gota 'the groove activator' with the very
track for which we named the segment!
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