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Showcase CD
The Collection - Paul Hardcastle:
Long
a personal favourite on our hip but humble show, there is no doubt
Paul Hardcastle is one of the most popular and prolific performers
in the genre that we luv! As a teen, he'd messed with tape recorders
and electronic gadgets before he traded his video camera for a
synthesizer. After three months of experimenting, he joined his
first band. With his initial projects, Hardcastle scored a pair
of modest hits while cracking the UK dance charts - following
this, his '84 Rainforest track took off in the USA reaching #1
in sales as a 12-inch! Ever staying true to the dance floor feel
that has always been integral to his sound, when Hardcastle was
next heard from, it was on a tune called 19 - a concept based
on the average age of combat soldiers in the Vietnam War. That
track went to #1 in 13 countries and sold 4 million copies worldwide!
It was one of the top single for '85 and marked the official jettison
point for a career that's become legendary!
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a time, Hardcastle switched gears and worked as a remix producer
for the likes of Barry White, Hiroshima, & others while also composing
for TV. But in 1991, the release of Kiss The Sky was a harbinger
of things yet to come - the project presented a slight modification
or refinement in style and proved to be a proto-type for the next
offering in The Jazzmasters. Initially released only in Japan, in
due course Hardcastle's hybrid blend of jazz & dance swept the world
and helped re-define the sound of the form affectionately referred
to as smooth jazz! Having issued a lengthy string of well-received
releases under various monikers as well as under his own name, Hardcastle
has earned countless accolades while racking up #1 hit singles as
though they were going out of style! There have been a variety of
compilations over the years. However, the most recent in the series
simply entitled The Collection may very well be the best of the
bunch! As such, this now gives us cause to direct the Café Jazz
spotlight at perhaps the most potent player in the game, that of
course being Paul Hardcastle and The Collection! |
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Paul Hardcastle
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From that effort, we've selected a trio of tracks as the focal point
for our feature and it all begins with a brand new tune called The
Circle and Hardcastle's latest chart busting single! The delicious
groove of Valley of the Harps comes from The Jazzmasters 4 and that
opens hour 2! While previously appearing on the Journey to a Different
State of Mind DVD, the smooth and snappy Dancing Lights is the crescendo
that caps the feature! Always easy and ultra-groovey, Paul Hardcastle's
The Collection was compiled from instrumental selections he personally
enjoyed recording and not necessarily tracks that were radio hits.
Now if Paul enjoyed recording these even half-as-much as we enjoy
spinning them on the show, then the 2008 smooth jazz artist of the
year must have had a terrific time 'cuz they're exactly what the
smooth scene is all about! 
CD: The Collection (2009)
Label: Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records
Links: 
Fan Sites: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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On Your Knees - Euge Groove:
In
the 90s, Steve Grove backed Joe Cocker & Huey Lewis and the News while
taking a turn with the prestigious horn section in Tower of Power. Then
as the new millennium dawned, as Euge Groove he became one of the most
down loaded artists on the old MP3.com site. This led to a successful
2000 debut right when he was in the middle of a tour with Tina Turner.
Besides garnering a 2001 smooth jazz song of the year award for Sneak
A Peak, he's subsequently scored numerous hits. The new one is Sunday
Morning and from it we have a tune with a reverent theme in On Your Knees
with Paul Brown guesting!
CD: Sunday Morning (2009)
Label: Shanachie Records
Links:
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Bogata
by Bus - Jesse Cook :
Born
in Paris, Jesse Cook first tried playing 'Gypsy guitar' during the time
he spent in southern France as a youth - it was then that he developed
a passion for flamenco and other free-spirited forms. After his parents
separated, Cook moved to Canada with his mother, but between annual Gypsy
festivals back in France and studies at some of most prestigious music
schools, he honed his skills while developing wide-ranging tastes. He
released his debut in 1995 and in the time since, he's ipso facto become
Canada's ambassador to the world of rumba & flamenco. The Rumba Foundation
is the new one and his 8th to go along with a '05 double compilation.
In the process of recording the project, Cook wanted to bring the mix
known as 'rumba flamenca' back to the Americas - but as he shares, somehow
he ended up in Columbia. From that effort we have the first single in
Bogata By Bus!
CD: Rumba Foundation (2009)
Label: Coach House / E1 Music
Links:
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Wanderlust
- Vision Jazz:
Combining
many of the finer elements of Funk, Fusion, and Latin Jazz, Denver's Vision
Jazz is a project featuring the talents of Burt Shur and Chuck Leichner.
A drummer and percussionist, Shur has been playing professionally since
he was 14. During service in the Navy, he formed his own band and backed
touring USO shows. Afterwards, he played in various jazz clubs in the
San Francisco area before relocating to So-Cal in '79. Following a stint
as on a cruise line, he played with Vicki Carr, Danny Kaye, and others
before ending up back in Denver. For his part, keyboardist Chuck Leichner
experienced classical training starting at the age of four but, he developed
a passion for jazz due to the influence of his grandfather's New York
jazz trio. Gigging professionally since he was 15, over the past three
decades, Leichner has performed both as a soloist as well as with a variety
of groups spanning many genres. In addition, his experience includes session
work as well as jazz clinics with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie.
Created in 2007, Vision Jazz provides a perfect vehicle for Shur & Leichner
to explore jazz in its many varied forms - Distant Visions is their debut.
Guesting on the project is saxman Greg Vail and from that recently released
effort we have a musical excursion called Wanderlust!
CD: Distant Visions (2009)
Label: Independent
Links:
Leichner:
Shur:
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Ladies
First - Weathertunes:
Weathertunes
is German project inspired by and capturing the vibe of sun-drenched beats
- the aptly titled Palm Beach is their first release on Lemongrassmusic.
Led by the brother combo of Roland and Daniel Voss, this latest release
delivers a series of selections with an ambiance that shimmers - the brothers
share performance, mixing, and arranging credits while Daniel is featured
on keys and Roland handles production duties thruout. From that effort,
we have the frosted & chilled, slow-mo, downtempo style of Ladies First!
CD: Palm Beach (2009)
Label: Lemongrassmusic
Links:
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Firedance
- J.D. Daniel :
Raised
in Seattle, JD Daniel began classical training on piano at the age of
six. By 19 he'd moved to Tucson, where he led a band featuring bassist
Brian Bromberg and vocalist Diane Schuur. Later relocating to LA, he became
a go-to-guy for sessions and tours and while having worked media from
TV and film to documentaries and game shows, he's been heard by millions
the world over. With tastes ranging from diverse to eclectic, Daniel is
both well-versed and versatile - he's backed jazzers such as Dave Koz
and Rick Braun; additionally his credits included many well-known performers
in the fields of pop, rock, R&B, and beyond! He's recorded a few piano
cds as well as leading of a jazz trio. Back to the Groove is the latest
and from that effort, there's the fervid passion of Firedance!
CD: Back To The Groove (2009)
Label: Blue Yak Music
Links:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| … on this installment it's a theme show called Drowning
In Your Eyes as every tune we play has eyes in its title. So stay tuned
for Behind Closed Eyes, Angel Eyes, and Into Your Eyes, with 14 optic-based
tracks in all. Opening things are The Rippingtons, and they are followed
by Marcos Ariel and 3rd Force as well as Jim Brickman and Chieli Minucci.
Set #2 has Patrick Yandall and continues with André Ward and Ephraim Lewis
with the tune for which we named this segment, and then concludes with
Pamela Williams the first lady of sax. While wrapping it up are Brandon
Fields, Rayford Griffin, Michael Haggins, Kenny Kleinpeter, and Japan's
T-Square. So, it's time to gaze into those baby blues … well I guess indigo
will have to do - as we have The Rippingtons and Girl With The Indigo
Eyes - as we get into an ocular Drowning In Your Eyes special edition!
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