Archive for December, 2013
The Blacque Project is a conbination of original music & cover songs. A real smooth jazz experience. Whether you’re driving in your car or in your study, The Blacque Project is a must have! Blacque is a smooth jazz artist who mixes a little bit of himself with Ben Tankard. Influences are: Joe Sample, George Duke, Ben Tankard, Mint Condition.
This album is on sale at CDBaby.
Ballads is the second offering into Essential Recordings exploration of the catalog of Guitarist Eric Essix. Following the initial Retrospective release, a CD Baby top seller, is this collection of recordings that examine the softer side of the artist going back more than a decade.
Retrospective, Vol. 2: Ballads is available at CDBaby.
New York area sideman and session player, guitarist Tim DeHuff’s steps out in his debut album. Tim’s guitar virtuosity and versatility shines throughout this original work, featuring a world class rhythm section. This effort offers an exciting blend of instrumental music, spanning contemporary jazz, funk, rock, a touch of Latin and reggae. Tim’s polished yet edgy guitar solos make this an exciting listen.
Big Water Little Boat is my favorite of the week at CDBaby.
Jack Jezzro has been one of Nashville’s most versatile musicians and record producers for over 30 years. He has appeared on many Grammy winning recordings and has numerous albums as an artist to his credit. His vast guitar discography as a recording artist includes the critically acclaimed Jazz Elegance and Brazilian Nights recordings, along with the Grammy nominated A Days Journey album.
As a bassist, he was a member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra from 1981-1991. He continues to be a member of the Nashville String Machine, playing on countless hit songs including those by Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant, George Strait, Jennifer Lopez, Matchbox 20, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Olivia-Newton John, Rascal Flatts, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, and The Beach Boys. His productions, which number over 300 albums, include legendary jazz pianist Beegie Adair, acclaimed Dove award winning vocalist Kathy Troccoli, Grammy winning producer/composer/pianist Michael Omartian, jazz vocal great Jaimee Paul, tenor sax ace Denis Solee, bassist/vocalist Jim Ferguson featuring jazz great Chris Potter, renowned violinist David Davidson, composer/arranger/pianist Jeff Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist and Fiddler’s Hall of Fame member Craig Duncan, virtuoso accordionist/pianist Jeff Taylor, singer/songwriter Christina Lake, pianist Christopher Phillips, trumpeter Leif Shires, jazz violinist Antoine Silverman featuring pianist Stefan Karlsson, and saxophonist Sam Levine. His music and productions could also be heard in several motion pictures, including the recent Woody Allen movie, “To Rome With Love.”
Give One Way a listen at CDBaby. A rare opportunity to collect the Grammy winning jazz guitarist’s early 90’s collection of Hymns and originals. This album is a must have for all Jack Jezzro fans.
Saxophone player with a degree in classical music, specialized in the United States on Berklee College of Music (Boston). In his career he has had many successes in different areas of music.
From classical music, popular music, jazz, soul, funk, playing in various ensembles from small groups to orchestras, from club music (even playing on the street) to concert and sport halls, in fifteen years of his career, Igor Gerzina has worked with almost all important people on the Croatian music scene. Some of them are known outside Croatia such as: jazz vibraphonist Bosko Petrovic, jazz composer Miljenko Prohaska, guitarist Elvis Stanic, arranger Silvije Glojnaric, etc.
He has had more than 70 discography releases, around thirty music videos, the whole line of television shows and programs, appearances as a guest player in radio shows. He has won many awards, among which are two Porin awards, three Status awards, Crni macak award and many nominations. He has also got several awards on State competitions.
His new album One Click World is now on sale at CDBaby.
This instrumental album is a reflection of classic tunes mainly from the 60’s and 70’s. The album is rich with guitar and sax lines that are tastefully interpreted. Icon tunes such as Ooh Baby Baby, What’s Going On, Sleep Walk and Me and Mrs Jones are covered in this album with their own unique style. This is a great album for you to enjoy not only on your own but with your family and friends.
Westcoast Trax: Dreamsome is one of many cover albums to find at CDBaby.
Hailing from Memphis, TN, William (Bill) Hurd has been nurtured by, and also has contributed to, the city’s rich musical culture and heritage. While practicing ophthalmology there for more than 30 years, Bill has earned acclaim as an artist of the highest caliber, not only locally, but also nationally and internationally.
In graduate school at MIT in Boston, Bill performed with the MIT Jazz Ensemble, directed by Berklee School of Music’s Herb Pomeroy, at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. More recently, Bill has performed with Bobby Bland, Mulgrew Miller, Kirk Whalum, Ruby Wilson, and has opened for Joe Sample, David Sanborn, Najee, and Oleta Adams.
Charles Curl, Atlanta-born, has had a life-long love for writing songs and creating music. A multi-instrumentalist, he has played reeds, keyboards, and percussion in a variety of groups over the years, including with master percussionist Jumma Santos, Latin band Cisco, and the Paul Champ Quartet featuring Paul Broadnax.
Charles’ studio experience spans recording and producing analog LPs in a commercial recording studio in the 60’s to recording in a multi-track digital studio environment, with sequencing, sampling, editing, and mastering software–tools used extensively in today’s music production process. As a co-producer, Charles has collaborated with John Lee (a former Dizzy Gillespie bassist), and with poet Peter H. Fulton (author of “How to Carve an Angel”). He is now retired from a career as an international business consultant, after first having practiced law in Atlanta.
Bill Hurd and Charles Curl have been making music together since they met while in graduate schools in the Boston area in the early 1970’s—Bill at MIT and Charles at Harvard Law. They have previously recorded and released: Magic Music under the group name, Synthesis, in 1991 (TRC Records); and Tongo under the name, Hip Pocket, in 1997 (TRC Records).
Return of the Hip is a third CD collaboration featuring the musical artistry of saxophonist Bill Hurd, and long-time friend and fellow musician, Charles Curl. Their Synthesis is a signature sound–always Hip, in the Pocket; smooth, but with a little grit. Now available at CDBaby.
J STATON’S, interest in music started at the early age of 4. J. started to the play keys and soon after that came private lessons and then the saxophone. J then knew that playing the saxaphone was what he loved playing. Attenting Booker T. Washington High School is where he made the all regional and all state band. Soon after he joined the local band called “MASS PRODUCTION” which went national opening for groups like Kool and the Gang and many others. J took a break from music for a number of years.
About five years ago he was introduced to jazz/gospel artist Kirk Whalum ,and was given some encouraging words . J soon after found himself playing gospel music at churches but always wanted to step back outside of the church to spread his love to the other aspects of music. “Through the help of God”, J was able to put on two sold-out/standing-room- only smooth jazz shows.
Soon after J was offered an opportunity to be the featured saxophonist for national recording artist Phil Perry, but due to unexpected illness the show was canceled. . He has now been able to open up for various artist such as Ben Tankard and others. J has also made a name for himself performing at other clubs and venues around the Virginia, D.C. and New York area. J has just released his first smooth jazz album, ” This Mind of Mine”, as an independent producer/song-writer and smooth jazz/ gospel artist. He’s looking forward to all of your support. J wants you to enjoy the smooth sound and essence of “This Mind of Mine“! Listen to these lovely tunes at CDBaby.
“Where did the bastard run / is he still around?” Donald Fagen asks in the opening verse of Steely Dan’s “Everything You Did,” a track from The Royal Scam (1976). Interestingly, that song is not included in the Steely Dan-inspired Everything You Did (The Music of Walter Becker & Donald Fagen) (Capri Records, 2013) by the Mark Masters Ensemble.
Masters, president of the American Jazz Institute which presents this project, handled all the arrangements. Featured musicians are Billy Harper, tenor saxophone; Tim Hagans, trumpet; Anna Mjoll, voice; Hamilton Price, bass; and Peter Erskine, drums. The ensemble consists of Louis Fasman and Les Lovitt, trumpet; Stephanie O’Keefe, French horn; Les Benedict, Dave Ryan and Ryan Dragon, trombone; Don Shelton, alto and soprano saxophones and alto flute; John Mitchell, tenor saxophone and bassoon; Gene Cipriano, tenor saxophone and English horn; Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone; Brian Williams, bass clarinet; and Brad Dutz, vibes and percussion.
Mjoll offers a haunting chant to begin “Charlie Freak” (Pretzel Logic, 1974). The story of a homeless man who sold his one valuable possession, a ring, for cash to buy liquor takes on a new meaning with this bluesy rendition. Harper’s tenor takes lead. When the full band gets engaged, the music has a vibe akin to variations of the “Pink Panther Theme” used in the animated cartoon. However, the song shifts to a more somber, melancholy mood, anchored by the chant.
D Rolark is an artist whose method of inspirational instrumental music is called “inspir-tainment” (Inspirational entertainment). In addition to playing various keyboards on this one-man project, he also plays piccolo bass and acoustic/electric guitars. From the opening track “Joyous” to the Neo-soul flavored “Neo-Spirit”, the music represents positivity as instrumentally expressed.
Adoration is available at CDBaby.
Smooth Jazz Daily 