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February 1 , 2003 Edition #277 Previously 
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| Highlights!
Welcome to the radio show that's all about style and mood. On this edition we showcase the new one from Paul Hardcastle called Hardcastle III - there's a select sampling of three tracks that we'll be playing throughout the show. As well, I hope that you will be able to stay with us for the Fresh Trax segment. As the name might suggest, this is the part of the show where we present new music. This time round we have five great selections that include tunes from Jonathan Butler, Victor Fields, and Urban Jazz Coalition, as well as Samantha Siva and City of Sound! |
| Showcase CD Hardcastle III - Paul Hardcastle: Back in 1984 or so, the young Brit was starting to make quite a bit of a name for himself with his infectious blend of jazz and dance music. One of his first successes was a tune titled Rainforest which hit #1 on the dance charts on both sides of the Atlantic. For the next few years Hardcastle experienced varied success. Then, in 1993, he put the world of contemporary instrumental music on its ear, so to speak, with the release of his first Jazzmasters project. Although the cd was originally available only as a Japanese import, a few stations playing the SJ format in the US picked up on the recording. Most notably, KTWV, the Wave in LA and KiFM, the Breeze in San Diego enjoyed a response to the cd that was overwhelming. In due course, the Sound of Summer as Hardcastle has nicknamed the project swept thruout the US. The release earned for Hardcastle national recognition as the jazz record of the year. The cd remained on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart for over a year and is identified as one of the definitive recordings in SJ. In the time since, Hardcastle has developed one of the most recognizable and popular sounds in SJ with the issue of several other Jazzmasters projects as well as many under his own name. It is the most recent of these, Hardcastle III that finds itself in our musical spotlight on this occasion. |
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| Fresh Trax: Part One | |
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Pata
Pata - Jonathan Butler: Butler was born in Cape Town, South Africa, the youngest of 12 children. As a child he was exposed to a wide variety of musical flavours and early on took up singing and playing acoustic guitar. To escape apartheid, Butler moved to England where he lived for 17 years or so before relocating to the US. Now, with over a dozen solo releases to his credit, his latest is titled Surrender and we’ve chosen a track from that effort that exhibits many of the influences of his youth. |
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Bluesette
- Victor Fields: A resident of Oakland for the last 20 years, Fields honed his skills performing with various vocal ensembles, orchestras as well as with his own group. For a period, a family crisis forced Victor to put on hold his dreams of a career in music, as he accepted the role of caregiver. In time however, as things became more manageable, Fields was able to return to music, the result being the release of 52nd Street, his debut. From that we’ll have the Latin-tinged Bluesette which features Claudia Villela on vocals and John Burr on piano. Site: Regina Records |
| Fresh Trax: Part Two | |
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Spirit
Chaser - Samantha Siva: |
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City
of Sound - City of Sound: The project is the brainchild of Michael Cunningham out of Chicago. In addition to Cunningham’s piano chops, his jazz harmonies and funky arrangements are standouts on the disc. Beneath the Smooth Surface is the debut album under the City of Sound banner and from that cd we'll be playing their self-titled track. |
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Noches
Calientes - Urban Jazz Coalition:
Following the release of Into the Night their sophomore cd, the ensemble was awarded a contract as winners in a Battle of the Bands contest. The whole thing was sponsored by Jazziz magazine with Russ Freeman of the Rippingtons sitting in as one of the judges. In conjunction with the contest, they have recently released Contempo, their follow-up effort. >From that project we have Noches Calientes with special guest Christian Howes, providing the electric violin on the track. Site: Coalition Jazz |
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