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November 25th, 2007 Edition #461 Previously 
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This Week at CafeJazz.ca! Coming direct to you from Studio B, on this week's Cafe Jazz … Brian Simpson keyboardist extraordinaire is the focus for the showcase spotlight; we've chosen a trio of favorites from Simpson's Above the Clouds and we'll be playing those at selected moments thruout the program. Hour 2 brings a trip down memory lane and another Back Trax segment - our chance to revisit, get reacquainted with, and in a few cases to rediscover favourites from back in the day. This installment includes William Aura and Pat Kelley. We'll be hearing from saxman Danny Jung and NYC keyboardist Joseph Diamond - while jazz violinist Doug Cameron rounds out the feature. Then later that same hour, there's a dazzling array of some of the brightest in current music - including Pieces of a Dream, Jay Soto, Lao Tizer, and Darren Rahn! |
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Showcase
CD Above The Clouds - Brian Simpson: Brian Simpson's meteoric rise to the top of the Smooth Jazz charts in 2005 with It's All Good well belay the fact he'd been honing his craft for years. A jazzer nearly from birth, Simpson inherited his love of the genre from his father. Hailing from the small town of Gurnee, just north of Chicago, Brian started on piano when he turned ten, and then went on to study at Northern Illinois University during which time Oscar Peterson became his greatest influence. Upon graduating, Simpson relocated to LA where he became active on the club scene often jamming in the after-hours with future stars such as Everette Harp, Boney James, and Norman Brown. For a time Simpson's solo career took a worldly detour that found him touring with Teena Marie, Sheena Easton, and Janet Jackson. In addition, Brian's excursion into "Pop" included co-writing the #1 hit The First Time by Surface. Subsequently, Brian returned "to his roots" - he played a variety of sessions with George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Najee, Larry Carlton, and many other greats on the contemporary scene. |
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| Meanwhile Brian recorded his own debut in 1995 while in addition he took part in a pair of projects as a member of the four-piece combo Rhythm Logic. However, for the better part of a decade, Simpson has been the musical director for Dave Koz and his band since hooking up with the effervescent Mr. Koz back in 1997. With the release of Above the Clouds, now the third project under his own name, Simpson seems ready to build further on the successes he's already enjoyed. The project is as fine as any you'll find in the genre and since we feature only the best, it's a pleasure to thrust Mr. Simpson squarely into our showcase spotlight! As with It's All Good, from the very first listen, there's absolutely no doubt in our minds that we have in our hands a commodity that's sadly all too rare in today's music - a quality project that's delivered with finesse and the utmost taste. With this edition, seven of 11 tracks on the disc have been featured on our humble show! |
Photo: Above the CloudsBack Cover |
However, for the purposes of this presentation, and with some degree of
reluctance I must add, we were forced to narrow our focus to just four
selections - The Last Kiss, Let's Get Close, the title track, and the
ballad Fiona's Song written for Brian's 11-year-old daughter. We fully
expect you will be both moved and suitably impressed by Brian's artistry
on this effort - indubitably a prime contender for album of the year!
CD: Above The Clouds Label: Rendezvous Entertainment Site: Brian Simpson ; Mack Avenue |
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| Back Trax: Part One | |
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Deep Within My Heart - William Aura:
For the past dozen years, William Aura has been closely identified with the band 3rd Force and their complement of seven albums released from 1994 thru until 2005. However, the Detroit-native enjoyed a significant solo career throughout the 80s and early 90s. A strong believer in the healing powers of music, Aura composed many selections specifically for the healing arts. Considered a pioneer in the New Age genre, he recorded about ten cds before 3rd Force. From 1992 and Every Act of Love, his final pre-3rd Force effort, we present the restorative sounds of Deep Within My Heart and an example of one of his finest tracks from this era in his career! CD: Every Act of Love (1992) Label: Higher Octave Music |
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There
Goes Another One - Joseph Diamond: From exploring jazz in high school and his intense studies at the University of Miami to a few lengthy Caribbean cruise ship tours and Broadway road productions, Joseph Diamond gained a wealth of experience. These all afforded Diamond the ability to infuse his compositions and playing with a variety of elements & influences that effortlessly drift from one to another. Not Your Typical New Yorker was Diamond's well chosen title for his 2000 debut, and this was followed a couple of years later by Island Garden. Both releases were preceded by several months of live shows and rehearsals - consequently, the delivery has a live energy and feel, but with studio precision. On this occasion, we're heading straight to Diamond's sophomore effort for the superb Latin-jazz flavours of There Goes Another One! CD: Island Garden (2002) Label: Basileus Music Site: Joseph Diamond |
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| Back Trax: Part Two | |
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Big
Sky - Pat Kelley : A 2003 inductee into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Tulsa native Pat Kelley was already a seasoned performer when he joined the house band on The Merv Griffin Show. He went on to become highly sought-after as a sessionist appearing on somewhere around 2000 record dates while performing with the likes of Natalie Cole, George Benson, Tom Scott, David Benoit, and Dave Brubeck among many others. Kelley made his solo debut in 1989 - he's recorded eight cds as a leader and currently he holds a full time teaching position at USC's Thornton School of Music. From 1994's The Road Home, which was re-issued in 2002, we've selected Big Sky - an excellent mid-tempo mover that features Kelley's fine guitar lines coupled in harmony with the flute and saxwork of Gary Herbig! CD: The Road Home (1994/2002) Label: Positive Music/Artsong Music Site: Pat Kelley |
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Ah!
- Danny Jung : Although he was born in Seoul, Korea, Danny Jung and his family moved to LA when he was two - they later relocated in Texas where Jung discovered his passion for the sax just before entering high school. Jung had the opportunity to play at various church functions but was intent on obtaining a degree in Business Management from the University of North Texas, when he was offered a tuition-free education to Berklee in Boston. Upon graduating with a Music Management degree, Jung moved back to LA whereupon a demo led to a record deal involving a pair of albums. The first of these, his year 2000 Make A wish solo debut, was produced by Sam Purkin and Fourplay's Nathan East and was followed by his 2004 sophomore Right On Time cd produced by Brian Simpson and Jung himself. The following year, Jung launched his own Jazzlife label and since then he's issued a seasonal and, still more recently, a spiritual release. In order to provide a glimpse of Jung's musical ministry, from his debut we've chosen the totally soothing sounds of Ah, a simply yet suitably titled selection! CD: Make A Wish (2000) Label: Karisma/Mysislin Site: Danny Jung |
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On
The Town - Doug Cameron: Starting on the violin when he was five, Doug Cameron was still in grammar school when he began performing in the symphony orchestra. He primarily studied classical music and then later became interested in improvising. After graduating from the University of Buffalo, Cameron relocated to LA in 1978. He's worked with musicians such as George Benson and David Benoit while as a leader he issued his debut in 1986. With a catalogue of eight cds to his credit, Cameron has worn a variety of musical hats in his career - from Broadway to Jazz and from Celtic to Cajun. Several of his earlier releases made the Billboard Top 30 - in the New Age category, as a Contemporary Jazz Album, or sometimes in both. Nonetheless, we've opted for Cameron's 1996 Rendezvous release, his fifth album overall, and the sassy On The Town contained therein! CD: Rendezvous (1996) Label: Higher Octave Music Site: Doug Cameron |
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our Site and Select Affiliates : | ||||||||||
| On the After Hours portion of the show, Denver's favourite contemporary jazz band enters our spotlight; I'm referring to the Watts Brothers, Stephen and David or Dotsero, as they are they more affectionately known. We've gone done a bit of back tracking and are offering eight selections as part of today's Then & Now feature; that's about 20 or so minutes into the hour. Otherwise, true to our tradition, new music rules - albeit that has been somewhat abbreviated on this occasion. Nevertheless, we've selected from the finest available tunes and are offering a 4-pack of tracks for your enjoyment. Today's line-up includes Grady Nichols and Eric Marienthal, another track from Brian Simpson and our showcase as well as a super selection from guitarist Keith Andrew that launches today's segment! | ||||||||||
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Then & Now Spotlight Artist: Dotsero
Dotsero: The band Dotsero takes its name from a small town in the Colorado Rockies, which according to Ute legend, means "something unique". Led by Stephen Watts on sax and his brother David on guitar, the band has nearly a two-decade history, with 1990 proving to be a watershed year for the group. Their critically acclaimed debut released the year before, launched Dotsero to national prominence and paved the way for Jubilee, their sophomore release, enjoying a 5-week ride as a #1 record with a couple of others breaking into either into the top ten or top thirty.
We've selected eight great tracks, one from each Dotsero release - beginning with Private Thompson from 1989's Off The Beaten Path. Grandma's Rocker, Pickin' A Pumpkin and Someone Like You follow in order and take us thru until 1996 and the halfway point in the feature. Meanwhile, Midnight Mood, Westchester Lady, Sweetness #34 (dedicated to the great Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears), and Just Because from the above albums respectively round out the presentation. Delivering a welcome balance of passion and punch, Dotsero lay claim as one of today's premier contemporary jazz band! Site: Dotsero ; Jazz@Jacks |
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