Les Sabler: Over the past several seasons, Les Sabler's become a very familiar name on our show having assumed almost unofficial poster boy status. Hailing from Montréal, Sabler's been a full-time Florida resident since 1978. Canada's loss was definitely the Sunshine State's gain as the Jazz major from Concordia University cemented his already rock solid credentials by enrolling in graduate studies at the University of Miami Jazz Department. In the 90s, a pair of releases gained substantial airplay in the US - that was right around the time that we entered the picture first being exposed to Sabler's sound by WSJT, Tampa Bay's local smooth station that was spinning the track Cruisin'. Simply put, I had to have more; but alas, it would be quite some time before that wish was fulfilled.

Les Sabler - Live

Time did pass, the clouds began to lift, 2003 rolled around, and then suddenly the sun was shining again as Sabler released Bridge the Gap. Again, a decent showing in the US, but it was back in his native land that Bridge the Gap left an indelible impression - and I'm pleased to say we here at The Café had a small hand in its success being the first to break the cd up here in the land of ice and snow! The project was the most played album by a Canadian for the year and has enjoyed residual effects appearing perennially on our own in house list of faves. Known as the lightning capitol of the world, lightning did strike again in the Tampa area this past year in the form of Sabler's latest sweet release called Sweet Drive. Just a few weeks ago, we provided a quick recap of some of its highlights for the past year: #6 most played cd, #7 most played artist for Sabler, and #8 most played selection for Club Street with an honourable mention for Twenty-Two. Meanwhile on the Canadian front Sweet Drive was our #1 album while both releases have garnered Sabler a pair of nominations at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards - the drive has been sweet indeed!

So with the exhilaration of this latest project still coursing thru our veins, we thought the timing rather apropos, if you will, for a Les Sabler Then & Now feature; and in this case Les is more as we've doubled up, choosing two selections from each of Sabler's four releases for an extended 8-track segment! In order, the tracks that you'll be hearing include Neptune's Waltz and Theme X from 1990 & Sabler's Hidden Treasures debut. From the '95 Time For Love cd come Peace River Suite and Cruisin' - apart from the sax work of Sabler's close friend, the late Steve Gould, on Peace River Suite, Les handles all the instrumental duties on the latter two tracks. Those are following by Midnight Reflections and Bridge the Gap while Twenty-two and Les's current hit, Club Street, cap 35 minutes devoted entirely to the man whose music is hot as the weather in the city where he resides! Notwithstanding the fact that recording hasn't always his full time gig, making and playing music has always been Les Sabler's full time passion - and I think that will come thru in the selections that we've chosen!

Site: Les Sabler