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September 7th, 2008 Edition #492 Previously 
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Week at CafeJazz.ca: 4rd Annual - Sounds of Summer Review!
For the fourth time in as many years we swing into action with a special edition checkin' all the hottest tracks from the summer of '08. Featured on this 4th annual Sounds of Summer Review, are some of the big names in smooth jazz including Nick Colionne, David Benoit, Earl Klugh, The Sax Pack, and Ken Navarro. New to the show are Max DiFaz, Greg Kavanagh, and Alex Bershadsky while also appearing are Gerald Albright, Nate Harasim, and Vibes Alive, each with selections from their summertime releases. Now there's plenty more to get excited about ... including recent favourites from Voodoo Village, Matt Marshak, Paul Hardcastle, Stevie Williams, and Marcos Ariel! The summery sounds are sizzlin' on our sun-drenched spectacular! |
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Highlights
Hour One No Limits - Nick Colionne: From a teen who would paint on a mascara moustache to look older when he played, to an artist who continues to ride the crest of his popularity, it's now Nick Colionne's turn to reap the rewards of many years of devotion to his craft. After his '94 debut and several years wherein he enjoyed modest success, it was nearly 10 full years before Colionne would crack the smooth scene - but crack it he did and in no small way. Following the success of Just Come On In, his 4th release, which spawned one of the major hits for the year in High Flyin', Nick hit pay dirt again with Keepin' It Cool, a project that led to his selection as the "International Instrumental Artist of the Year" at the 2007 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. Now with his much-anticipated follow-up, his debut on Koch Records, and his 6th over-all, Colionne sets "no limits" on his rise to stardom. Hard grooving and soulful, from that effort we have the title track and a tune that suggests there is no bound to the charismatic performer's potential! CD: No Limits Label: Koch Records Site: Nick Colionne ; Nick'sSpace ; Colionne/Koch |
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Feels Like Fifty - Max DiFaz: Qualifying as one of the more pleasant discoveries for the summer of '08 is a selection from a newcomer to our show, that being Max DiFaz. Based in Boston, DiFaz is in a multi-instrumentalist equally adept at keys, guitar, drums, and vocals. While attending the famed Berklee College of Music he earned a faculty scholarship and in addition to entertaining in his hometown and other diverse locals, DiFaz has appeared as a featured performer on a variety of luxury cruises. Sunday Brunch is his recent debut and from it, we have the picturesque Feels Like Fifty! CD: Sunday Brunch Label: Quark Records |
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Drift - Alex Bershadsky: He was born in Latvia but for the past 25 years, he's performed alongside many of Israel's top talents. Stylistically, bassist Alex Bershadsky has travelled many roads - in the 90s, he toured Europe extensively with RTZ while later he recorded a pair of projects with the group Zonzee, one of which featured guitarist Mike Stern. Additionally, Bershadsky has played a variety of festivals around the world, appeared at venues such as New York's famed Blue Note, and recorded in LA at Steve Vai's Mother Ship Studio. Described as the "Israeli Fret-less Bass phenom", Bershadsky recently released his solo debut entitled Junk, a project wherein he maintains the artist freedom that has long been his hallmark. Ranging from avante garde to funky to free form, the album does nonetheless offer the comfort of a track called Drift. Featuring an elegant melody and refrain, Bershadsky's bass is in perfect harmony with the sax work of Arno Recht and results in what is easily one of the most gorgeous selections for the year! CD: Junk Label: My Records Site: Alex'sSpace |
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| Highlights Hour Two | |
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Back on the Hudson - Shilts: British hipster, Paul "Shilts" Weimar has been playing sax since his early teens and in the process, he's toured the world with the likes of The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Rick Braun, and Peter White. While always keen on maintaining his own personal identity, for the past eleven years, he's fronted Stuart Wade's Down To The Bone project. Shilts' solo debut earned him a nomination as best new SJ artist for 2001 while Jigsaw Life is now release #3 and first since leaving UK's premier jazz-funk unit. Having played a variety of styles from soul, fusion, and pop, to big band and smooth jazz, Shilts now brings 'em all to this latest release and therein lies "the jigsaw"! From Jigsaw Life, Shilts impacts with the bopping Back on the Hudson! CD: Jigsaw Life Label: nuGroove Records Site: Shilts ; Shilts'Space ; Shilts/nuGroove |
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What You See Is What You Get - Gerald Albright: After graduating from university in Redlands CA, LA native Gerald Albright joined Patrice Rushen's band. He soon became established as a first call sideman and over the years, he's worked with stars such as Anita Baker, Quincy Jones, and Babyface. Albright launched his solo career back in 1987 and, with a "voice" that's been described as both powerful & unique, he's enjoyed sales in excess of a million units. Sax for Stax is now album #13 - a total that includes a '98 collaboration with Will Downing as well as an '01 best of compilation. This latest project, consisting of three originals and eight covers, sees Albright crack the vault of legendary Memphis-based Stax Records - a label that defined the sound of southern soul for an entire generation from the late `50s to the mid `70s. From that effort, we have Albright's soulful take on The Dramatics classic from 1971! CD: Sax For Stax Label: Peak Records Site: Gerald Albright ; Gerald'sSpace |
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Jamaka
- Greg Kavanagh: From playing with rock and R&B bands on the Halifax club circuit to his Juno Award-winning work as park of BKS, guitarist, & producer Greg Kavanagh brings a wealth of experience from his 25-plus years in music. While in LA for a couple of years, Kavanagh studied with Lee Ritenour before moving to Detroit and becoming immersed in that city's vibrant scene. Based in Toronto since the early 80s, Kavanagh has worked with David Foster, Aretha Franklin, and Linda Ronstadt, as well as Canadian talents such as Zappacosta, and Gordon Lightfoot. Back in the 90s, together with Demo Cates and Richard Evans, he was 1/3rd of the smooth band Monsoon. Now Kavanagh goes solo with the multi-flavoured Boardwalk Café recorded at his own state-of the-art Kavasound studios - from that release, we have the reggae-tinged grooves of Jamaka! CD: Boardwalk Café Label: Boardwalk Records Site: Greg Kavanagh |
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our Site and Select Affiliates : |
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As we
"spread the luv", all of the music on this edition is brand new
to our show. That includes the latest from the likes of Sergio Mendes
as well as Larry Carlton, Jason Miles and Dave Koz. There's a bit more
from Terry Disley, Jim Adkins, and David Wells and each of their recent
releases while debuting are Patrick Charles, Al Williams III, Ronnie
McNeir, Evan Knight, and Gary Carpenter!
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