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March 1st, 2009 Edition #516 Previously 
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This Week at CafeJazz.ca ... ... it's Tom Grant in the spotlight with Life is Good; we've cued a terrific trio of tracks as part of that segment. Then when hour 2 rolls by it'll be time for Back Trax, as we take another trip down memory lane - highlights on this edition are from Steely Dan and Dan Siegel's Birds of a Feather - also appearing are Soft Sugar, Rachel Z, and the combination of Reggie Worthy & D-Phunk out of Germany. Then a bit later, we have Nate Harasim and BK Jackson, as well as Chris Standring and Wayman Tisdale; while featured thru-out are the likes of Rick Braun, The Sax Pack, Terry Disley, Jessy J, Special EFX, Bob Baldwin, Nestor Torres, Vince Mai, and Down to the Bone! |
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| Back Trax: Part One | |||||
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Cruisin' Downtown - Soft Sugar: As part of the London scene, Soft Sugar Productions was an outlet, which gave rise to a variety of projects. In the early to mid 90s, Soft Sugar issued a series of Fluid Vibes EPs, a few singles, and an album - the concept proving a progenitor to Paprika Soul, which debuted in 2001. Relying on the talents of multi-instrumentalist Andy Spiller, the sax work of Poli Cousée, and the production expertise of Alan Barnes, several of their tracks appeared on a variety of compilations. On this occasion, from the '98 Welcome to the Jazz Café we're checking out Soft Sugar and the smooth and sweet sounds of Cruisin' Downtown! CD: Welcome to the Jazz Café (1998) Label: Instinct Records |
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| Back Trax: Part Two | ||
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Like
The River Flows - Rachel Z : She's played with Najee, Al Di Meola, and Stan Clarke; done five world tours as a member of Peter Gabriel's band and played on a Wayne Shorter Grammy-winning cd! Earning a 'Distinction in Performance' award upon graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music, New York native Rachel Nicolazzo (Rachel Z) worked the Boston area before returning to New York and connecting with fellow NEC alumnus Najee, touring and recording with him. In the period from '88 thru until '96, she performed with the fusion band Steps Ahead while working with the likes of Di Meola, Coryell, and Special EFX. In the process of collaborating with Shorter, Ms Z released her own debut in '96 managing a superb follow-up effort a couple of years later. From that project, which boasted a line-up including Chris Botti, David Mann, and Najee we have Like The River Flows featuring the intriguing guitar of Marc Antoine! CD: Love Is The Power (1998) Label: GRP Records Site: Rachel Z |
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Pretzel
Logic - Steely Dan : Walter Becker and Donald Fagen met at a New York college in 1967 - they played in a few bands and began composing with the hope of becoming professional songwriters. In 1970, using pseudonyms they joined the back-up band for Jay & the Americans and with a few varied experiences in the interim, they were hired after meeting producer Gary Katz. Upon Katz's suggestion, they recruited a few musicians and formed Steely Dan as a way to record their songs. Can't Buy a Thrill released in '72 was their debut, which met with both commercial and critical success but a poorly rehearsed tour was a flop. Although the Countdown to Ecstasy follow-up was again lauded by critics, the project failed to produce any hit single. Nevertheless, Dan's course in music had been set - they re-organized some of their personnel and released Pretzel Logic in 1974. Ricky Don't Lose That Number was a smash pop hit but provided only a hint of the level of complexity and the degree of sophistication that Becker and Fagen infused into their craft. Characterized by jazz-flavoured structures and harmonies, the music blended influences from several idioms and proved a high water mark for the era! CD: Pretzel Logic (1974) Label: MCA Records Site: Steely Dan |
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dabadab
- Reggie Worthy & D-Phunk: Bassist Reggie Worthy began playing professionally in his teens in Plainfield, New Jersey and is now in the midst of a career spanning nearly four decades. Upon completing high school, Worthy relocated to LA, whereupon he joined the Ike & Tina Turner Soul Revue. During his years in LA, Worthy would often find himself flying over to Germany to take part in a variety of production gigs and in 1980, he made the move permanent. In the time since, he's played on a variety of projects with groups such as US 5, and N´Sync while occasionally taking time out to record on his own. The year 2002 saw Worthy connect with pianist and keyboardist Jan-Heie Erchinger and his brother Dirk. JH had made a name for himself in the early to mid 90s as Jay Heye, one-half of the band Blue Knights, before teaming with his brother in '97 to form the "Deutschland-Phunk" or "D-Phunk" label and production house. The project was a one-off effort with which Worthy was ready to 'tell the world' what was up with his music in Germany! And although it was never made clear what the track title 'dabadab" meant, what was readily apparent was the 6-and-a-half minutes of free-wheelin' fun that the tune presented! CD: Tell The World (2002) Label: D-Phunk Music Site: RWorthy ; JHErchinger ; DErchinger |
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our Site and Select Affiliates : |
| New Music ... the focus shifts to fresh listening with 13 selections totally new to the show. Here's a quick run-down of today's line-up - which includes a pair of tracks from Pete Gitlin and those are followed by Russ Kunkel and Darren Rahn. Out of France, guitarist Daniel Domenge kicks off set #2 while also appearing are Jeff Kashiwa and The Rippingtons each with the lead single from their new releases. Saxlady Paula Atherton is on the show, as well, there's another track from Chris Geith and Timeless World. Then in our final set, we've cued Chris Grunder and John Carrozza - David Wells will be in there with the latest single from his Friday Afternoon release and finally there's a tune from Freddie Fox and Feelin' It - and that'll be today's closing selection. But to begin, as mentioned we have a pair of selections from Pete Gitlin - we profiled Pete and his Full Circle and The Great Temptation a few weeks back - now we have the tracks that gave their name to the album. First up is Full Circle and that's followed by The Great Temptation! |
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