Showcase CD
Afterglow - Shakatak:
One
of very few groups 'still standing' since their formation in the
early 80s, the band Shakatak was born as part of the London club
scene. They scored a series of dance hits in their early days
and then over the years, their style has gradually evolved into
one more firmly rooted in jazz-funk. Prolific in the studio, there
have been varieties of releases - from seasonal projects and compilations
to live efforts. Additionally, these standard-bearers of the Brit-funk
movement have enjoyed unprecedented success in the Land of the
Rising Sun - a Japan only clause in their recording contract ensures
they produce a new package a year - so that when all these factors
are taken into consideration, they've issued well in excess of
50 albums! Apart from the departure of guitarist Keith Winter
in the 90s due to ill health, the band personnel of drummer Roger
Odell, Bill Sharpe on keys, bassist George Anderson, and Jill
Saward on vocals has remained unchanged for nearly the entire
period. |
|
|
Shakatak are:
Roger Odell, George Anderson,
Bill Sharpe, & Jill Saward
|
In actuality, the partnership between Odell, Sharp, & Winter, goes
back even further yet still to a band called Tracks in the mid 70s
and it's this fact that most readily explains the cohesiveness with
which they play. So now as they near completion of their 3rd decade
on the music scene, Afterglow is the most recent from the celebrated
jazzy pop-sters! Therefore, it's with pleasure that we present
Shakatak and this their Nippon-pressed cd as the feature release
right here as part of the showcase segment! We've selected three
tasty tracks beginning with the bass heavy Domino Dance - this tune
features some lush & elegant Rhodes-work courtesy of Bill Sharpe.
The steady glow of First Light is gently reminiscent of those first
few fleeting moments of luminescence when day cracks the nighttime
still. Whilst the high ridin' Sierra Nevada named for the snowy
California mountain range caps the set. Sometimes sultry, frequently
funky, yet always polished, you'll be basking in the glow of this
Shakatak release well after the last track fades!
CD: Afterglow (2009)
Label: Shakatak Masters
Sites: 
G.Anderson
R.Odell
J.Saward
B.Sharpe
|
|
| Back Trax: Part One |
|
|
Early A.M. Attitude - Dave Grusin & Lee
Ritenour:
There
are very few things as satisfying as listening to two top players who
share a unique musical chemistry as that enjoyed by Dave Grusin and Lee
Ritenour. Over the years, Grusin and Ritenour worked together on several
occasions with the uncanny knack that they made each other sound just
a little bit better than they would their own. Such was the case with
their 85 Harlequin release. Finishing as the #2 Billboard Jazz Album for
the year, the project yielded the Grammy-winning Early A.M. Attitude,
a track that remains a smooth jazz classic!
CD: Harlequin (1985)
Label: GRP Records
Sites: Dave Grusin
Lee Ritenour 
|
|
|
She
Walks This Earth - Sting:
Even
after a 30-plus-year career on the world music scene, Ivan Lins remained
somewhat overlooked. Nonetheless, next to Jobim he may very well be one
of the most prolific and well respected to have ever come out of his native
country of Brazil. In the year 2000, producer Jason Miles gathered an
all-star cast to pay tribute to Lins with the cd A Love Affair: The Music
of Ivan Lins. Opening the disc was a previously un-recorded tune called
She Walks This Earth. With music co-written by Lins and lyrics by Brenda
Russell, the track features Sting on a tune that's good as anything he's
ever recorded. Together with the saxwork of the late Michael Brecker,
Marcus Miller on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, and Jason Miles himself
on keys, this was a Grammy winning performance!
CD: A Love Affair: The Music
of Ivan Lins (2000)
Label: Telarc Jazz / Concord
Sites: Sting
M.Brecker 
J.Miles
I.Lins
CMG
|
| Back Trax: Part Two |
|
|
Paradise
Island - Urban Jazz Coalition:
Out
of Columbus Ohio, Urban Jazz Coalition was formed by bassist and bandleader,
Phil Raney in 1995. In the time since, UJC has been one of the hardest
working bands in contemporary jazz with hundreds of live gigs. In addition,
they've recorded six albums - and on this occasion, we're going back
to Into The Night, their second release overall, from the year 2000
for the track Paradise Island! 
CD: Into The Night (2000)
Label: Major 6th Records
Sites:
|
|
|
Spanish
Moss - A Sound Portrait: Spanish Moss - Billy Cobham:
After
playing with Miles Davis and The Mahavishnu Orchestra, there was a time
in the 70s when Billy Cobham was without doubt the most influential drummer
in fusion music. He released an incredible debut in 1973 and then followed
it with a string of highly creative albums. On this occasion, we're re-visiting
Crosswinds his sophomore record, which was issued the following year.
From that effort, we have the opening movement in the four-part piece
called Spanish Moss - A Sound Portrait. The selection features the horn-work
of Brecker Brothers with George Duke on keys - and on a personal note,
this was the style of jazz that yours truly was weaned on! It was great
then, it's just as great now, and it's real treat to be able to share
it with you!
CD: Crosswinds (1974)
Label: Atlantic
Sites:
|
|
|
You
And Me - Urban Jazz Network:
A former
teacher and youth mentor, Ron Brown is founder of the Urban Dreams Foundation
- an organization formulated to inspire and motivate urban youth and young
people by teaching success principles through the arts. In addition to
gospel workshops, Brown shares his ministry thru his music. He's recorded
several cds on his own while his passion also fuelled the creation of
Urban Jazz Network, to this point a one-off project featuring all the
elements of urban music! From that effort, appropriately entitled Urban
Dreams, we have the activating spark of a track called You And Me!
CD: Urban Dreams (1999)
Label: Mankind Records
Sites:
|
| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| ... on this installment we have 14 brand new selections on
an all-new music edition. Today's line-up includes San Diego saxman Jason
Weber, and trumpeter Larry Lagerberg, as well as there's guitarist Ron
Smith and bassist Wayne Jones. Kicking off set #2 is Candy Dulfer while
also appearing are Grant Geissman and Elan Trotman - there's music as
well by Brian Kelly. Then in our final set, we have Richard Elliot, Craig
Chaquico, and Roger Smith - while in the end there's Swing Out Sister
with a remake of one of their hits from the 80s and finally Vince Mai
gives us today's closing selection. But as we turn the first bit of musical
sod, there's something new and this time it's by Paul Brown and Marc Antoine
from French Connection. So Gramps better get Mom & Dad and all the kids
cuz it's time again for the whole family to gather round old radio!
|
