Showcase CD
VIP - Jonathan Fritzén:
Hailing
from Stockholm Sweden, Jonathan Fritzén attended the Royal Academy
of Music. He was one the first recipients of a Jazz Masters degree
and additionally, he's worked Swedish TV while backing some of
that country's biggest stars. The talented musician is now Sweden's
latest musical export and their first-ever pianist to enter the
smooth jazz arena. When Fritzén debuted on our show, it was fairly
obvious, he was on the way to becoming a "name" on this side of
the Atlantic. Now a year after that initial release, Fritzén's
VIP follow-up takes on added dimension. As with his initial effort,
Fritzén self-produced the work while covering eight different
instruments but, as he explains: "VIP has a groovier, deeper urban
sound, while keeping the elegance I aimed for on my first album.
I'm very excited about it - everything is just on another level"
and we couldn't agree more. Contributing to the cause are special
guests like Jay Soto, while supplementing the Scandinavian groove
is saxman Michael Lington - the result is a project with ample
evidence that the Nordic vibe is not only alive, it's doing very
well thank you! |
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Jonathan Fritzén - Ibiza Jazz
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As
such, it's a pleasure to present Jonathan Fritzén and VIP
as the focus for our spotlight segment! We've chosen a threefold
serving of great music beginning with a rhythmic groover called
Day After Day. Enticing and nuanced, the seductive In Motion will
sweep you away at the top of hour 2. Finally it's VIP with Jay Soto,
the track that gave its name to the disc; and it's here perhaps
more than anywhere else that Fritzén lays claim to the billing
of the album title. So when you're thinking VIP in smooth jazz,
more than likely the VIP you're thinking about is Jonathan Fritzén!
CD: VIP (2009)
Label: Nordic Night Records
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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Sometime Tomorrow - Dan Siegel:
With
a solo career that extends back to 1981, Dan Siegel is a genuine pioneer
in smooth movement. Back in the early days, Siegel's records were instant
adds and he's now issued somewhere around 20 in all. Additionally, Dan
produced several fine all-star projects as leader of Birds of a Feather
while recording & performing with a litany of top names in the likes of
Glenn Frey, Hugh Masekela, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, and the London
Symphony Orchestra. He's composed for film & TV, worked as musical director
on CBS late night TV, and played numerous sessions. Sphere is the new
one from the veteran keyboardist and we have a great tune with that classic
Siegel ambience from that for you today!
CD: Sphere (2009)
Label: Dan Siegel Music
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Sweet
Summer Nights - Najee :
Considered
a trendsetter in the genre, Najee helped define the sound of smooth for
over a decade and he's a two-time Grammy nominee. The native New Yorker
began on clarinet and later added sax and flute to his repertoire. He
attended the New England Conservatory of Music, toured with Chaka Khan,
and in '86 he released Najee's Theme, which went platinum. Subsequent
albums also proved popular - in particular "Najee Plays Songs from the
Key of Life: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder" was critically acclaimed and
reached gold status. Never rushing to capitalize on his popularity Najee,
has recorded only a handful of projects in the time since although he's
become somewhat more prolific since joining the Heads Up label a few years
back. Mind Over Matter is now his 3rd on Heads Up and 11th overall. From
that release, we 're featuring the sweet & summery sounds of Sweet Summer
Nights!
CD: Mind Over Matter (2009)
Label: Heads Up
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Moonlight
Taboo - Urban Jazz Coalition:
It's
the start of 'a new day' for the Urban Jazz Coalition. Based in Columbus,
Ohio and led by bassist & founding member Phil Raney, this is a veteran
septet that is rich in a depth of musical talent. Raney studied a variety
of instruments in his teens and was self-taught on guitar along with childhood
friend and UJC guitarist, Joe Gothard. In 1986, Raney moved to LA where
he held down a variety of gigs during an 8-year stint, returning to Columbus
in 1994. Shortly after Phil reconnected with Gothard, drummer Jim Bridges
(recently replaced by Rich 'Rico' Adams) and percussionist, Hector Maldonado
with whom he had played in the early 80s. Rounding out the sounds of the
current combo, are keyboardist Brandon Howard, Richard Randolph on sax,
and the newest member Duane Tribune on guitar. Billed as one of the hardest
working bands in contemporary jazz, UJC have done hundreds of live gigs
over the years, performing with the likes of Spyro Gyra and Al Jarreau
among many others. Now, with the issue of the aptly titled A New Day,
their latest & 6th release overall, UJC for the first time unfurl this
latest configuration on record. As on previous releases, the band establishes
that tricky balance between a disciplined approach and a spontaneous sound
while continuing to find that emotionally charged higher ground in their
playing. From the effort we have the tantalizing styles of Moonlight Taboo!
CD: A New Day (2008)
Label: The Continuum Music Group
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Tropical
Rain - Jessy J:
As a
musician who's passionate about her playing, Jessy J honed her chops before
bursting onto the scene with her Tequila Moon debut. The title track earned
Contemporary Jazz Song of The Year recognition from both R&R and Billboard
while additionally Jessy was named R&R's Debut Artist for 2008. Understandably,
there's now a fair degree of excitement as Ms J returns to the limelight
with True Love, her sophomore follow up and a project that's once again
produced by Grammy-winning Paul Brown. Backed by Brown and Gregg Karukas,
as well as Roberto Vally and a few other A-listers, Jessy draws upon the
full richness of her Latin heritage and on her love of jazz. The result
is a venture indelibly stamped with class and finesse. From that effort,
we're caught in the warm rapture of Tropical Rain!
CD: True Love (2009)
Label: Peak Records
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Martinis
At The Velvet Lounge - Brian Bromberg :
Critically
acclaimed and regarded as an innovator in his field, Brian Bromberg's
stylistic range is diverse as he's equally at home on both straight-ahead
and contemporary projects. He's highly regarded not only as a bassist
but, as the man in charge at B˛ Studios and Productions, he's developed
a reputation for his top-shelf work as a producer, arranger and composer
with somewhere around 15 top-10 hits and a pair of #1's to his credit.
Additionally, Brian's personal catalogue has grown to more than a dozen
releases with his previous album, Downright Upright, earning a Grammy
mention. Superlatives have abounded thruout his entire career, as Bromberg
sets about dispelling any preconceptions as to how a bass is supposed
to be played. The mission continues on It Is What It Is, wherein Bromberg
is backed by a killer horn section while enlisting the aid of a brilliant
batch of triple-A cats; George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Lorber, Dave
Weckl, Dan Siegel, Randy Brecker, Eric Marienthal, Richard Elliot, Gerald
Albright, and Rick Braun all contribute to the disc! From this latest,
we're sipping a funky cocktail called Martinis At The Velvet Lounge!
CD: It Is What It Is (2009)
Label: Artistry Music / Mack Avenue Records
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| ... we're moving thru time on the 3rd in a 5-chapter
series with each & every selection having the word time as part of its
title. We're calling this edition Falling Through Time after a selection
by Cecil Ramirez that's included in the segment. We've chosen tracks such
as Quiet Time, Hard Times, & Time Out, with 13 time travellin' tunes in
all. Opening the show is Ray Garand and he's followed by Bob Baldwin,
Wayne Jones and Pieces of a Dream. Chuck Loeb launches set #2 and then
we continue with Cecil Ramirez and the namesake track for the feature.
Then it's Queen Latifah, Grady Nichols, and the band Cabo Frio. Meanwhile
the final inning features Bob Bangerter and Duncan Millar as well as Jeffrey
B Suttles - then in the end it's Acoustic Alchemy with a terrific closing
track! |
