Showcase CD
Roll On - Four80East:
Now
nearly 20 years since the launch of Boomtang Records, Rob DeBoar
and Tony Grace continue their forays into contemporary jazz with
the recent issue of Roll On. As an independent label specializing
in the release of 12-inch singles for the UK club scene, the first
three years of Boomtang operations saw the issue of fifteen Grace
and DeBoer-penned and produced records. By '93, their mandate had
branched to include artist development, and with that came a shift
in focus with DeBoar & Grace coming to the fore as a crack dance
remix and production unit. Then toward the end of the 90s, the veteran
Toronto-based team hit upon a concept that allowed for the melding
of a dance vibe with some of the jazzier and more eclectic elements
that they personally wished to explore. So it was that Four80East
came into being - their '97 UK debut spawned the single Eastside
that went on to become the seventh most-played track in the USA
the following year. |
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Meanwhile, we here at The Café were pleased to be one of the first
to get hip to their vibe - back here in their homeland! Over the
years they've continued in much the same vein issuing a series of
heady excursions into the worlds of ambience and trip-hop. But now,
just about a dozen or so years after that initial Four80 effort,
DeBoer & Grace are back at it with Roll On, their 5th, most recent,
and likely their most consistent effort in a string of genre-busting
performances! Make no mistake this is electro-trip-jazz at its absolute
best! It's therefore with some measure of pleasure that we present
Four80East and Roll On as the feature cd for the showcase segment.
With DeBoer on keys, bass, & guitar, and Grace on drums, they share
in the programming - and in so doing they handle almost the entire
musical load. Meanwhile there's occasional spot duty on a few choice
tracks from a handful of Toronto's finest! |
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Rob & Tony as Four80East at the
Jazz Trax Festival 2007
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In keeping with which, we've selected a nicely chilled triplet of
tunes starting with Shot In The Dark featuring the tantalizing trumpet
of Bryden Baird. After All This Time opens hour 2 - with some great
guitar and in the pocket piano, here's a track that's both an exotic
and esoteric gem! Then in the end, there's Never The Same Way Twice
- with sax by Jon Stewart here's an up tempo 'down-tempo' tune!
In all, DeBoer and Grace have never sounded better - all of which
suggests they're just hitting their stride - in so far as Four80East
is concerned, the best may indeed be yet to come!
CD: Roll On (2009)
Label: Native Language Music
Links: 
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| Back Trax: Part One |
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The Good, The Bad ... - Martin Fuss:
Vienna-based
Martin Fuss began in music with clarinet lessons when he was 12, but he
switched to the tenor sax shortly thereafter. After obtaining a Master
of Arts at the local conservatory, Fuss furthered his studies at Berklee
in Boston before launching his career. In that regard his credits include
Ray Charles, Josef Zawinul, and Natalie Cole as well as concert tours
and festivals both at home and abroad. Additionally, Fuss has sessioned
with many acts such as the Temptations, Gloria Gaynor, and perhaps noteworthy
to fans of smooth, the acid jazz combo Count Basic. On the solo front,
Fuss appeared on a few compilations before his '98 North American full-length
debut. Moreover, he landed a teaching gig at the University of Music in
Vienna all while continuing to record. For the time being, on this side
of the Atlantic we are left to content ourselves with Nightlife, Fuss's
sophomore release which appeared the following year - from that effort
we have The Good, The Bad … but certainly not the ugly! Well articulated
with some catchy phrasing!
CD: Nightlife (1999)
Label: Instinct Records
Links: 
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Driving Beverly Hills - Mark Portmann:
Keyboardist
Mark Portmann began on piano at the Cincinnati Conservatory when he was
five. Influenced by diverse genres such as classical, jazz, and the pop/rock
music of the day, Mark's passion and talent took him to New York City
and the Eastman School of Music when he was a teen. At 14, he studied
orchestration and composing before heading to Florida to continue his
education. He graduated from the University of Miami but had already been
performing professionally since the age of 17. Relocating to LA in 1990,
Portmann hooked up with Russ Freeman and The Rippingtons within a month
or so of his arrival. Playing and recording with the band for about 4
years, Portmann launched his solo career at much he same time and in due
course, he connected with producer David Foster. As Foster's protégé,
he went on to earn several Grammy nominations while working with many
of the biggest names in the biz. On this occasion, we return to 1994 and
Driving Beverley Hills for it's title track!
CD: Driving Beverly Hills (1994)
Label: Hands On
Links: 
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| Back Trax: Part Two |
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Morning
Glory - Eric Gale:
Although
he majored in Chemistry at Niagara University, guitarist Eric Gale was
determined to make a name for himself in music. So it was that starting
in the '60s, Gale set the groundwork for a near 40-year career and one
which saw him take part in over 500 sessions. Along the way, Gale recorded
with some of the greats - his credits included Aretha Franklin, Quincy
Jones, Paul Simon, Herbie Mann, and many others. In addition to his
highly regarded work as a sideman, he also issued a handful of well-received
projects prior to his passing in 1994. On this occasion we return to
1978 and Multiplication. The album was produced by Bob James and from
it we have Morning Glory, a track written by Lee Ritenour and featuring
another great, the late Grover Washington Jr. It's a standout selection
and an example of one of the finest of the day!
CD: Multiplication (1978)
Label: Sony
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Best Friends - Byron Miller:
Although
he'd started piano when he was five, Detroit-native Byron Miller didn't
become serious about music until he was sidelined by a football injury
while in junior high. He taught himself how to play bass and keys and
right out of high school he stepped into a gig with Roy Ayers Ubiquity.
Recording three albums and after several years of touring with Ayers,
Miller was recruited by Carlos Santana for the Amigos release. Subsequently,
he connected with George Duke and enjoyed a lengthy association that encompassed
14 albums. Otherwise, Miller recorded and / or toured with notables such
as the Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, and Whitney
Houston while enjoying a15-year stint with the Luther Vandross band. Otherwise,
Miller found little time to record on his own, but did manage a pair of
releases in the '90s. From his sophomore effort entitled Until …, we're
featuring Miller on Best Friends with Doc Powell guesting!
CD: Until ... (1997)
Label: Discovery Records
Links:
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Souvenue
- Tea:
Personally
I don't get the connection between the name of the band and the urbane
Afro-chilled mix of flavors they dispense - but in all honesty, it matters
not. When first exposed to Tea, led by French-born guitarist Franck Balloffet
and So-Cal drummer / keyboardist Phil Bunch, it was on the cd Dreams,
and what was already their sophomore release. At the time, the experience
proved somewhat overwhelming, as simply put, the originality of their
musical creations stood in a class unto itself - no mean feat, as we do
indeed listen to a lot of music. Nonetheless, this prompted a bit of 'back
tracking' in so far as the band and their first release was concerned,
as the word on the street had it that their debut had met with more than
casual approval. Upon further investigation, we were obliged to chip in
with our own 2-cents worth of critical commentary confirming the effort
as certifiably exceptional! From that debut we present Messrs Balloffet
& Bunch with the track Souvenue or 'recollections'. With Chana on vocals,
here's an ethereal adventure of the highest order!
CD: Voyages du Jour (2004)
Label: Lost Groove Records
Links: 
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| ... the focus falls on fresh listening with 13 tracks that
are totally new to the show. A quick run-down of our line-up reveals selections
by Patrick Yandall, DF Michael, Avenue H, and the Emilio Palame Band.
At the start of set #2 we have Dean Grech while also appearing are Jonathan
Fritzén and David Arkenstone, there's a bit more from Brian Bromberg
as well as the latest from Tom Braxton. Then in our final set, we've cued
One Floor Down and Danish saxman Jakob Elvstrom - there's Les Sabler with
his first single from Live at the Sarasota Opera House and finally a tune
from trombonist Steve Baxter - and that'll be the closing selection!
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