Showcase CD
Endless Highway - Tom Braxton:
Although
his name may not be as familiar as some in the smooth genre, Tom
Braxton is certainly no newcomer to the scene. Growing up on the
plains of Lubbock Texas, it may seem unlikely that Braxton would
aspire to being a jazz musician, but aspire he did - thanks mainly
to his dad who connected Tom with many of the masters. The elder
Braxton put a sax in his son's hands in the 6th grade, and he's
been playing ever since - in the full belief that, "creating music
that brings people joy" is his mission in life. After high school
and as class valedictorian, Braxton attended Texas Tech on track
and music scholarships; and it was during this time more than any
other that performing really came to the fore! As leader of the
jazz-fusion band No Compromise, Braxton toured the southwest opening
for likes of Joe Sample and Stanley Clarke. Graduating with highest
honors, in 1992 Tom joined forces with keyboardist and producer
Bernard Wright for the release of his solo debut. It was Wright
too who was instrumental in linking Braxton with Wayman Tisdale;
Tom ended up touring as a regular in the late bassman's band for
over 17 years! |
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the years, Braxton has continued to record on his own - a couple
of albums were devoted to his spiritual side while 2005's Bounce,
produced by Wayman, marked his return to the smooth arena. Deeply
sadden by his friend's recent passing, Braxton shares, it's "a reminder
of our mortality and it has made me even more determined to live
my life to fulfill the purpose God has for me." Indeed, this sense
of vocation is clearly evident on Endless Highway! Now his 7th
release, it may well be the one that catapults Braxton into the
upper echelons of today's top stars, and deservedly so! The project
highlights Braxton's talents as a composer, producer and arranger
along with his versatility as a musician - he transitions effortlessly
between various saxes as well as handling piano, keys and flute.
So therefore it's a player and project that can't help but impress
that we now nudge into the soft sheen of the showcase spotlight.
As is our custom, we're featuring a triplet of choice cuts starting
it all with one of our favorites, in the tune Soul Purpose - a piece
with a terrific lyrical melody here's a track that clearly speaks
to Braxton's calling in life! |
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Tom Braxton, Randy Jacobs, Peter
White, & Andre Berry aboard the Smooth Cruise '09
Photo © JohnNeister.com
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The Journey at the top of hour 2 is an easy excursion that captures
the essence of enjoying every moment; while Endless Highway the
title track well reflects the road that we travel in life. Filled
with an exhilaration for music and life, Endless Highway shows Tom
Braxton as a savvy performer and one the major & most creative talents
of the day!
CD: Endless Highway (2009)
Label: Pacific Coast Jazz
Links: 
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| Back Trax: Part One |
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Night Flight - Greg Manning with
Mindi Abair:
Nigerian-born
keyboardist Greg Manning grew up in Switzerland. He made his way to the
USA in 1990 to study piano and film scoring at Berklee in Boston. This
led to a stint as Music Director for the stage musical Keep Cool back
in Switzerland, which became that country's most successful ever. After
a few varied experiences in film, TV, and theatre, and having performed
with 'N Sync, Candy Dulfer and others, Manning relocated to Atlanta in
1997. In '98 he took part in the Guitar and Saxes tour before taking over
as Associate Producer at the Music Factory, Atlanta's No.1 jingle house.
After working with Jonathan Butler, Elton John, and Brian McKnight, he
moved to LA in 2002. Hooking up with Mindi Abair, Manning and Mindi did
a few sessions. One of these was the single Night Flight, which was promoted
on the old mp3.com site. Manning later appeared on Mindi's 2003 break
thru cd, but on this occasion, we have that rare and little known track.
So return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, Greg Manning
and Mindi Abair play again!
Single: Night Flight (2002)
Label: Independent
Links: 
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Bali Run - Fourplay:
It was
during the recording of the 1990 Bob James album Grand Piano Canyon that
James reunited with Harvey Mason while first working with Lee Ritenour
and Nathan East. These sessions proved to be the genesis of Fourplay.
Their debut record was issued the following year spending 33 weeks at
#1 on Billboard's contemporary chart. They've since gone on to become
one of the few super-groups in smooth jazz with Larry Carlton assuming
the guitar chair back in '98. This time out we're checking out their eponymously
titled debut for its opening track in Bali Run! 
CD: Fourplay (1991)
Label: Warner Bros / WEA
Links:
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| Back Trax: Part Two |
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Somewhere,
Nowhere - Citrus Sun:
Citrus
Sun was a one-time project created by Jean-Paul Bluey Maunick, the man
behind the band Incognito. In 2001, Maunick recruited Jim Mullen, formerly
guitarist with Average White Band, along with a couple of members of
Incognito in drummer Richard Bailey and bassist Julian Crampton. Additionally,
there was a 3-piece horn section while rounding out the line-up was
pianist Tim Vine from Simply Red. The concept behind the combo was to
underscore the importance of smooth jazz as part of the musical culture
of the day. But unlike Incognito, Maunick adopted a collaborative approach;
band members were encouraged to contribute on a variety of levels from
co-producing and writing to just plain showing what they could do when
let loose in the studio! From that one and only effort entitled Another
Time Another Space, we have the Zen-like enlightenment of the meditative
Somewhere, Nowhere!
CD: Another Time Another Space
(2001)
Label: Rice Records / Heads Up / Concord
Links:
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Porcelain
- Moby:
Born
in New York but raised in Connecticut, Moby was one of the most prominent
figures in bringing techno to the mainstream. At 9 he started classical
guitar and music theory, but by 14 he'd gone on to play with a punk band.
While studying philosophy at college, Moby started DJ'ing and in the late
80's he became a fixture on the NYC house and hip-hop scenes. His first
single was released in '91 and was listed as one of Rolling Stones' best
of all time; he's gone on to sell over 20 million records worldwide while
producing and remixing for the likes of David Bowie, Metallica, and scores
of others. Infamous for his radical Christian beliefs, as well as his
environmental and vegan activism, his '99 Play cd initially received mediocre
reviews, but eventually it became his biggest seller with over 9,000,000
units sold. From that effort, we have the understated elegance of Porcelain!
CD: Play (1999)
Label: V2 Records
Links: 
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Todo
Legal - Klaus Doldinger's Passport:
Born
in Berlin, Klaus Doldinger attended the conservatory in Dusseldorf as
part of his formal training. Among his early experiences, he played Dixieland
Jazz back in the 50s but by the following decade, he had switched to a
more modern style. Thru varied projects and studio work, Doldinger grew
as a musician before hitting upon a concept he called Passport. Created
in the early 70s, Passport did not feature a set group, but rather it
worked as a banner under which Doldinger could record his multi-dimensional
undertakings; it has remained Doldinger's primary vehicle thru to the
new millennium. With a style that ranges from avant-garde to eclectic,
Passport has enjoyed huge success in Germany and, having issued somewhere
over 25 releases in all, there have been several complete turnovers in
personnel. On this occasion we revisit the '88 Talk Back release and one
of Passport's strongest line-ups with Brian Auger and Alphonse Mouzon!
Nonetheless, it's Klaus himself coming thru as the prominent lead voice
on the robust Todo Legal!
CD: Talk Back (1988)
Label: Atlantic Jazz / WEA
Links:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| … another in our series of theme shows - this one
is called This Is The Life as each & every spin has the word life in its
title. So stay tuned for Brite Life, Once in a Lifetime and Modern Life
with 13 robust selections in all. The opening set features Ray Obiedo
and Boney James with the namesake tune for the segment - that's followed
by Down to the Bone and Duncan Millar. The second set begins with Chuck
Loeb and continues with 3rd Force, Rick Braun, and Adrian Conington, while
Will Donato finishes it. Then wrapping things in the closing frame are
Avenue Blue, Pamela Williams, and Brian Culbertson while in the end it's
African guitarist Jimmy Dludlu. So, as we ignite the spark for a This
Is The Life edition, we have a longtime favourite from Ray Obiedo in the
tune Real Life! |
