|
Showcase CD
True Love - Jessy J:
Born
of Mexican-American heritage and hailing from Portland Oregon,
Jessy J fell in love with music when she was four and shortly
thereafter she started on piano. Her family relocated to Hemet
California and later, in the fifth grade, she wound up taking
sax for her school band. Considered by some as no less than a
child prodigy, Jessy spent much of her youth as a competitive
artist - by 15, she was named California Piano State Champion.
All the while she continued to hone her sax chops - six years
at Idyllwild Arts Summer Academy supplemented Jessy's dedication,
and helped get her into USC. Graduating "Most Outstanding Jazz
Student" in the class of 2001, Jessy was soon backing the likes
of Michael Bublé while touring with The Temptations, Jessica Simpson,
& Michael Bolton. She then spent a couple of years touring with
an off-Broadway musical called "Blast" and then hooked up with
ace-producer Paul Brown before bursting onto the scene with her
Tequila Moon debut!
|
|
|
| The
title track earned Song of The Year from both R&R and Billboard
while Ms J was named R&R's Debut Artist for 2008. Understandably,
there's now more than a fair degree of excitement as Jessy returns
to the limelight with True Love, her sophomore follow up and a project
that's once again produced by Grammy-winning Paul Brown. |
|
Jessy J & Jeff Golub - Guitar &
Saxes
|
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 upon her love of jazz! The result is a venture indelibly stamped
with class and finesse and one which rightly gives us cause to direct
the sparkle of the Café Jazz spotlight at Ms J and that cd. We have
the usual tasty assortment of selections and today we're starting
with the first single to radio in Tropical Rain and a tune that
not surprisingly has made to the top of several charts! With a tasty
guitar intro courtesy of Paul Brown, the melodic sway of the title
track gently eases us into hour two - while the on the finale, straight-ahead
meets old school in Jessy's Blues! Subtle, seductive, and yet oh
so soulful, True Love reveals Jessy J's charm, warmth, and full
dynamic range as a player!
CD: True Love (2009)
Label: Peak Records
Links: 
|
|
| Fresh Trax: Part One |
|
|
Steppin in Blue - Ron Hutchens:
Keyboardist
Ron Hutchens spent his early years playing piano in a variety of bands
in his hometown of Asheboro, N.C., before moving to Nashville Tennessee
in 1980 to pursue writing and studio work. Setting up shop in Music City
USA, in 1990, he co-wrote Take This Heart for the Blue Tears cd. A decade
passed filled with sessions and touring gigs after which, as part of The
Strange-Hutchens Ensemble, he released Night Dances - the project received
airplay nationally on several stations across the US. 2008 saw Hutchens
team with guitarist Terry Vuncannon for the issue of A Different State
Of Mind. Now seasoned by those experiences, Hutchens is set with his official
solo debut in Something In Blue. From that effort, we have a contemporary
gem, a nonpareil track called Steppin in Blue!
CD: Something in Blue (2009)
Label: A-Town Music
Links:
|
|
|
Return
to Rio - Lawson Rollins :
Since
the age of eight, Lawson Rollins dreamed of being a drummer, but after
hearing the great Andres Segovia in his mid teens, he put aside those
aspirations and dedicated himself to mastering classical guitar. He developed
his dexterity and a distinctive tone, but in time, it was his sense of
rhythm and love of improvisation that steered him in the direction of
Spanish folk and Latin jazz. After four cds as one-half of the guitar
fusion duo Young & Rollins, he issued his debut in 2008 and now follows
that with Espirito. Assisted by Flora Purim on vocals, Airto on percussion
and Jeff Elliot on trumpet, from that effort, we present the rhythmically
enticing Return to Rio!
CD: Espirito (2010)
Label: Infinita Records
Links: 
|
| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
|
|
Virtue
- Rob Tardik:
In a
nearly two-decade career, Toronto-native Rob Tardik has distinguished
himself as an award-winning guitarist, a teacher and an entrepreneur.
Having played since he was seven, Tardik received a music scholarship
in high school and then went on to study at York University. Earning diplomas
in Record Engineering and Media Arts, Tardik has worked for Roland Canada
as a guitar product specialist while edifying aspiring musicians at the
Merriam School of Music for over 11 years. For the past 4 years Tardik
has performed at the CSJA, but now with the issue of The Right Time, his
sophomore release, Tardik is poised to take center stage on his own as
a nominee for a Canadian smoothie. From that very cd, we have the propriety
of a track called Virtue!
CD: The Right Time (2009)
Label: Guitardik Music
Links:
|
|
|
The
J Spot - Clear Voyage:
The
project Clear Voyage has been around the Toronto scene for several years
now and provides a perfect vehicle with which to explore the many regions
that lie outside the confines of jazz, funk, trip-hop, and soul-grooves.
Alex Brans is the sonic whiz behind the sound, for although he's joined
by various musicians for his live shows, Brans writes, plays and produces
all of the Clear Voyage material. Heavily influenced by the funky jazz/soul
and classic Rock of the 70s, Brans also operates under the alias of DJ
Fusion Body. Following the Clear Voyage debut a few years back that broke
the ice if you will, Brans is back with more of his patentedly stylish
rhythms and hip grooves. From that effort, none is more stylish or hip
than the track we've selected. From Clear Voyage and Another Level, we
have the fused rhythms of a tune that really hits the spot and it's called
The J Spot!
CD: Another Level (2009)
Label: SoMuchSoul Records
Links:
|
|
|
East
Coast Steppin' - Art Sherrod Jr. :
A native
Texan, Art Sherrod Jr. was 13 when he joined the school band and started
playing the sax. He received numerous awards and in 1996, after four years
of college, he decided that music would be his focus in life. After performing
with local bands and playing in churches, in 2003 Sherrod knew, it was
time to step out and pursue a solo career. In this regard, he performed
or co-headlined with the likes of Natalie Cole, Will Downing, Chuck Loeb,
Najee, and many others. With early inspirations such as Cannonball Adderley,
Gerald Albright, and Kirk Whalum, Sherrod has gone on play a variety of
festivals from the Brazilian-American Jazz Festival in Rio to the Capital
Jazz Fest. While maintaining an exemplary level of commitment to his community
thru his work with churches and charitable organizations, or perhaps because
of it, Sherrod has continued to progress his career. All 4 Love was his
2005 studio debut and that's now followed by Seasons, his sophomore follow-up
effort. Ably backed by a few top names such as Chuck Loeb, Gerald Albright,
and Marcus Johnson, this release is guaranteed to win many fans for the
very able Mr. Sherrod - and from it, we're steppin' out with the spritely
first single to radio!
CD: Seasons (2009)
Label: Pacific Coast Jazz
Links:
|
| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| … part 2 in a 2-part series wherein we feature
selections that are in some way associated with the word soul. Either
they have soul in their titles, or the band or artist performing the piece
has soul as part of their name. We've called this edition, Next Stop Soulville
for a tune by Gerald Veasley. So today, we're spinning tracks such as
Secret Soul, Soul Candy, and When The Soul is Smiling with 14 smooth and
soulful selections in all! Opening things is Patrick Yandall, and he's
followed by Eric Darius and Rodney Lee. As well there's Richard Smith
and the Greg Adams led East Bay Soul. Set #2 has Chris Standring and continues
with the late great Grover Washington Jr., in there as well are keyboardist
Steve Barakatt out of Quebec City, and Gerald Veasley with the tune for
which we named this edition. Then wrapping the entire segment are Chuck
Loeb, Marion Meadows, Soul Ballet, Ultrablue, and Pamela Williams. So,
get ready for a musical trip designed to speak to that spirit within us
all! All aboard the 'soul express' - Next Stop Soulville!
|
Next
