Showcase CD
Snapshots in Motion - Wine & Chocolate:
Wine
& Chocolate is an intriguing musical concept conceived by Alex Salzman,
a Grammy-nominated producer and multi-instrumentalist. With Salzman
on guitar, keys & vocals, the combo includes Anthony Aiello on sax
& flute and Erin Henry on vocals, while trumpeter Don Harris makes
a special guest appearance. All of the members are accomplished
performers each with an extensive resume. Anthony Aiello began performing
in his teens when he first toured Europe with The Staten Island
Stage Band and then upon his return, he appeared at Carnegie Hall
and Lincoln Center. He graduated from the Manhattan School of Music,
and quickly become well known on the New York session scene and
over the years he's toured and recorded with the likes of Joe Jackson
and Mariah Carey! Erin Henry is a versatile vocalist with both studio
and live experience - she is currently a featured member of the
TransSiberian Orchestra. |
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Harris graduated from the Berklee College of Music and promptly
got a gig with James Taylor. He moved to Rio de Janeiro, for ten
years and ended up recording with artists such as Jobim and Gilberto
Gil. Now back in New York, Harris's credits include Tower Of Power,
The Supremes, Jeff Golub and many other smooth jazz stars! For his
part Alex Salzman was enrolled in the Moscow Conservatory School
for Gifted Children by his mother who herself was a world-class
classical pianist. At the age of eleven, Salzman also began studying
classical guitar and then later he attended The Westchester Conservatory
of Music and The Fordham University School of Business. Additionally,
Salzman has worked closely with Alan Menken, an award-winning composer,
on numerous animated features in the likes of Beauty and The Beast,
and Aladdin! Now together as Wine & Chocolate they present a hip
blend of vintage jazz for the sophisticated palate - all nicely
inlaid with some of the sweetest sounds from pop and funk. Hence
the name Wine & Chocolate nicely connects the many sumptuous and
rich elements of their style. |
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Wine & Chocolate - L to R
Anthony Aiello, Erin Henry, Alex Salzman, Don Harris
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Snapshots in Motion is their debut, and a project that's aged to
perfection. To begin, we have the rhythmic sway of Islands in the
Sun. Mood For A Whale begins with an atmospheric intro that bursts
into a spirited sequence only to subside as it began and that opens
hour 2. Meantime the remarkably textured Step by Step is set off
through an amazing interplay by Aiello on sax and Salzman on electric
guitar - this is musicianship that's clearly on a higher plane and
this is our closing musical vignette! So, for an album that flows
like a fragrant sparkling wine or like the most dark & delicious
chocolate, look for the label Snapshots in Motion by Wine & Chocolate!
CD: Snapshots in Motion
(2009)
Label: The Factor
Links: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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Traveling Lite - Renato Falaschi:
Hailing
from Bari, Italy, a city of 1.6 million that hugs the Adriatic, Renato
Falaschi began playing piano at an early age and then started formal training
when he was eight. He continued with his lessons through into his teens,
while broadening his focus to include organ and guitar. Later on he excelled
in big band arranging and composing and obtained a master's degree, while
in 1990, he also earned a degree in classical piano. After some work for
Italy's top TV network, Falaschi relocated to France where he's frequently
recorded with a variety of top vocalists. Summer Rain is his solo debut,
a 3-song EP released in 2009, that nicely foreshadows a full length cd
that Falaschi has in the works - from it we've selected the easy vibe
of a tune called Traveling Lite!
CD: Summer Rain (2009)
Label: PolyRecords
Links:
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Song
of Passion - Kim Waters:
During
his 20-plus year career as a recording artist, saxman Kim Waters has built
a solid reputation earning praise from fans & critics alike. Since debuting
back in 1989, he's issued 18 releases under his own name, led six studio
projects in the Streetwize series, and then enjoyed more chart-topping
success teaming with Jeff Kashiwa and Steve Cole on a pair of projects
as The Sax Pack. While balancing the demands of a busy performance schedule,
Waters has recorded ten #1 hits and sold over a million units, all of
which places him among the top five best selling artist on the contemporary
scene. The recent Love Stories now brings Kim's overall output to 26 cds
as he continues to strike a balance of flavours in a style that's come
to be referred to as smooth urban jazz and one that he's helped pioneer.
From that very release we've selected a cool tune called Song of Passion!
CD: Love Stories (2010)
Label: Shanachie
Links:
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Floating
Hearts - Joe Taylor:
Joe
Taylor is a veteran guitarist who initially made a name for himself as
a New York sessionist. He's toured and recorded with many diverse performers
and for a time he was a staff producer at RCA Victor. In addition, he's
worked as a TV soundtrack composer for just about every major network
- meanwhile he's also enjoyed success as the creator of the ambient Oracle
series as well as with several projects issued under his own name. Having
garnered top-five chart action in the past in a variety of trade publications,
it's been a few years between releases. Nonetheless, Taylor seems certain
to replicate that feat with Accidental Sugar - our early nominee as best
album title for the year! From that sweet release, we present the full-bodied
richness of Floating Hearts!!
CD: Accidental Sugar (2007)
Label: Moonwatcher Music
Links:
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Le
Vigne di Alice - Paul Cullen:
Buffalo
native Paul Cullen didn't get started in music until after high school
when his family had relocated to Florida. He got turned onto the sounds
of Jaco Pastorius and after practicing for up to 10 hours a day for 6
months he got his first gig. For the next 9 years he played all across
the USA in 12 different bands and then in the early 90s he was recruited
by Bad Company for their live shows. As Cullen describes it, "The next
3 years were action packed, playing 254 shows in front of 2.5 million
people." Needless to say, Cullen found it tough to go back to playing
the bar scene, so for a time he took a break, settled down a bit, and
regrouped. Finally, in 2007, he released his solo debut and then followed
that with a second project this past year. Now just issued is Dreamdance
& Paradise wherein both cds are bundled as part of a deluxe release. From
an effort with hints of Jazz, Latin, and Mediterranean styles, mixed with
ambient sounds we have the superb selection previously listed as Elu -
now renamed as Le Vigne di Alice for a wine producing region in Italy,
the tune connects Cullen's passion for wine with his passion for music!
CD: Dreamdance & Paradise (2010)
Label: paulcullen.net
Links: 
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Native
Born - Gary Carpenter & Tribal Heat:
Coming
to us from Santa Cruz California, is world fusion guitarist Gary Carpenter.
Carpenter has long held a passion for World Music and guitar - when he
was just sixteen, his experimental Indian Raga-rock compositions earned
him a scholarship to the Hartford Conservatory. Then, after moving to
the Bay Area, he formed Montage, which played to sold out houses; meantime
he's also worked with the group Compass, with Blue Note recording artist
Samba Ngo, and with Arabic World /Electronica performer MC Rai. Additionally,
his talents have led to live performances at the Monterey Jazz Festival
among many others. A few years back Carpenter teamed with keyboardist
Peter Cor for the band Helios before setting out on his own fronting the
project called Tribal Heat. Tierra Madre is now the second offering wherein
Carpenter explores unique blends of Latin and World rhythms. From that
cd the track Native Born sees Carpenter doubling on Spanish acoustic &
electric guitars over a heavily layered bed of percussion - the overall
effect being fluid, creative, infectious, & inspired!
CD: Tierra Madre (2009)
Label: Gary Carpenter and Tribal Heat
Links:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
... it's the latest installment in our connections series
- the operative concept is that all the selections share the word Sunday
as part of their titles! From the outset, Jay Soto frames things just
right; he's followed by Marcus Johnson and Bill Evans while the band Wavelength
completes the set. Saxman Kenny Blake provides the spark for set #2 with
the track for which we named the feature. We then continue with Lisa Hilton,
Steve Briody, Rick Braun together with Richard Elliot, and Tim Bowman.
Then as we round the final turn we have Joe McBride and Chieli Minucci
as well as flautist Paul Rozmus while finishing it, it's saxman Konstantin
Klashtorni! 
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