Highlights
Hour One
Global Kiss - Steve Oliver:
One of the most
dynamic players in the genre is back with his first smooth studio effort
in about four years. Since being named the '99 Debut Artist of the Year,
Steve Oliver has averaged somewhere around 200 live appearances annually.
His 2008 One Night Live captured the power and passion of Steve in a live
gig while the 2006 seasonal release entitled Snowfall showed yet another
side to this multi-dimensional performer. Following his tours thru Spain,
Germany, and London England, Steve was genuinely inspired by the many
different cultures in Europe and decided to pursue a global theme for
his newest release. While still incorporating R&B influences and many
of the other elements that have become hallmarks of his style, Oliver's
focus grew to include percussive world rhythms. Aided by many A-listers,
including Tom Schuman & Bonny B (both from Spyro Gyra), as well as Marion
Meadows, Darren Rahn, Nate Harasim, and Alan Hewitt, Global Kiss is now
his 7th and latest. The number seven proves lucky indeed for Steve's many
fortunate fans who are now royally treated to an expansive musical embrace.
From that effort we have Global Kiss the title track. Armed with a wide
array of percussive weaponry including dumbek, tabla, and jimba, the Middle
Eastern melody features percussionist Humberto Vela, while all the keyboard
sounds are triggered by Steve himself from his guitar! 
CD: Global Kiss (2010)
Label: SOM Entertainment
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Sax on the Beach - Hulon:
Hailing from Panama
City Beach Florida, he's Dr. Hulon Crayton, who's debuting as the smooth
saxman Hulon. Being a Rheumatologist with a successful practice has allowed
Hulon and his wife Dinah to pursue several philanthropic concerns. They've
created their own Crayton Foundation, an organization providing minorities
with a means to attend college, while also establishing The Crayton Scholarship
at Florida State University. Additionally, as a long standing member of
The On Call Band, Hulon's played various venues along the Gulf Coast.
First Impressions is now the good Dr.'s recent solo release. From a project
produced by Jeff Kashiwa, we're strolling the seaside with the sunny Sax
on the Beach!
CD: First Impressions (2009)
Label: Premier Musique Group
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Never
Alone - Jeff Beck:
With contributions
that have helped shape the direction of blues, rock, psychedelia, and
more, Jeff Beck has been acknowledged as one of the most influential guitarists
of his time. He attended London's Wimbledon Art College and then went
on to back 'screaming' Lord Sutch before replacing Eric Clapton in the
Yardbirds. He made his reputation in that band, but left in 1966 and the
following year he formed his own group, which included both Rod Stewart
and Ron Wood. He was set to connect with Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice
ex of Vanilla Fudge when he suffered a fractured skull in a car crash
and was sidelined for a year and a half. In actuality, Beck has been in
three crashes, and he's taken several lengthy hiatuses away from touring
and music. Nonetheless, thruout there have been a series of high water
marks: Beck, Bogert & Appice did later form to record a pair of projects;
Beck co-headlined with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and for a time collaboration
with their keyboardist Jan Hammer; and he's been Grammy nominated on several
occasions. With a career that at timers appears to be on again off again,
Emotion & Commotion is his first studio album in about seven years. From
that effort, there's the first single to smooth jazz radio in Never Alone,
and we have that for you on this edition!
CD: Emotion & Commotion
(2010)
Label: Rhino
Links: 
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| Highlights
Hour Two |
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Mas
in May - Eddie Bullen & Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo:
The teaming of Eddie
Bullen and Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo, now both based in Toronto, sees the
pairing of two formidable forces from the "islands". For many years, Eddie
Bullens' name has been synonymous with the sounds of the Caribbean and
with Urban rhythms in so far as the TO scene is concerned. Through his
production work with a variety of artist and with his own smooth releases,
Bullen is recognized as one of the musical king pins on that city's vibrant
circuit. As a performer, Bullen has headlined the Barbados Jazz Festival
and the Spice Jazz Festival in Grenada. He's scored original soundtracks
for local and national TV while additionally he operates Thunder Dome
Studios.
For his part, Hidalgo moved from Cuba in 1999 to "music city north" where
he's quickly established himself as a master percussionist and clinician.
Back in his native land, Hidalgo had worked with many of the legends -
he now puts that experience to good use not only as an active performer
but also a member of the teaching faculty at Soul Drums Percussive Arts
Academy and as director of the percussion ensemble Havana Rumba. Now Hidalgo
and Bullen present the meeting of two great Caribbean jazz traditions
in their collaboration Havana Nights!
CD: Havana Nights (2009)
Label: Thunder Dome Sounds
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The Meaning of Life - Shelby Brown:
Detroit saxman
Shelby Brown first made the scene back in 2003 as one-half of the smooth
duo Shelby.Brown with guitarist Dee Brown, with whom he'd been collaborating
since the late 90s. Then a couple of years later, Shelby issued No Boundaries,
a project that signaled his arrival as a lead man. It's been a few years
between releases, but even with a preliminary listen to his new cd, it's
pretty clear that Mr. S. Brown has put his time to very good use. In the
interim he became the proud endorser for several high-end products while
additionally he's shared the stage with some of the top players in the
game such as Marion Meadows, Tim Bowman, & Nick Colionne. These experiences,
together with performing internationally for the US Military, have definitely
resulted in a fine tuning of an already sweet style. But moreover, ever
so evident are a deepened maturity and a broader self-awareness. From
that recently issued effort entitled The Meaning of Life we have the title
track that provides some much needed musical insight!
CD: The Meaning of Life (2009)
Label: S.B. Records
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Really
Jazzy - Saskia Laroo :
She's one of only
a handful of women trumpet players in jazz and has been referred to as
the 'Lady Miles Davis of Europe'; she's Dutch-born Saskia Laroo. Hailing
from Amsterdam, Saskia was 18 when she attended that city's University
to study Math, but she soon swayed to a career in music. After various
courses of study in Alkmaar, Amsterdam, and Hilversum, Laroo's future
indeed looked promising but what followed was a series of rejections.
For a time in order to get her foot in the door Saskia switched over to
the bass and by the time 1979 rolled around she was a full-time professional,
performing with Dixieland bands and many straight-ahead jazz combos. Frequently,
she appeared with tenor saxman Hans Dulfer and in 1981 she became a regular
in his band. |
The
80s were her formative years when Saskia absorbed sounds with Hispanic,
Caribbean, Brazilian and African roots. Additionally she began to
front her own bands, issuing her It's Like Jazz in1994. Since then
she's become known throughout The Netherlands and in Europe for
a dynamic style that merges elements of hip-hop, jazz, salsa, funk
reggae, and world music. From her Really Jazzy cd and somewhere
around her fifth release overall, Ms Laroo debuts on our show with
the kinetic title track!
CD: Really Jazzy (2008)
Label: Laroo Records
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive
to our Site and Select Affiliates : |
... an After Hours bonus edition as The QR
continues with more of the best from the past 90 days! Included in the
opening set is Eric Leone, followed by Candy Dulfer and Michael Ross,
then it's Lynn Riley. Kicking off set #2 is guitarist Caleb Quaye with
his group known as The Faculty. Also appearing is Pamela Williams, while
rounding out the set is a trio of tracks that includes music by the
artist calling himself Hutson, there's David Arkenstone as well as keyboardist
Alan Hewitt. Some of the names you'll be hearing in the final set include
Artur Bayramgalin and Joe Yander. Richard Chadwick is on the show and
in the end there's Kim Waters with today's closing selection!
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