Highlights
Hour One
Passion - Rodney Taylor:
LA-native Rodney
Taylor started in the school band when he 10 but it was while he was in
high school that his musical passion was lit. He released his solo debut
in '91 but for the most part, over the past 2 decades, the SoCal saxman
has built a solid career as a tour and studio sideman. Among Taylor's
credits are gigs with Marcus Johnson, Doc Powell, and El DeBarge as well
as a three year stint with Anita Baker that occurred between his past
and current release. The new one is 'Can I Blow For You?' and from it
there's the well-titled lead single in the track called Passion!
CD: Can I Blow For You? (2010)
Label: Equity Records
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Brazil - Kenny Zarider:
Hailing from Cincinnati
OH, keyboardist Kenny Zarider made his way to Nashville TN by way of Miami
FL. As an active member of that city's vibrant music scene, Zarider has
played live gigs and sessions, while many of his compositions have been
featured on movie sound tracks. Recruiting some of Nashville's finest
resident players, Zarider recently released Reflections, his debut. Contributing
to several aspects of the endeavour was Denny Jiosa; he mixed, co-engineered
the album, and also played on several tracks. From a project with influences
of Chick Corea and Joe Sample, and one that fuses Miami Latin Soul, Blues,
and Smooth Jazz with touches of Cuban and Brazilian music, we have the
smooth style and rhythm of Brazil with Michael Fair on flugelhorn!
CD: Reflections (2010)
Label: Sonic Canvas
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Just Believe - Robert Harris:
Hailing from the
Motor City, Robert Harris paid his dues in LA for nearly a decade, first
as a as a studio musician and then as owner/operator of Fast Trak Recording
Studios, which he founded in 1985. In due course, Harris came to the conclusion
that as much as he enjoyed the engineering side of the music business,
he found performing more appealing yet still - so in 1991 he sold the
studio, made a cross-country trek, and set up shop in the Orlando area.
With regular club dates and with appearances at a variety of festivals
thruout the state, Harris and his band have become known as one of the
premier Jazz / R&B groups in central Florida. Additionally, Harris has
played Warren Hill's Smooth Jazz Cruise appearing with Hill and with Kirk
Whalum; meanwhile he issued his debut a few years back. Miami Sun is the
new one, now the 3rd in his catalogue and from that effort, Harris's buoyant
nylon-string acoustic guitar turns us into believers on the track Just
Believe!
CD: Miami Sun (2010)
Label: Canyon Lake Records
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| Highlights
Hour Two |
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Trust in Love - Stan Berger:
Stan Berger is a
longtime studio musician, a composer, a musical director, and formerly
he was the keyboardist for Barry White. He was born in Mandan, North Dakota,
but early on his family moved to California, and it was there that Berger
began in music starting on accordion at about the age of seven. His father
was a connoisseur of classical music and Stan grew up listening to the
likes of Ravel's Bolero and Bizet's Carmen - this all had a tremendous
impact on his musical direction and his career. Apart from studying the
classics, Berger also worked at establishing his jazz credentials. He
attended University of Redlands and in 1994, he earned a doctorate in
music composition from Claremont. Working as part of the West Coast music
scene for many years, Berger issued his premiere in Kool Shoes just this
past March and Brian Simpson for one, immediately recognized the craftsmanship
on the disc - Simpson does a nice read on Berger's Our Love on his own
recently released South Beach cd. Nonetheless, there's a lot more great
music. From among several possibilities, we've selected Trust in Love
with Steve Alaniz on sax for Stan Berger's debut on the show!
CD: Kool Shoes (2010)
Label: Stan Berger Music
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Midnight Kiss - Paul Brown:
Love You Found Me
is Paul Brown's latest, his 4th solo cd and 5th overall taking into consideration
his recent collaboration with Marc Antoine. A press release issued for
the project reads, "Smooth Jazz legend, producer, artist, sound engineer
and double Grammy winner, Paul Brown, released his newest album on September
28th via Shanachie Entertainment"! Offering loads of variety thruout,
Brown clues us in, "This CD is a real reflection of my musical influences.
Folk, rock, blues and jazz all mixed together." In spite of several tracks
that feature such high caliber talent such as Jesse J, Marc Antoine, and
Greg Adams, we've opted for a tune that spotlights Paul on his own. From
Love You Found Me, it's the sweet refrain and a few stolen moments in
Midnight Kiss! 
CD: Love You Found Me (2010)
Label: Shanachie.
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Up-N-Atm - Sam Stryke:
Early on, Sam Stryke
was influenced by the music of George Winston and David Benoit, but while
studying at Northwestern, he grew to love the style of Bill Evans, Vince
Guaraldi and Keith Jarrett. The native of Grand Rapids, MI issued his
solo debut, a new age effort, back in 1991. Even so, Stryke took what
turned into a lengthy break from the record biz - he completed college
and followed that by launching a successful commercial music career. He's
composed for film and TV, and his tracks have been used for Super Bowl
commercials and award-winning ad campaigns. The Chicago-based pianist
returned to recording in 2002 with his sophomore effort. Released in April
of this year, the cd Brunch is Stryke's 4th, and a project whose primarily
focus is the classic jazz trio. Nonetheless, the grooves, harmonies, and
melodies all stem from pop and rock - in keeping with this theme; we've
selected one of the grooviest in Up-N-Atm as Sam Stryke's Café
Jazz lead off selection!
CD: Brunch: Vol.1 Sunny Side Up (2010)
Label: Razz Records
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive
to our Site and Select Affiliates : |
... with more of the best from the previous
90 or so days. Included on this episode is music from Special EFX and
Jonathan Fritzen in addition to The Jazzmasters and Kenny G. Also appearing
are tunes by Gabriel and Nicholas Cole that barely made our production
deadline; while featured as well are Eugene K, Adrian Conington, Michael
O'Neill, Dwight Sirls, and Marcus Johnson … all as part of a never-before-been-played-on-the-show-14
track-set!
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