This Week at CafeJazz.ca:
... another
choice show, this time with Will Sumner's new one in the spotlight.
It's called Tracks and that's the feature cd on the showcase segment.
Cued for hour 2 is a cutting edge blend of new music on Fresh Trax.
Headlining the instalment are Paul Hardcastle and Larry Carlton.
Composer Sonny Olsen out of Italy and British producer Michael e
are both on the show, first time for either; while also appearing
is Keiko Matsui to round things out. Trailing Fresh Trax is a vintage
collection from the Café Jazz archives with Peter White and Mark
Hollingsworth - plus we've included a couple of all-time favourites
from our treasury of classics and those are by Duncan Millar and
Chieli Minucci ! |
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Showcase CD
Tracks - Will Sumner:
After
attending the University of Minnesota, Will Sumner studied both
at Berklee in Boston and Westminster College in Salt Lake City.
By the time all was said and done, he emerged not only as an accomplished
guitarist but also proficient on piano and violin. In the late
90s, Sumner debuted with his band Tropic Zone, a project which
was recorded in Minneapolis - that was followed by a pair of releases
under his own name in Desde Mi Corazon and Coast Drive issued
in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Tracks from each have previously
been featured on our show - but I digress!
In the intervening years, Sumner relocated to Carlsbad California
in San Diego County and using this as home base, he's become well
established on the So-Cal scene. Well known for the sensitivity
of his compositions as well as for his expressive playing, Sumner's
releases have been well received in the USA; additionally he's
won recognition as a multiple winner at the United States Cine
Awards, while he's also earned props at Film Festivals from New
York to Italy!
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| Sumner's
new one is simply called Tracks; it's his fifth cd overall and first
since a 2008 seasonal release. With a nice mix of Latin and Brazilian
styles together with flavours of pop and jazz, this is one slick
but solid effort. The project features an organic mix colored with
brilliant harmonies, beautiful textures, and vibrant improvisation;
and apart from a bit of sax, bass, and some piano, Sumner handles
all the instrumentation! So now, it's Will Sumner in the spotlight
with Tracks as the subject for the showcase feature. First up, the
dulcet tones of On Target see Sumner doubling on guitar and percussion. |
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Will Sumner Live!
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At
the top of hour 2 is a tune called The Lake - a relaxing new-age
weave with Will featured on both piano and guitar! While for the
closer, we have a well-travelled track for our show in Wine Highway
and one that celebrates California's famed wine-producing region!
For many years Sumner has enjoyed a nice following, first in Minneapolis
/St. Paul and then in the San Diego area. Now with some great arrangements,
a nice mix of moods and melodies, and some pretty tasty playing,
this latest cd shows Will is fully capable of taking his 'tracks'
right across the nation!
CD: Tracks (2010)
Label: OceanStreet Records
Links: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part
One |
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Ghost of Aviation - Michael e:
Based
in Sheffield England, Michael E played in various cover bands at US bases
thruout Europe when he started to develop his compositional skills. With
advancements in technology, it occurred to him that he could do it all
- compose, perform, produce, and mix a record totally on his own. Out
of this vision Michael realized his dream in 2006 and now has 8 projects
to his credit; meanwhile he's appeared on about 70 down-tempo compilations.
Today we're going to one of these called The Candy Shop Volume 2 released
in 2010 for the track Ghost of Aviation. Now sometimes it does takes time
for a new artist to be recognized - which happens to be the case in this
instance as Ghost of Aviation is actually drawn from Michael E's debut!
Nonetheless, here's Michael's account of the story of behind the track.
"I was near completion of the track and it had no title, it was kind of
brewing away and I decided to go for a cycle ride in the countryside near
my home." |
Michael
goes on to say, "It was a beautiful summer's day and somewhere
along the route I noticed a biplane in the sky doing acrobatics.
The drone of the engines as the plane climbed and dived was almost
like music. It had a melancholy air about it . . . . Voila!!!! I
got back to my studio and incorporated the drone into the track
and suddenly it had focus. I'd remembered a line from a Joni Mitchell
song about Amelia Earhart, about the ghost of aviation. So, there
I had it, a focus for the track and a title. It fit perfectly as
far as I was concerned. Perfect." And a comment with which we happen
to be in complete agreement!
CD: Candy Shop Lounge
Volume 2 (2010)
Label: Blood Sugar Records
Links: Michael
e:
Candy Shop Lounge:
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Beautiful World
Michael e
2006 |
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Sunday
Afternoon in Habana - Sonny Olsen:
Composer
Sonny Olsen started his career in Naples, Italy and early on he became
involved with Italian state TV. In the mid '70s he moved to the USA where
he continued with private studies while touring nearly every state in
the Union. Fundamental to Sonny's musical development was the time he
spent with the late Buddy Miles, the former drummer for Jimi Hendrix and
Carlos Santana. Sonny recorded and/or toured with Buddy in both the U.S.
and in Italy. Now residing back in Rome, Latin Tempo is Sonny's latest,
and a cd that draws heavily on some of the influences from his years of
professional life in Texas. From that effort we have Sunday Afternoon
in Habana as Sonny Olsen debuts on our show!
CD: Latin Tempo (2010)
Label: Digital Marketing Group
Links:
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Valentines - Paul Hardcastle:
Released
just in time for Valentine's Day is Paul Hardcastle's Desire, a project
that's appropriately been subtitled The Ultimate Seductive Album. Having
produced a steady series of sensual selections over the past 20 years,
Hardcastle gathers together many of his most intimate recordings into
a single collection all augmented by three brand new tracks. From that
mix we've chosen Valentines, a tune featuring the vocals of daughter Maxine
as Hardcastle provides a soundtrack suitable for the most romantic day
of the year! Love is in the air! 
CD: Desire (2011)
Label: Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records
Links: 
Fan Sites: 
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Awakening - Keiko Matsui:
Over
the course of three-decades, Keiko Matsui has attained unparalleled artistry
while emerging as one the most respected performers in contemporary jazz.
With sold-out performances around the world, the title of her latest release,
and first in four years, reflects Keiko's passion for performing as it's
entitled The Road. The album does indeed take us on a journey thru an
eclectic mix of flavours with elements from Eastern, Spanish, and African
music to name but a few. The release is Keiko's 22nd in America and like
previous albums, this one has a number of noted guest musicians, among
them drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, guitarist Alberto de Almar, & Cameroon born
bass player &vocalist Richard Bona. Also appearing on a couple of tracks
is Kirk Whalum, while Jackiem Joyner, her current sax player performs
on soprano sax on the title track & the closing cut. In spite of this
all-star back-up band, Keiko allows herself to stretch out on several
selections. From this current effort we're featuring a progressive yet
sensitive track called Awakening!
CD: The Road (2011)
Label: Shanachie
Links:
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Bad Luck - Larry Carlton:
Born
in Torrance California, Larry Carlton started guitar lessons when he was
six and had his first professional gig when he was 14. Carlton honed his
skills in the clubs and studios of greater LA and in 1968 he landed a
tour backing the Fifth Dimension. By 1970, he'd shifted to doing studio
work where he made a name for himself as a first call session player!
The following year, the Crusaders invited him to join the band and he
remained with the group until 1976. In between tours with the ensemble,
Carlton played hundreds of sessions on every genre. His credits included
the likes of Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr.,
Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, and dozens of other top names. Meantime, Carlton's
catalog grew to include film soundtracks, television themes and more than
a hundred gold albums. By the early 80's, he had already taken part in
over 3000 sessions, and had won a Grammy in 1981 for the Hill Street Blues
theme.
Now 30 or so years further into a career that's become legendary, Carlton
is fresh off a 16-year stint with the super group Fourplay. He's issued
30 or so records, been nominated 19-times for a Grammy and won three,
while receiving numerous additional accolades! On the new one, subtitled
A Tribute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Carlton covers the music of the
songwriting and production team that defined an entire category of popular
music having earned 175 gold and platinum albums. From that effort, we've
selected the track Bad Luck as Larry Carlton Plays The Sound of Philadelphia!
CD: Plays The Sound of Philadelphia (2011)
Label: 335 Records
Links: 
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
| After a many week absence it's the return of the connections
series - on this occasion all the selections are linked by having the
word 'after' as part of the title. For lack of a better phrase, we're
calling this the After Sunset edition for a tune by Joe McBride. By virtue
of this, tunes like Afterglow by Pamela Williams, The Morning After from
Joe Ercole, and After Midnight with Kevin Toney are among those being
featured!
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