This Week at The Café:
In
the spotlight on this edition it's multi-instrumentalist & producer
Michael e with Departures & Arrivals. We'll take a peak inside that
release with a well-chilled sampling of 3 great tracks. In the second
half of the show, it's another exciting Vintage Collection - this
installment is highlighted by three great tracks from the 70s including
Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra with Love's Theme from 1974.
Then there a pair of tracks that pre-date that - both are from 1971.
We have Can't Believe It's True from the Irish blues-rocker &
former member of the band Taste, the late Rory Gallagher; plus there's
the Theme from Shaft by the legendary Isaac Hayes, while rounding
the set are Alphonse Mouzon, a pioneer in jazz fusion and the renowned
session saxophonist Gary Meek!
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Showcase CD
Departures & Arrivals - Michael e:
Based
in Sheffield England, Michael e is in actuality producer and multi-instrumentalist
Michael E Frith. Early in his career, Michael played US bases
and throughout Europe as a member of various cover bands. But
as he developed his compositional skills, it occurred to him that
with technological advancements 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 with the cd Beautiful
World. Now 9 albums into his solo career as Michael e, plus another
in collaboration with Charlie North as "The Charlie North Michael
e Project", Michael has repeatedly demonstrated, he's likely the
most prolific, imaginative, and consistent player on today's downtempo
scene. The word is spreading like wildfire as Michael has already
appeared on over 100 compilations.
|
|
|
Michael e
|
In keeping with this latter thought, we're ready to do our part
by fanning the Michael e flame just a wee bit with Departures &
Arrivals, Michael's most recent release now set for that musical
stage reserved for the spotlight release! So as we set our thermostat
to chill with there's the 1st of three frosty tracks entitled One
More Sleep! J'taime at the top of the second hour whispers 'I love
you' in that musical language of love while the temperature drops
nearly 10 degrees or so with the tune Brazil Chill! So it is that
Michael e is in a sense completing a leg in the journey he embarked
upon about 5 years ago. Beautiful World signaled the taking off
while Departures & Arrivals now heralds Michael's full coming of
age!
CD: Departures &
Arrivals (2011)
Label: Sub HZ
Links: 
|
|
| Vintage Collection: Part One |
|
|
Morning
Sun - Alphonse Mouzon:
One
of the artists that helped put fusion on the map in the '70s, Alphonse
Mouzon was headed toward a career in medicine when a calling in music
took him off in a totally different direction. Mouzon had for, several
years, been a top session drummer in New York City when in 1970 he became
a co-founding member of Weather Report. Later, along with guitarist Larry
Coryell, he co-founded The Eleventh House and played with them from 72
to 74; meanwhile from 1978 through until the early 80s his main gig was
playing, touring and recording with Herbie Hancock. His own 1974 Mind
Transplant cd is considered a seminal release in the genre while Mouzon
has continued to record in a variety of styles right thru until the present.
On this occasion we're checking out the 96 compilation Absolute Greatest
Love Songs & Ballads and the track Morning Sun which reveals a more mellow
side. |
Originally
issued in 1981 on the cd of the same name and then re-released in
1996, Alphonse is joined by some high caliber talent. To paraphrase
an old saying, you can judge a musician by the company he keeps
and in so far as Alphonse is concerned he's rubbing elbows with
the very best including Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Hubert Laws,
Freddie Hubbard and Michael Brecker!
CD: Absolute Greatest
Love Songs & Ballads (1996)
Label: Tenacious Records
Links: 
|
|
|
|
Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes:
As one of the most accomplished soul artists of his generation, few figures
had greater influence over the music of the 60s and 70s than did Isaac
Hayes. Raised by his grandparents after his parents had passed away, Hayes
made his public debut singing in church at the age of five - later he
taught himself piano, organ, and saxophone. 1962 saw the start of Hayes'
record career. Initially he made a name for himself with Stax Records;
as one-half of the hit writing team with lyricist David Porter, Hayes
co-penned nearly 200 tracks including several hits such as Soul Man for
Sam & Dave. By '67, Hayes had already gained lead man status only to explode
commercially a few years later with the release of Shaft, the score for
the film of the same name. |
The album won an Oscar for Hayes who was only the third African-American
to win an Academy Award in a competitive field; meanwhile the single
"Theme from Shaft," became a number one hit. Lines such as 'Who
is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man?' have,
as reviewer Jason Birchmeier so eloquently put it, shown the theme
to be "a song that has only grown more treasured over the years"!
LP: Shaft - Music From
The Soundtrack (1971)
Label: Stax Records
Links: 
Isaac Hayes: 1942 - 2008 |
|
|
| Vintage Collection:
Part Two |
|
|
When
Love Appears - Gary Meek:
Having started the piano at the age of five, Encino California native
Gary Meek picked up the clarinet after hearing an Artie Shaw record in
his father's collection. Even so, in order to play in his high school
jazz band, Meek had to take the sax and flute so he learned those too.
After studying at the Grove School of Music and playing jazz at the LA
Jazz Workshops in the early 80s, Meek got his big break in 1986 when at
the age of 25 he was hired to play keys backing Dionne Warwick on a world
tour. "The following year, Gary met Airto Moreira and Flora Purim and
discovered musical soul mates." (Quote courtesy of M.E.L.T. 2000 record
label.) For four years he appeared on their albums and toured the world.
"In 1990, along with the guitarist José Neto, Airto, Flora and Gary formed
a quartet known as Fourth World" and they recorded three studio projects
plus a live date at Ronnie Scott's Club. |
In
the meantime Meek made his solo debut in 1991 and has a catalogue
of five albums to his credit. Even so, Meek has generally been better
known for his all-star associations having appeared on records by
Sergio Mendez, the Rippingtons, Dave Benoit, Alphonse Mouzon, and
Jeff Lorber among others. On this occasion though, Gary is the featured
headliner. Backed by likes of Brian Bromberg and Jimmy Haslip as
well as by a few illustrious and former band mates, we have the
sumptuous serenade of When Love Appears!
CD: Step 7 (2002)
Label: A440 Music Group
Links:
|
|
|
|
Love's
Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra:
Barry
White grew up Barry Eugene Carter in a high-crime area of LA where at
the age of 17 his activities netted him four months in jail. While incarcerated,
he listened to Elvis Presley on the radio singing "It's Now or Never"
and that proved a life changing event. It caused him to turn to a career
in music and upon his release he changed his name to White. By the middle
of the '60s, White went the solo route, but any initial success, as modest
as it was, came as a songwriter. Additionally, he started working with
Love Unlimited, a girl group (that included his future wife) that sang
his back-up. In 1972, White started producing them and, in order to back
both him and Love Unlimited, he created a 40-piece group called Love Unlimited
Orchestra. Barry & Love Unlimited, the girl group, scored a hit that year
with "Walking in the Rain with the One I Love", a track that sold over
a million copies. |
The following year White scored a hit of his own with "I'm Gonna
Love You Just a Little More Baby" and then also that same year,
he scored big with Love Unlimited Orchestra and "Love's Theme".
It became abundantly clear that Barry White was indeed firing on
all cylinders. One of only a handful of instrumentals to ever reach
the top spot on the charts, the project was White's third smash
in just over a year, and a tune that inspired an entire generation
of song writers! In what appears as nothing short of a 'travesty',
Barry White has to this point been passed over from induction by
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an honor he so richly deserves!
LP: Rhapsody in White
(1974)
Label: PolyGram
Links:
Barry White: 1944 - 2003
|
|
|
|
|
Can't
Believe It's True - Rory Gallagher:
Inspired
to follow his passion for music, Rory Gallagher's first instrument was
the guitar at the age of nine, although through the years he also learned
ukulele, harmonica, slide guitar, and alto sax, as well as bass, mandolin,
banjo, and coral sitar to varying degrees of proficiency. It was only
by listening to stations like Radio Luxembourg late at night that Gallagher
was able to gain exposure to the music that moved him. In his mid teens
he discovered the music of Muddy Waters who became his greatest influence,
and from then on he became intent on exploring different avenues in the
blues. After tours with a couple of different bands, Gallagher found himself
back in his native Ireland in 1966 ready to form his own group and pursue
his own sound. That musical vehicle became the power trio known as Taste,
which rivaled the creativity and energy of many of the big names of that
time. |
Taste
supported Cream at their farewell concert at Royal Albert Hall,
they opened for the super group Blind Faith on a North American
tour and they were on the brink of international success when they
split in 1971 due to managerial difficulties and musical differences.
Keen on maintaining his momentum, Gallagher went back into the studio
almost immediately to record his self-titled solo debut and thereupon
he embarked on a journey that saw him amass record sales in excess
of 30 million units world wide. On this occasion we revisit that
first release for the 7 minute adventure entitled Can't Believe
It's True. One of the truly great tracks from the 70s, here's a
tune that features Gallagher on guitar, vocals, and sax and showcases
the Irish blues-rocker as one of the top talents of the day!
LP: Rory Gallagher (1971)
Label: Buddha Records
Links: 
Rory Gallagher: 1948 - 1995
|
|
| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
If you're new to the vibe of the hippest show on radio,
here's when we totally rewrite the rules. On this edition, we're picking
up where we left off a couple of shows ago with the second installment
in our summertime connection series. In spite of the fact summer's nearly
done, we're hanging onto these sounds for dear life with a 13-track set
- all in some way connect to the hottest season of the year - and these
include Nil's Summer Nights, Last Summer by Daniel Domenge and George
Benson with Summer Love. We're calling this feature Summer Groove for
a 2004 track by Tim Bowman!  |
