This Week at CafeJazz.ca:
... in the
spotlight on this show is saxman Richard Elliot. In The Zone is
the new one, and par for the course we've selected a real nice trio
of tracks, all as part of the showcase segment. In the second half
it's time to unwind and relax with our Chill Out feature and some
of the best laid back grooves on today's downtempo scene. On this
installment appearing out of Italy are Paolo Fedreghini & Marco
Bianchi, from the UK there's The Charlie North Michael e Project,
while rounding it are Rodrigo Sanchez, the Sol Project, and Dakini Mandarava - and those are all in hour 2. But leading in is a tune
from Norman Brown - now here's a jazzy track that'll put a bit strut
in your stuff - it features the sax of Sam Riney and it's called
Soul Dance! |
|
|
| |
|
|
Showcase CD
In The Zone - Richard Elliot:
When
Richard Elliot recorded his solo debut back in 1986, he was still
a member of Tower Of Power and smooth jazz radio was just beginning
to emerge. It was there that Elliot's music found a home and in
the intervening years, he's issued an impressive string of hits
and albums - he is viewed by many as the 'reigning merchant of
soul-jazz'. Now Richard is back with In the Zone, his latest album
and somewhere around his 19th overall. The phrase 'in the zone'
is often used to describe the ultimate in a mental state - energy
is focused and emotion is channeled. Although 25 years into his
career as a front man, the excitement is still there on this new
release as Richard pays homage to some of the artists from his
formative years. The project is really an extension of something
he started with Rock Steady. Growing up in the 70s, R&B music
was very influential to his developing style and taste. Rock Steady
represented those R&B influences whereas In the Zone takes it
one step further, the same time period but this time the influences
are instrumental.
|
|
|
| This
is as he puts it "the flip side with what I tried to do with Rock
Steady"; it was "unfinished business" and "something I had to do".
The collection is driven by a single cover and 9 retro-flavoured
originals penned by Richard and the cd's co-producer Jeff Lorber
- the two have shared a rich collaborative history over the last
10 years or so. |
|
|
|
In
describing the project, Elliot goes on to say, "Because I was bringing
back those feelings that I had as an 18 year old wanting to be an
instrumental artist, that feeling of joy came into the studio,"
and that's something that definitely comes through on the finished
product! So it is that In The Zone is now the focal point for the
spotlight segment. We have as slick a trio of tracks as we've ever
featured and it all begins with Island Style, the opening tune on
the disc. Metropolis takes the tempo down a notch and leads into
the second half of the show, while The Lower Road shows us the high
road of Richard's talents as a writer and a musician. For Richard
Elliot In The Zone represents the feeling that he's right where
he wants to be. The combination of all the elements - the band and
the music and where he's at emotionally and in his personal life
- they're all kind of clicking. "That's where In The Zone comes
from!"
CD: In The Zone (2011)
Label: Artistry Music / Mack Avenue
Links: 
|
|
| Chill-Out Feature:
Part One |
|
|
Asian Lights - Dakini Mandarava:
Based
in Stuttgart Germany, Jens Buchert is one of the most popular producers
in the sphere of downbeat, ambient, lounge, chill, and electronic music.
Internationally known for his many projects and the deep moods he creates,
Buchert has conceived a catalogue of over 200 releases and is one of the
most important proponents of the electronic scene. He's plied his craft
for over 20 years and additionally, he's written countless titles for
films, TV, trailers, and other media events. Nicknamed the "wizard of
sounds", Buchert nonetheless leads a double life of sorts and as Dakini
Mandarava he produces relaxation cds for yoga, cosmic meditation, and
the like. From the compilation Sea of Silence Vol.3, we present the 'feng
shui' of Dakini Mandarava and "Calm Music for mental peace and physical
wellness"!
CD: Sea Of Silence Vol.3 (2005)
Label: Jackpot (Sony Music)
Links:
|
|
|
Please Don't Leave - Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi:
True
to their tradition, Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi recorded Several
People with one foot on the dance floor and the other in the world of
classic jazz. Fedreghini's forte was not only his passion as a music connoisseur,
but also as a producer with a keen ambition for a variety of sounds. A
few years back, Fedreghini hooked up with Bianchi, a pianist and composer
of some repute who himself had six mainly jazzy albums to his credit.
The pair embarked on a series of consolidated efforts and in the process
they created a base that allowed for the co-operative exchange of ideas
and the fertile contributions of others. This perhaps was nowhere more
readily apparent than on the 2004 release Several People, so named because
of the many performers whose efforts enhanced the project. One of the
most relevant was offered by Ermanno Principe, a drummer and a versatile
musician, whose vocals are featured on the powerfully rhythmic Please
Don't Leave!
CD: Several People (2004)
Label: Schema Records
Links:
|
| Chill-Out Feature:
Part Two |
|
|
Lights of Euphoria - The Charlie North Michael e Project:
The
Charlie North Michael E Project is a collaborative effort that involves
two of the UK's top ambient producers. The pair had met through the internet
while working on a remix album, and to their surprise, they discovered
that their studios were only a few miles apart. They found a synergy that
was immediate and so in 2009, they joined forces for their debut. Now
a couple of years, there's a much anticipated follow-up that's in the
works. From the forthcoming Messenger release, we have Charlie North and
Michael e with the track Lights of Euphoria and an instant atmospheric
gem!
CD: Messenger (2012)
Label: Sub HZ
Links:
|
|
|
Que
Pasa Con Tu Corazon? - Sol Project:
On
the party island of Ibiza in the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain
is where you will find Bambuddha Groove, representing not only a restaurant
but also a philosophy in life. That is where M.O.C. Paoli (Paoli Münchenbach)
set up shop many years ago as the resident DJ, Master of Ceremonies, and
compiler of the Bambuddha Groove series of down-tempo release. From Volume
One in the set we have a contribution by Sol Project. Named for vocalist
Sol Galarreta, who enjoys splitting her time between living in London
and the hugely inspirational island, the rest of the 'project' includes
transplants Patrick Heischrek and Klaus Försterling. Heischrek was a pop
rock artist and composer back in his native Germany - he has played piano
since he was 6 and started to play drums when he moved to Ibiza. For his
part Försterling, was inspired to play guitar by Jimi Hendrix and has
lived in Ibiza since the age of 20. As Sol Project, together with a bit
of sampling from Groove Activator by Gota, there's the quasi-metaphysical
'Que Pasa Con Tu Corazon?' or 'What Happens To Your Heart?'!
CD: Bambuddha Grove Vol.1 (2001)
Label:Mole Listening Pearl
Links:
|
 |
Deep Water - Rodrigo Sanchez:
A
musician & a producer with a passion for electronic instrumentation, Rodrigo
Sanchez is the alias under which Berlin native Jerry Groschke records.
In 2006, Sanchez issued 'En la playa al sol' translating to 'On the beach
in the sun'. Flavoured with elements of Latin, Jazz, Soul, & Lounge, and
steeped with atmospheres of soul and sensuality, the album combined many
contemporary styles in unique and creative ways. Then a few years down
the road, one of the tracks was selected for the compilation volume 1
of The Millionairs Lounge Club. From that cd subtitled Smooth and Luxury
Lounge Music and released by Audio Lotion Recordings, we have Rodrigo
Sanchez and the deeply delicious Deep Water!
CD: The Millionairs Lounge Club (2010)
Label: Audio Lotion Recordings
Links:
|
| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
... it's a continuation in our cover tune series with a feature called
Continuum named for a Brian Bromberg take a Jaco Pastorius track. Yes
all the selections are cover tunes, be it from pop, jazz or from somewhere
in between. There's a 13 track set with How Long from Mark Barrios, Evil
Ways by Fattburger, as well as Eliane Elias and Light My Fire. And to
begin we're checking a redo of a tune recorded by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
From the cd A Twist of Jobim, Eric Marienthal and Lee Ritenour are featured
on this read - it's called Favela as the cover tunes continue on the Continuum
edition!  |
