This Week at CafeJazz.ca:
For today's
show Terry Wollman is in the spotlight. Buddha's Ear is the new
release and as part of the feature we've selected a real nice trio
of tracks. In the second part of the show it's time for a dimension
of sight and sound called The Euro Zone. On this occasion our pan-European
tour includes Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider and Russian born
guitarist Eugene K. Also appearing is Italy's S-Tone Inc. and there's
Germany's Michael van Droff as well as Scottish guitarist David
King. But first musical ray is from the cd Second Light and it's
Jim Savitt helping us to get our 'groove' on with the tune of that
very same name! |
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Showcase CD
Buddha's Ear - Terry Wollman:
Originally from Miami, guitarist Terry Wollman was educated at
Berklee in Boston where he earned a degree in arranging. He then
moved to the west coast and rose through the ranks as a first
call sessionist and a top producer. His debut was the cd Bimini
released in 1988; with the support of a triple-A cast that included
Joe Sample, Abe Laboriel, and Dean Parks, the cd received world
wide acclaim. After a '98 sophomore release, Terry has worked
non-stop composing for film and TV, producing a variety of projects,
and acting as the musical director for Billy Preston, The 5th
Dimension, Al Jarreau, and many others. An adept musician able
to embrace a variety of styles, Wollman moves easily between jazz
and pop and from rock and blues to R&B. He co-wrote and produced
a high-energy dance record for the super group Baila as well as
a healing musical collaboration called "Sleep Suite". Personal
projects have for the most part been put on the back burner, making
the recent release of Buddha's Ear only Wollman's 3rd album in
a 20-plus year career.
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Terry Wollman
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A
project well-suited to those requiring substance in their music
in addition to style, Buddha's Ear presents an adventurous blend
of flavors and is an ideal subject for that select stage we refer
to as the showcase segment. So it is that Terry Wollman and Buddha's
Ear are now our focal point and from that album we're starting the
feature with Obrigado, which in Portuguese means thanks. Full of
warmth and affection Love You, Miss You, Kiss You sweeps into the
second half of the show. Then we finish with Gettin' Ready to Get
Ready. Featuring an eclectic mix from a string quartet to fluid
guitar and soaring sax (courtesy of Tom Evans), this track is a
gem and it's the show closer. Now the Buddha's long ears are part
of Buddhist iconography; the Buddha is all-hearing and his ears
are said to denote superb perception. So with as solid an effort
as to have come along to this late point in the year, it would appear
that the title Buddha's Ear is indeed well chosen!
CD: Buddha's Ear (2011)
Label: Ollie Llama Music
Links: 
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| The Euro-Zone:
Part One |
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Silver Wheel - Andreas Vollenweider:
Born
in Zurich in 1953, Andreas Vollenweider was exposed to that city's diverse
music scene through his father, one of Europe's leading organ players.
A combination of influences led the young Vollenweider to pursue proficiency
on several instruments but in the course of events, he found his passion
in the harp. He modified the instrument in a way that allowed for more
rhythmic playing, and broadened its tonal range by electrifying it. Buoyant
beats, exotic influences, and colorful improvisations led to Vollenweider
securing a record deal, and in time his music swept across Europe and
around the world. From the Down to the Moon cd that led to the first of
his Grammy awards, we present vintage Vollenweider!
CD: Down to the Moon (1986)
Label: Columbia
Links: 
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Happy Mode - Eugene K:
Guitarist
Eugene K was born into a musical family in Russia, where he attended the
Moscow College of Music. It was there he learned a variety of instruments
while also honing his composing and arranging skills. After the completion
of a four year program, Eugene was asked to join the college faculty and
for a time taught Jazz Improvisation. In due course, he rose to become
leader of the Moscow Philharmonic Jazz-Fusion Orchestra with whom he toured
internationally. Subsequently, Eugene relocated to the UK where in addition
to lecturing and performing at The Royal Academy of Music, he's composed
and produced for film, TV, and radio. On the solo front, Wonder Groove
was his 2010 debut - from that effort we have the up tempo Happy Mode!
CD: Wonder Groove (2010)
Label: Independent
Links:
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| The Euro-Zone:
Part Two |
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Human Touch - Michael van Droff:
Michael
van Droff is perhaps the man most responsible for the growth of Smooth
Jazz in Germany. Influenced by Gino Vannelli his first music idol, van
Droff hoped to land a record deal on this side of the Atlantic as a vocalist.
However when that didn't materialize van Droff was undeterred and launched
California Sunset Records back in his homeland - the label has proved
most influential in the dissemination of smooth jazz and chill and their
related genres. Nonetheless, Van Droff's contributions to the music scene
go well beyond that of being a record label exec. Indeed, he's been a
driving force as a producer, promoter, radio-DJ, and entrepreneur and
in so doing he's earned the respect of the Smooth Jazz community at home
and abroad. Now all of hasn't come without a cost as Michael's activities
have to a certain extent waylaid his aspirations as a recording artist.
He's still never released an entire solo project, but has recorded a few
excellent tracks. A case in point being Human Touch, a track included
on the compilation Wave Music Volume One and one of the first releases
to have been issued on the CSR label !
CD: Wave Music Volume One (1999)
Label: California Sunset Records
Sites:
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Promenade
Sur La Lune - S-Tone Inc.:
For
the past 20 years or more, the main man behind S-Tone Inc, Stefano Tirone,
has altered between his career as an architect and his life's passion
as a musician. He graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan back in the
80s and his first efforts in music were during the new wave period. The
inception of the S-Tone concept occurred back in 1992 when acid jazz ruled,
but it took nearly a full decade for the Stefano to find his true direction.
In the meantime he collaborated with various DJs on projects that fused
a variety of styles. 'Love Unlimited' was the first full S-Tone Inc. album
released in 1996, and since then there have been a totally of 5 S-Tone
projects that have travelled that fertile middle ground lying somewhere
between Brazilian, jazz, house, funk, and soul. On this occasion we're
heading back to the sophomore 1999 Free Spirit release for Promenade Sur
La Lune and a seminal S-Tone Inc track!
CD: Free Spirit (1999)
Label: Milano 2000
Links:
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Above and Beyond - David King:
While
growing up in Scotland, David King was exposed to the rock of the day,
through his many visits to Glasgow and its famed venue The Apollo; however,
after he discovered the music of Martin Taylor, jazz became his passion.
The styles of Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny, and Acoustic Alchemy proved
instrumental in his development as a player and a composer. Following
a variety of band related experiences, King obtained a degree in media
composition. Feeling a bit unfulfilled in a band setting he entered his
studio and recorded Strangely Familiar, his debut release. The 2007 album
was a groove-based effort with elements of fusion providing an added dimension.
Son of Strangely, issued a couple of years later, incorporated a somewhat
more urban feel and from that sophomore cd there's the melodic energy
of Above and Beyond!
CD: Son of Strangely (2009)
Label: Independent
Links:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
We've fallen on Hard Times on this the 4th in our cover
tune series. Yes these are Hard Times indeed as all the selections are
cover tunes, be it from pop, jazz or from regions in between. We have
a 13 track set featuring Our Love by Brian Simpson, a tune called Fallen
by Warren Hill, as well as Club 1600 with Stay, and it's all named for
a Queen Latifah take on a track by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
from 1976. And to begin it's Jeff Golub. From the cd Do It Again, Jeff
gives us a spin on the Stevie Wonder tune Jesus Children of America -
on the Hard Times edition!  |
