This Week at CafeJazz.ca:
… for this show
it's keyboardist Roberto Vazquez in the spotlight - we've selected
a real nice trio of tracks from Between Two Worlds and that's part
of the showcase segment. In the second part of the program it's
time for another dimension, a dimension of sight and sound that
we call The Euro-Zone - highlighting some of the best grooves on
today's Euro scene. This pan-European tour includes Italy's Bebo
Best and the Super Lounge Orchestra as well as Mezzoforte out of
Iceland. More great Italian music includes Novecento with Stanley
Jordan and Mario Biondi & the High Five Quintet while also appearing
is Sweden's Jonathan Fritzén with a great track from his sophomore
cd. But as the sands of time begin to shift, we have Marc Antoine
with one of his best! |
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| The Euro-Zone: Part
One |
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Saronno on the Rocks - Bebo Best & The Super Lounge Ochestra:
With
a 25 year career in music, Bebo 'Best' Baldan has written and recorded
for film, TV theatre, and ads. As a session-man, he's well-known for his
work as a bass player, percussionist and drummer, but he can also be called
upon to play sitar, keys or guitar. Versed in multiple genres from jazz,
funk, and blues to classical, salsa, chill-out, Brazilian and beyond,
Best has participated in over 250 albums. Meanwhile, his creative efforts
have been used for MTV, McDonald's and So You Think You can Dance among
many others. He recorded several albums of electronic music in the 90s
as Bebo Baldan before launching the concept of Bebo Best and The Super
Lounge Orchestra in 2007. After the success of the first pair of projects,
Best was hailed as one of the finest jazz and lounge producers ever to
come out of Italy. A master of what has been described as luxury lounge
music, Best captures the essence of Nu Jazz with cool cinematic bossa
grooves on his latest entitled Saronno on the Rocks. From an effort that
blends elements of dance, jazz, trip-hop, swing and downtempo all garnished
with electronic touches, we have the sublime title track!
CD: Saronno on the Rocks (2011)
Label: ChinChin Records
Links: 
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Tribute - Mezzoforte:
On
more than one occasion, I've referred to Mezzoforte as the hottest band
to ever come out of Iceland. After releasing a self-titled debut in 1979,
they became the first group hailing from that island nation to score an
international hit with Garden Party. In the years since, they've continued
to record and to tour regularly. Now 30+ years later on, the group has
issued over a dozen albums. It's performed in over 40 countries around
the world and, on occasion, the original members sometimes all appear
as part of a 6 to 10 piece ensemble. The cd Volcanic issued in 2010 dominated
our MPL in 2011 and now we're adding more fuel to the fire with a tune
from a few years back. From Forward Motion and the studio cd that most
closely preceded Volcanic we present Tribute, the stellar lead track!
CD: Forward Motion (2004)
Label: BHM Music
Links:
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| The Euro-Zone: Part
Two |
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In
Motion - Jonathan Fritzén:
Hailing
from Stockholm Sweden, Jonathan Fritzén attended the Royal Academy of
Music and was one its first recipients of a Jazz Masters degree. Although
young in years, Fritzén was long on talent and had already worked Swedish
TV while backing some of that country's biggest stars. In 2008, he became
Sweden's most recent musical export, and their first-ever pianist to enter
the smooth jazz arena. His Love Birds debut hinted at Fritzén's tremendous
potential and over the last couple of releases, he's really started to
deliver. In reviewing the 2010 Diamonds cd, yours truly, the swami of
smooth, fully predicted that project would elevate the talented young
Swede to stardom! Indeed it did. However, it would be remiss of us to
bypass Fritzén's 2009 VIP sophomore release, a project that peaked at
#2 and lingered on the charts for over year. From an effort that showed
the Nordic vibe was alive and doing well, there's the engaging In Motion!
CD: VIP (2009)
Label: Nordic Night Records
Links:
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Easy
Love - Novecento feat. Stanley Jordan:
Issued
back in 2003, the release Dreams of Peace signaled Stanley Jordan's return
to the studio. In the mid-80s, Jordan had established himself as a guitar
virtuoso with a sophomore release that went #1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart
while earning a pair of Grammy nominations. Subsequent projects also proved
popular however Jordan's penchant for perfection, kept him from recording
for nearly 10 years. In the course of things, he heard of the work of
Novecento an Italian group comprised of the brothers Nicolosi that had
developed a reputation for their style of instrumental pop. Novecento
had since 1997, balanced a busy performance schedule with a thriving production
company and studio. The chemistry was immediate. An album was recorded
and mixed in Milan, and released as Stanley Jordan featuring Novecento.
Interestingly, the same album was re-issued the following year with the
billing reversed. Nonetheless, from an effort that presented a colorful
mix of styles, we have the soul-jazz gem titled Easy Love!
CD: Dreams of Peace (2004)
Label: Favored Nations
Links:
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This
Is What You Are - Mario Biondi & the High Five Quintet:
Hailing
from Sicily, Mario Biondi grew up in a musical family and debuted as a
vocalist at the age of 12. Early on, Biondi discovered a passion for the
music of Black artists such as James Brown, Lou Rawls and Al Jarreau.
He honed his style in many of the local venues and in 2004, he collaborated
with Alessandro Magnanini on a two track single. That led to the release
of Handful of Soul, Biondi's full-length debut in 2006. Backed by The
High Five Quintet, the single This Is What You Are, immediately went into
heavy rotation throughout Italy- eventually making the Billboard European
Top 100! With superb instrumental backing, creative and imaginative lyrics,
and warm and mellifluous tones, here's a track that soars - they really
don't come any finer ! |
A
few of the Lyrics:
Knock me down Knock me out
Make me feel shy
But when you hold me in your arms
I can just forget the tears I've cried
This is what you are
Write your number on my wall
It's all you gotta do
Carve your shadow on my soul even when you break my heart in two
This is what you are.
CD: Handful of Soul (2006)
Label: Schema Records
Links:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
With 60 full minutes of music devoted to a magical
theme we weren't above the obvious in tagging this segment as 'The Magic
Hour' after a tune by Steve Allee. There are 13 enchanted selections with
Magic Motion by Roger Sause, Morning Magic from Larry Carlton, plus Magic
Moment by Rick Braun. But the first of our spellbinding tracks is by Ken
Navarro and it's simply called Magic - so stay with us cuz there's magic
in the air!  |
