CHRISTIAN JACOB - BEAUTIFUL JAZZ: A PRIVATE CONCERT
Grammy
nominated pianist and arranger Christian Jacob presents his first solo piano
recording, Beautiful Jazz: a private concert, aptly titled as this intimate
solo recording is a dedication to the music that drew him away from the
classical world and introduced him to the beautiful world of jazz. The release
will be available on CD as well as a limited edition vinyl LP in true analog. Recorded
in Los Angeles at the Zipper Concert Hall on a Hamburg Steinway Model D Grand,
Beautiful Jazz captures the power and beauty of a true private concert.
“There’s just something about the atmosphere of performing in a concert hall
that makes everything easier to play and more fulfilling,” Christian explains.
“It’s the real deal, and I wanted my solo recording to capture that.” “I thought
it would be interesting to work on some of the music that initially drew me to
jazz. ‘Tea for Two’ because it was the first song I learned to improvise on:
‘My Romance,’ ‘I’m Old Fashioned’ and ‘One Note Samba’ because they take me
back to when I was first studying jazz at the Berklee College of Music. Then,
there are a few iconic ballads like ‘Body and Soul,’ and ‘How Long Has This
Been Going On.’ I didn’t plan to record ‘Giant Steps,’ but I’m happy I did.
It’s that weird and beautiful tune that everyone tries to wrap their brain
around. I also wanted to share an Etude by Stravinsky. Although I wanted to
become a jazz musician, I always loved classical music, that’s why I had to
include this little gem by Stravinsky.” Although
Christian had always envisioned his first solo release to be on CD only, the
creative momentum of the project inspired him to make a change of plans. As
Christian recalls, “An extra surprise with this recording is that I got to
release a vinyl LP. And out of respect for all the analog purists out there, we
kept it 100% analog. It all started when I saw the painting for the CD cover
and just knew it was meant to go on an LP jacket. We had no idea what we were
getting ourselves into (laughs) but we’re really excited and proud of how both
the CD and vinyl turned out.” ~ Amazon.com
TOM BRAXTON - THE NEXT CHAPTER
The Next
Chapter presents Braxton at his best from up-tempo grooves to reflective
ballads. When listening to the record, it's easy to feel the love, joy, and
positive energy. Tom is showcased on soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, as
well as flute and keyboards. Braxton served as producer, writer and arranger on
most of the material. However, he did have production assistance from the
""drummer to the stars,"" the late Ricky Lawson. The Next
Chapter combines lyrical melodies with invigorating rhythms from a variety of
genres including dance music, sambas, soul and contemporary jazz. The title
track, written by Braxton and pianist Jay Rowe, kicks off the CD with a
""hooky melody"" and a ""killer glide to the
groove."" Lawson's energy is evident on ""New
Horizons"" which features a fresh ""house beat""
that accentuates Braxton's exciting tenor. Tom and Bob James take it
""south of the border"" and have some fun on
""Nuevo,"" a bossa tinged party for piano and tenor. Peter
White joins Braxton for a beautiful rendition of Bread's classic,
""Make It With You."" White's guitar and Tom's soprano are
a match made in heaven! Braxton's lively tenor is featured on the Spinners
favorite, ""I'll Be Around"" which showcases background vocals
from Grammy winner Arthur Dyer. Braxton has been on the road with Grammy winner
Earl Klugh, and they are mesmerizing in the sophisticated but simplistic
""Contemplation."" ""Sunrise in
Malawi"" inspired by a trip to Africa with Klugh, is an energizing
song that will get your juices flowing. The legendary guitarist adds his
signature sound to this early morning dance. The light and airy
""Tuesday Morning"" will have you singing all the way to
work. Ricky Lawson interjected some old school into the project with the
O'Jay's hit ""I Love Music"" Lawson and Sean Dancy got the
ball rolling and Braxton added his signature sax and horn arrangement to help
get you up on your feet! Finally, Braxton displays his arranging skills with
the classic hymn, ""It Is Well.
STEVE KAHN - SUBTEXT
Steve
Khan's Subtext, subtitled Subtexto en Azul, stands out among the prolific jazz
guitarist's much lauded body of work, and is highlighted with lyrical guitar
phrases that weave in and out of a set of carefully chosen, superbly arranged
and performed compositions. On the album, Steve continues his explorations of
the grand traditions of Latin music, and this time, the core group features:
Rubén Rodríguez(El. Bass & Baby Bass), Bobby Allende(Conga), Marc
Quiñones (Timbal), and Dennis Chambers(Drums). At varying moments, they are
joined by some great musicians as guest artists, including: Rob Mounsey(Keys
& Orchestrations); Randy Brecker(Flügelhorn); Gil Goldstein (Accordion); and
Mariana Ingold (Vocals). Japan's JAZZ LIFE magazine has already written that the
recording is: An ambitious work, hot music filled with Khan's artistry.
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