Freddie Fox - Freddie Fox

Freddie Fox is a professional musician. He toured with: Jennifer Holliday, Vesta Williams, Rose Royce, Clive Griffin, Otis Day and the Knights, Atlantic Starr, Eric Benet and Evelyn "Champagne" King. He also has played with Greg Walker, Walter Beasley, Miki Howard, The Drifters, New Birth, CeCe Penison, just to name a few. I tell you no secret: he is Evelyn "Champagne" King's proud husband. On his self-titled album you find artists like Evelyn "Champagne" King (vocals), Gerald Albright (sax), Michael White (drums), Ronnie Foster (piano, rhodes), Alex Al (bass), Russ Miller (drums) and more. Don't ask me why such an album isn't released by a major label. You know the hard times.

Freddie is playing first of all emotional music. So the first title is called From The Heart. His guitar play is melodious and tender. Strings and keyboards are underlining this impression. In the last part of the song Freddie is leaving the melody and starts a short solo. This is salt and pepper to ginger up Smooth Jazz.

A little reggae on Senual. Freddie arranges and performs anew a melody part with some soloing. Ronnie Foster and Alex Al are his accompany. Below you find some additional information about both artists. 

My House sounds familiar. This tune is remembering me at disco funky styled music of Jodey Watley, Princess, Rene and Angela, Rose Royce or Junior.

Freddie Fox's guitar genius is shining up on the silky Forever. The classical guitar is Freddie's domain.

On Strawberry Freddie begins again with a hooking melody but finally explodes into a furious solo. Obviously their are two souls in Freddie's heart. The romanticist and the rock guitarist.

Champagne Tonight is a smooth guitar piece. Radio-like.

On Groovin' Freddie lets his guitar swing in a laid-back way.

Expression Of Love is the third contemplative love song designed for the Smooth Jazz radio stations in row.

Before the album gets boring Freddie makes the turn around with the funky Cool. Larry Kimple is a fantastic bass player. Gerald Albright kicks his sax. This is the stuff I love.

Johnniea's Love has some Caribbean feeling. Scott Mayo 's sax overdub is pleasing.

Hip Hop drum loops are very common today in Smooth Jazz business. Thoughts Of You is a typical example. Land Richards made the drum programming for this song. Personally I prefer his live drumming.

In toto Freddie Fox's debut album is very promising and absoluty worth to buy. 
 

 

Further information
 

 

  • Ronnie Foster started playing piano at the early age of four in Buffalo, New York. He studied the Hammond Organ under jazz great Jimmy Smith. Foster has toured with some of best musicians i.e., George Benson, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie. He has recorded with and produced some of the biggest names such as Earl Klugh, Sheila E., Harvey Mason, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Tom Scott, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Ronnie Laws, Doc Powell, Art Porter, Grover Washington Jr.,David Sanborn, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Stanley Turrentine, Roger Smith, The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson and many others.

 

  • Alex Al is a top bass player. He performed with Blake Aaron, Christina Aguilera, Marc Antoine, George Benson, Boney James, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Ron Brown, Jonathan Butler, Vanessa Carlton, Steve Cole, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot, Janet Jackson, Will Downing, Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Peter White, Herbie Hancock, Kirk Whalum, Sheila E., Color Me Badd, Kenny G., Euge Groove, Bob James, Paul Jackson Jr., Dave Koz, Pat Kelley, Ricky Martin, Maysa, Rob Mullins, Lionel Ritchie, Paul Taylor, Tom Scott, Diane Schuur, Jimmy Sommers, Michael White, Al Jareau ect.

 

  • Larry Kimpel played with George Duke, Kevin Toney, Michael White, Peter White, Alexander Zonjic, Gary Taylor, Tom Scott, Dan Siegel, Dwight Sills, Brian Simpson, John Stoddart, Phil Perry, Bobby Lyle, Pattie LaBelle, Jeff Jarvis, Al Jareau, Whitney Houston, Everette Harp, Rayford Griffin, Larry Carlton, Norman Brown, Ron Brown, Jonathan Butler, The Jazz Cursaders, Oletta Adams, George Howard, Maze ect.

 

  • Land Richards is a drummer who played on albums of Gerald Albright, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Ron Brown, Larry Carlton, Norman Connors, Will Downing, Carol Duboc, Michael Lington, Gladys Knight, Arnold McCuller, Michael Paulo, Michael O'Neill, Teddy Pendergrass, Thom Rotella, Tom Saviano,Phil Upchurch, Bobby Lyle, Al Daniels etc.