Behind Teddy Pendergrass' Platinum
hit Love T.K.O. stands one musician, the pianist and
keyboardist Eddie Gip Noble. Noble wrote this hit for
Pendergrass, widely covered by Hall & Oates, Bette Midler, Womack &
Womack, Alex Bugnon, Boz Scaggs, Eric Darius and others. Since more than three
decades he is part of the R&B and jazz scene contributing his energy
to performance and recordings of numerous stars like Randy Crawford,
Noel Pointer, Gerald Albright, Pamela Williams, Shalamar, and a lot
more. These experiences, things, and people all in a nutshell comprise
the influence and passion behind his highly acclaimed music.
“One time I was hired by Gladys Knight and it was intense because they
gave me her music at 10 p.m. and we started tour rehearsals the next
morning. In the show she sang ‘I Will Survive’ and I accompanied her
alone on piano. When I toured Japan with Patti Austin, we did ‘A Song
For You’ and she told me she wanted me to play it with a different
ending every night. That was quite a challenge.”
Filled with impressions of a rich
musician's life Noble Cause sets the landmark of this year's
smooth jazz releases. Gip's piano play is fertile and productive. On
any corner of the notes we meet new surprises. Fresh like a fountain
of youth.
I grew up with classics of Burt
Bacharach. Trains & Boats & Planes is one of his eternal hits
covered by legends like Astrud Gilberto, Connie Francis, Stan Getz,
Dionne Warwick or The Shadows. Noble's version feasts in the
palatability of Burt Bacharach's masterpiece.
Desert B.C. is a funky burst
out of all what a good synth equipment can offer. A joy to listen, a
passion to perform.
On Gip Hop retro organ sound
meets contemporary synth in a special overdubbed way.
The title song Love T.K.O.
brings back memories featuring saxophonist Louis Taylor. It was 1981
when Teddy Pendergrass released his album Ready For Teddy with
this huge hit.
Carousel is a vibrant turning
circle with sounds of piano, synth and steel pans. Easy like a
childhood dream on a green flowered summer meadow.
Nite Song is featuring Zuri,
an impressing female singer who has already performed with Chaka Khan,
Brenton Woods, Michael Bolton, Johnnie Taylor, Shirley Brown, Shirley
Ceasar, Jennifer Holiday, Brenda Holloway, Vesta, Ramsey Lewis,
to name a few. Her debut album A
Woman's Perspective was released 2006 on Rasiah Records.
Reggae Man is an excursion to
Jamaica's island. Swinging reggae flavored melody.
Christopher Cross' huge hit
Sailing finds a safe harbor on Gip's album. An awesome rendition.
"Coming into Rio, you see Corcovado
peak with its huge white statue of Christ. That sight led me to write
this composition right away. I'd never felt that close to religion
before," wrote Duke Pearson about his tune Cristo Redentor.
Becoming ill Herbie Hancock became his permanent replacement in Donald
Byrd's band. Herbie's piano play inspired Gip Noble to create his own
graceful version.
The album is finished by a radio
edit version of Trains & Boats & Planes.
Love T.K.O. is the nucleus of Eddie
Gip Noble's musical life. Colorful and rich.
- Bio
- Eddie Gip Noble - Website
- Buy the album at
- Title: Love TKO
Artist: Eddie Gip Noble
Year: 2007
Length: 0:58:09
Genre: General Jazz
Label: Sonido Noble
Tracks:
01 Noble Cause [5:21]
02 Trains & Boats & Planes [7:17]
03 Desert BC [5:15]
04 Gip Hop [3:30]
05 Love TKO [5:19]
06 Carousel [4:57]
07 Nite Song [6:03]
08 Raggae Man [3:52]
09 Sailing [5:32]
10 Cristo Redentor [6:27]
11 Trains & Boats & Planes (Radio) [4:36]
