Chuck Yamek

Chuck applies a wide range of styles to touring and session work, and his experiences have led him to recording his first solo album. Touring and playing live is still his first love, where his devotion to music and his technique leave a lasting impression.

The title track of this first album has a mellow groove that immediately puts me in mind of such favourite players as Norman Brown. That lazy style on semi-acoustic (and I mean that in the nicest way) is so beautifully complemented by Craig Yamek’s light touch on drums and Woody Lingle’s tasteful bassline. Groove.Com has a chunky synth bass and lives up to its name. The tenor sax of Mitch Reilly adds class to an already classy tune. It adds the same touch to the slower, moodier and gorgeous Thumbs.

Continue reading Chuck Yamek - Feels So Right

Although the collaboration with such a great star like Eryka Badu might be satisfying and stimulating, the sideman is always standing in the shadow. Kerr played on Eryka’s latest CD, Worldwide Underground, and her previous CD, Mama’s Gun, on Motown Records. A starting point for his debut album Flutation (2003) and his newest album Higher Calling is Eryka’s support by contributing as special guest musician.

“I use my flute as a vehicle for my musical expression without regard of the usual limitations expected from a flutist,” Kerr said about his debut album. “I wanted this CD to take the flute through a range of musical expression. The listener gets an emotional experience that goes beyond me playing the flute.”

Continue reading Dwayne Kerr - Higher Calling

Travis’s studio efforts have given him the ability to become a standout producer, songwriter and composer and Just Let It Flow showcases his ability to create music that everyone will love. His new album is available at Travis’ website or visit CDBaby.

Ed Taylor’s new album is available at CDBaby. For more information about the artist visit Taylor’s website.

Phillip Martin

Pride and Joy is an amazing mix of soul and smooth jazz that pulls you into Saxtime with much Saxappeal. He was given plenty of room on Pride and Joy to deliver his own expressions and style. George Benson says Phillip is “someone to watch out for…” and Jeff Lorber adds, “Phillip’s music has the energy of a live club recording …sadly missing from most smooth jazz artists these days.” Lorber also added his special touch on the keys on the song “The Way” from Phillip’s first CD “Saxappeal Special Edition”.

At the early age of nine, the Indiana native first heard his bellowing wails of the alto saxophone and immediately knew this would be his destiny. Martin demonstrates a natural ability for playing and creating a sound that is much stronger than the normal melodic music heard before. His compositions range from powerful blows to sweet and subtle emotions. Gauging by his experience and professionalism, you’d never guess saxophonist Phillip Martin is only in his early twenties.

Pride and Joy was released by Three Keys in August 2007 and is available in all stores.
 

His fantastic debut N-Tysing (later re-released as N-Tysing Rekindled) and solid follow-up Love Notes, both popular titles on CDBaby, marked the overdue emergence of a vocalist primed for addition to a list of the industry’s best and quickly garnered much acclaim from both fans and critics worldwide. As a result, several tracks from the two CDs as well as the CDs themselves made there way to “best of” list and still enjoy frequent rotation on radio programs in both the U.S. and abroad. “

One of the best male soul singers we’ve heard of late, and an artist with a sound that should be getting him big play in years to come,” declared a top on-line music resource. This assessment is widely shared with many betting that as solid as these two projects were his next would indeed be the breakout. Before official release Ty Causey’s Expressions is already being considered his best and primed to prove them right.

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He has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists from the jam-rock icon group Phish to hip-hop hitmaker Jazze Pha. He was also the featured nstrumental soloist on the Cirque de Soleil’s Grammy-nominated and Juno Award winning album, Alegria. In 2001, he scored a Gavin Top 20 Contemporary Jazz hit as a writer/producer with Bob Baldwin for the single “Business Call”.  In 2006, Joey took his turn as a featured soloist on Hidden Beach Recording’s “Unwrapped Volume 4”. His most recent production project Rhonda Smith’s “RS2” which features Prince, Sheila E. and gospel great, Fred Hammond, made the 2007 Grammy Ballot and was voted one of the 10 best albums of the year by Music Magazine (Japan).

His latest album, Like You Mean It, features guest appearances by Wayman Tisdale, Phil Perry, Bob Baldwin, Rhonda Smith and Mike Phillips. The album is available on CDBaby. For more information about the artist visit Joey’s website.

When a bass giant like Stanley Clarke releases a new album, this is always a special event. Clarke’s new album isn’t foremost entertainment but a message.

“If you study history, and the history of warfare, it boils down to some very simple dynamics,” says Clarke. “When there are disagreements and disputes between countries, people always go back to their toys and how they can use them to intimidate their adversaries. This goes all the way back to the days when we were fighting each other with swords and shields, and even rocks and clubs. It’s just a part of human nature, particularly with men. There’s this basic belief, however flawed as it might be, that the only way you’re really going to get what you want is by conquering someone or something. In those moments in history when we’ve been at war or on the brink of war, the whole idea of just allowing something to be what it is just doesn’t exist.”

The album starts with a six-part suite recurring about this theme. The Toys Of Men is parted into the pieces Draconian, Fear, Chaos, Cosmic Intervention, The Opening Of The Gates and God Light. “When you listen to the song in all of its parts, it has a lot of different emotions going on in it,” Clarke explains. “There’s fear, there’s confusion, there’s chaos, all of those things that we associate with war and destruction. But at the end, in those segments entitled ‘The Opening of the Gates’ and ‘God Light,’ there’s ultimately hope.”

Continue reading Stanley Clarke - The Toys of Men

On his latest solo effort Just Around The Corner, Marienthal’s passion and versatility shine with tracks such as “Times Square,” which features the keyboards and programming of co-writer Lu, and the old school ambience and synth echoes of “Flower Child”, which displays the melodic chemistry Marienthal shares with long-time collaborator Jeff Lorber.
 
“Just Around The Corner is a melody-driven, straightforward pop instrumental date that honestly reflects the musical groove I’m in right now” says Eric about the new release. 

Eric Marienthal – Just Around The Corner available in stores & online October 16th 2007.

Continue reading New Cool Collective - New Cool Collective Big Band Live