International Street Date 05/22/12 U.S. Street Date 06/05/12
Compared to what? The thing that makes Brian Bromberg work so well is the predictability of his unpredictability! Makes perfect sense right? Compared To That is the first of three artistically diverse releases set for Bromberg this year and while the buzz is that it may be his best since Downright Upright, it may in fact be Bromberg's finest release to date.
Compared To That is that musical happy place somewhere between contemporary/modern jazz but with an old school sensibility. Bromberg is not reinventing the musical wheel. What Brian Bromberg does so incredibly well here is expand his sound and push the music forward. Guest artists include such diverse talents as Jeff Lorber, Bela Fleck and Randy Brecker combined with a deceptively subtle swing of a walking bass line punctuated with attitude so if this release doesn't make your musical back leg shake you may want to see if your autopsy report is ready.
Recorded live in the studio with 8 new Bromberg tunes and utilizing state of the art technology there is a groove you can use here. A swing that while contemporary in nature is diverse and eclectic in presentation. Artistic integrity with a consistently fresh presentation. The prime examples of the expansive nature of this release being a swing cover of the Chicago hit "Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is" where the horn section assembled does their own riff on Chicago without bordering on the overtly commercial. Another example of the flavor that works so well in the flow is "Hayride" where there is an old school made new cool call and response between Bromberg and Bela Fleck. I never saw it coming! Another sonic left turn is "A Little New Old School" featuring funkalicious fun from Randy Brecker and Jeff Lorber. While Bromberg has now covered some classic pop and rock tunes from Earth Wing and Fire, Kansas and Chicago perhaps the Rick James cover of "Give It To Me Baby" is the most unexpected. A swing you feel with your hips and hear with your feet.
The second release in the Bromberg trilogy for 2012 will be a ten track release covering the iconic Jimi Hendrix but more on that at a later date!
5 Huge Stars!
Tracks: Compared To That; Rory Lowery, Private Eye; If Ray Brown Was A Cowboy; Hayride; A Little New School Old School; Forgiveness; Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? I'm Just Sayin'; The Eclipse; Give It To Me Baby.
Personnel: Brian Bromberg: acoustic bass, hollow body piccolo bass, steel string acoustic piccolo bass; Carvin B24 4 string bass, Carvin B24 4 string fretless bass; Alex Acuna: percussion; Gannin Arnold: rhythm guitar; Charlie Bishart: violin; Randy Brecker: trumpet, flugelhorn; Vinnie Colaiuta: drums; George Duke: piano; Bela Fleck: banjo; Mitch Forman: piano; Larry Goldings: hammond b3 organ; Jeff Lorber: piano, electric piano; Gary Meek: tenor sax; Tom Zink: piano.
Dreaming In Colour is a contemporary, instrumental jazz group that presents an atmosphere of resonant song writing full of energy and melodiousness. The group's diverse musical influences and contributions to contemporary jazz have been well received and appreciated by lovers of this genre. Their common ground is not just playing music, but creating a hip cutting edge vibe as well. With an array of talent and musical arrangements that are sure to grab you, a Dreaming In Colour performance will awaken your inner musical self. Each incarnation of the group has influenced the compass of their musical odyssey. Over the years their sound has evolved into one that consists of an inter blend of some of today’s top contemporary jazz artists. The group says, "While hurdling some of the obstacles of composing, it's important that your music remains relevant, recognizable and has staying power."
The nucleus of Dreaming In Colour, bassist-Kevin Ellis, drummer-Chris Noonan and guitarist-Joe Calandrino, enlist some of the top sax and keyboard luminaries in contemporary jazz for recording and performance.
While forging a genesis of energy complemented by bright, funky hooks; Dreaming In Colour presents a diverse collaboration of creativity. An encounter with Dreaming In Colour is truly an escape from the ordinary and may leave one referring to it as a dream sequence . . .
With a hip cutting edge vibe that may well blow you away, contemporary, instrumental jazz group Dreaming In Colour has just released its debut CD, ‘The Dream Merchant’. Constructed around the band’s core members of Kevin Ellis, Chris Noonan and Joe Calandrino, the line-up has often, over the years, been complemented by some of the genre’s top artists and this is particularly so with ‘The Dream Merchant’ for which Ellis, Noonan and Calandrino are joined by Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal and Nelson Rangell.
In fact Lorber features on all ten tracks with Marienthal contributing to seven of them. He is in stupendously high-octane form for the fusion filled ‘Crosswinds’ and later the free flowing, sax driven ‘Waiting In Texas’ serves as another opportunity for his playing to really sizzle. The interplay between Calandrino on guitar and Lorber on keys is a focal point of the retro tinged ‘Chromatic’ while ‘Keepsakes’ proves to be a jazzy yet velvety number where the combined talents of Ellis, Noonan, Calandrino, Lorber and Marienthal are found to be at their impeccable best.
‘Davy’s Byrne’ is another lively foot stomper where the lead is generously shared amongst the combined gathering. Notable here is Lorber on keys and he again cuts sensationally loose on ‘Percolator’ which has a groove reminiscent of that often generated by his own band The Jeff Lorber Fusion.
Calandrino takes center stage for the ultra catchy ‘No More Goodbyes’ and although the commercially appealing ‘Twilight Drive’ is the product of a three-way collaboration between Lorber, Kevin Ellis on bass and Marienthal on alto, when the tune is reprised as a sub two-minute closer, Marienthal’s switch to soprano takes away none of the magic.
Despite ‘The Dream Merchant’ being a CD where the tempo remains relatively high throughout, ‘Yearbook’ provides a delicious contrast that adds to the richness of the entire collection. Also relaxed in style, and arguably the best track on the album, is the title song where Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite Nelson Rangell is wonderful on soprano sax.
It is one reason of many why you should make ‘The Dream Merchant’ part of your listening pleasure.
Renowned jazz fusion keyboard trailblazer and recording artist Jeff Lorber brings his melodic funk and dynamic array of vibes to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza for a free community concert, Sunday, May 27th. Presented by the Playboy Jazz Festival and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the show will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Outdoor Promenade at the shopping center, located at 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The concert is part of Playboy’s free community event series held in conjunction with upcoming Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, Saturday and Sunday, June 16th and 17th.
The free event provides an opportunity for The Playboy Jazz Festival and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza to bring top quality jazz to the local community as well as to shopping center patrons for their enjoyment. Popular radio personality Pat Prescott will emcee and the Washington Prep High School Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Reggie Andrews will open the show.
Crystallizing jazz, funk and Latin rhythms with his killer melodies and improvisations that translate perfectly to a live setting, Jeff Lorber has come full circle in the three decades since his earliest recordings. In the late 70s, long before he was a globally recognized contemporary jazz artist and performer, the innovative keyboardist/composer/producer was a prominent figure in the new movement known as jazz fusion – a marriage of traditional jazz with elements of rock, R&B, funk and other electrified sounds. His new recording Galaxy, on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, revisits the sound he helped pioneer. The album takes the experiment he started with his last Grammy-nominated CD Now Is The Time, up a notch with 11 exciting and energetic new compositions featuring some of the biggest names in jazz today.
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza is an 850,000 square foot retail destination located at the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. Anchored by Macys, Sears and WalMart, with over 100 specialty stores and dining options, the center has long been recognized as the hub of the surrounding communities. From a signature concert series known as BHCP Live!, monthly Kid’s Club and a weekly Farmers’ Market to the many public services offered at the mall, it is clear that BHCP is more than just a place to shop, it’s a central gathering place for the local community. BHCP is managed by Primestor Development Inc. and owned by Capri Capital Partners, LLC.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase to the public. Glass containers, alcoholic beverages and audio/video recorders are not permitted. Plenty of parking is available both in and around the mall.
For more information regarding the community concert series or the Playboy Jazz Festival, visit www.playboyjazzfestival.com.
Author:Jeff Lorber Fansite
キーボード奏者のジェフ・ローバーは、1952年11月4日ペンシルヴァニア州フィラデルフィア生まれ。 バークリー音楽院、ボストン大学に学んだ後、チック・コリアの指導を受け、 '77年に『ジェフ・ローバー・フュージョン』を発表。 L.A.フュージョンに新風を吹き込むと同時に、ケニー・Gやデイヴ・コズの押し出しにもひと役買い、'80年代のビッグ・アイコンになった。『ウィザード・アイランド』や『ヒート・オブ・ザ・ナイト』など自己名義の作品をヒットさせる一方、'80年代後半からプロデュースにも乗り出し、マンハッタン・トランスファー、マイケル・フランクス、シーナ・イーストンらを担当。さらに、ダンスやファンク系の分野にも進出することでキャリア・アップを果たしてきました。”Now is the Time"が、第５３回グラミー賞にノミネートされました。（ノミネートは４回目）
