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Newz 2001!
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Newz!
A Second Home
...
Orlando feels like one to Steve Reid! |
| When Steve Reid and Bamboo Forest
took the stage at the WLOQ Jazz Under the Stars Listener
Appreciation Concert one Saturday evening in early November they opened
with My Gypsy Heart from Dream
Scapes, their current release. |
|
At the start of the second song, they connected with the
audience and owned them ... each and every person. Reid spoke to the
capacity crowd saying, "Thanks for coming out tonight. Orlando’s like a
second home to us, so we really appreciate you being here. Now just relax,
open your heart, and let the music touch you." Then he and his band backed
up the request with the music to make it happen. |
With hands flying so fast they
can barely be seen, Steve Reid
backs up his invitation to the
audience to relax and enjoy
the music.
|
In response, the crowd did their part by getting involved
with the music, clapping and dancing along with the world-beat rhythm ...
and then clapping, whistling, and cheering wildly at the end of each song.
In between, with listeners belonging to them, Reid and his band's
performed for an awesome evening of amazing
entertainment that went by too quickly.
The set became a global trot across the radio dial with song styles ranging
from tribal ... to trance ... to pop ... a touch of rock ... and, of course,
some smooth jazz.
There was something for everyone ... and sax player Will Donato put it right
out front when, early in the set, he left
the stage for an audience-side perspective. He roamed the crowd playing his
in-your-face music literally in the face of appreciative fans. |
Later, it was Reid who took the opportunity to do the
same. "Steve doesn’t get a chance to get out there with you guys often
enough, so we’re gonna let him do that now," Donato told the audience. "Come
on Steve!" he added before they both came down for a trek through the
stage-front crowd.
After making their way up on the stage again they, and the rest of the band,
kept a musical pace that brought these comments
from the audience. |
Reid (front) and Donato (back) play their way
through the crowd.
|
"I hear a lot of color and texture in the music," said
Tony Escapa. And Escapa, a Berklee trained keyboardist and bandleader of
an Orlando-based Irish group
called Off Kilter, knows music. Later, at the busy CD sales table
after the show, another listener commented to Reid, "I came to see you as
much as hear you." (Reid plays his impressive percussion
gear fast and furious with amazing energy.)
What everyone heard was a bit of the past as Reid
and the Forest played tunes from earlier releases, and a bit of the present
with cuts from current release Dream Scapes.
But, what about the future? Reid says you can count on it being different.
"I’m inspired by what kids listen to today. It’s jazz but it’s more
experimental and progressive," he says indicating he’ll take his music in
that direction. "I’ve got nothing to loose. I think I’ve done all I can do
in this [smooth jazz] genre," he adds. Reid says the change in direction will allow
more exposure in more venues with larger audiences.
Fortunately for him ... and those upcoming venues and audiences ... Reid
records on his own label which gives him the
flexibility to move toward a different genre, and flexibility with the
name of the band too. "We may use a new name, Liquid Planet," he mentions
during a conversation about the their future.
In addition to talking about the band, Reid spoke of his world-class
recording and multimedia studio, Sonic Jungle, located in Los Angeles. "We
do some pop and all kinds of other music. But, a lot of jazz is done here,
it’s really kind of a small community. We’ve worked with the Rippington’s,
Steve Oliver, Brian Bromberg, Richard Smith ... it’s a whole business of
it’s own," he says of the recording part of the studio. Credits on the
multimedia side includes working with the Rolling Stones on their Voodoo
Lounge CD as well as extensive work on his own CD's
and web site.
When he’s not working in the studio or performing, Reid is often involved in
music therapy. "Music is very healing. It’s really great when people tell
you that your music touched them at a tough time in their lives," he says. |
Reid, playing
an apple
percussion piece, says drum
and percussion vibrations help
ease arthritis pain.
|
In fact, when touring and
performing, he says he builds in opportunities to work with individuals and
associations like percussionist Mickey Hart and Rhythm For Life.
Together, Hart and Reid do music therapy clinics
at hospitals and schools. "Drum and percussion
vibrations actually help arthritis," Reid says
adding, "I enjoy challenged kids the most, rhythm and sound really touches
them." |
|
He also spoke of the healing affect of music in these
times of terror attacks. Of his world-music he says, "It’s a fusion of
different kinds of music. Letting ourselves be influenced by other music
cultures is one of the most border-less, boundary-less things we can do.
There’s a feeling of bonding." "Touching people at a more personal level
is important to me. Giving them something they can get out and enjoy makes
me want to go out and do it with an open heart," he says of his
performing and playing his blended music. Then he
adds, "The whole band has a passion for playing live."
Hmm, did anyone at the Listener Appreciate Concert doubt that for even a
second? No? Didn’t think so!
~November, 2001 |
|
Newz!
Doing Double-Duty
... or living in two worlds and lovin'
it! |
Music listeners and learners
alike enjoy the benefits of jazz guitarist Richard Smith doing
what he does ... and what he does is double-duty.
By day he’s a mild mannered professor at the University of California (USC)
where he directs a doctoral program in guitar study. By night he’s a
high-energy performer with an inclination to add a personal touch to his
shows.
Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but you get the
idea. |
Smith lives in two worlds—effectively combining the
rigors of teaching and heading up his department at USC right along with
writing music, touring, and performing regularly.
"I’m fortunate because USC is very supportive of that," he says during a
recent conversation before one of his performances at the Pleasure Island
Jazz Company. "They want a working faculty. We act as a conduit between
learning and doing," he adds. |
Guitarist Richard Smith
|
Smith says the arrangement allows some time for touring
during the year. Then, when classes wrap up for the summer,
he hits the road hard playing and touring around
the United States and Europe.
In fact, he already has plans to spend three weeks in Italy next spring.
He’ll also visit the Ukraine where his current release, Flow, is
immensely popular. Yep, the whole CD is hot.
Unlike the in the United States, European listeners favor ... and chart ...
entire CDs instead of just one or two songs.
The spring and summer tour will follow on the heals of the release of his
seventh CD which he’s co-producing with Brian Bromberg.
There's no name for the release yet, but it’s already
obvious, you’ll want to add this one to your collection.
"Only five songs are recorded," Smith says of the CD slated for release in
February. But, man, what a lineup on those five songs!
As with his earlier releases, Smith ... a much sought after and very
versatile guitarist ... is joined by some of the other great names in the
business. Jeff Kashiwa, Michael Paulo, Brian Culbertson, Dave Kochanski, and
Tony Guerrero all lend their support and incredible talent. Remember now,
that’s just the five songs recorded at this point! The list will grow as
recording moves along. |
Smith, playing out in the room, picked Florida
musicians for his band on the East Coast.
|
That’s the
studio and recording side of the house. As for performing and touring,
Smith goes bi-coastal ... he has an East Coast band and a West Coast band.
It goes without saying that this approach keeps his music fresh with a new
and different energy for every show.
The East Coast band might also be called a Florida band. Two brothers from
Clearwater, Ron and Dave Reinhardt, handle keys and drums respectively.
Bassist Rusty Taylor, from Miami, also performs and tours with the group.
|
Between, them they’ve
played with Richard Elliot, Jose Iglesias, and other names you know.
Even though Smith enjoys the touring and
performing, writing and recording,
he says he also loves teaching. "The best part is motivating and inspiring
students," he says smiling, "there’s nothing else like it."
"Everyone accepts that sales people, athletes,
and other professionals need motivation and support, and there are all
kinds of things addressing that. But there’s nothing for musicians, and
they’re some of the ones who need it the most," he reflects.
In addition to raising the motivation level of his students, and offering
encouragement in his classes, Smith takes an extra step with a personal
touch. He posts motivational and inspirational quotes on his web site at
www.smoothguitar.com.
"’Think big, talk small’ is one of my favorites," he says before going on
to mention several others. It’s well worth a visit to Smith’s site to read
more.
His ideals of motivation, encouragement, and inspiration speak to Smith’s
personal spirituality and the type of man he is ... a leader and liaison.
Each day finds him bridging the gap, bringing together two worlds. One of
listeners, one of learners.
~October, 2001 |
|
Newz!
It's all in style
... honest
style, world style, and Latin style! |
Florida was already on pianist
Freddie Ravel’s list of favorites when he played the Pleasure
Island Latin Festival in 1996. Then he notched it up one more time while
playing a part of a solo on the Island’s Hub
Stage. As he played kids stood in front of the stage to listen. And as
they listened they got into the groove and started clapping ...
not just clapping ... clapping clave.
(See Clapping
Clave" in A Little Newz!)
While telling this story Ravel asks, "Do you know what I mean when I say
clave? It’s a fundamental rhythm of Cuban music." The comment speaks to
the Latin influence in Ravel’s music. And that influence is one of the
reasons Florida is special to Ravel ... and Ravel is special to Florida.
He comes by the style honestly. Ravel grew up speaking both English and
Spanish and hearing a variety of music. His mother ... from Cali,
Colombia, the home of music known as cumbia ... played music of the
Colombian jungles and northern Caribbean coast. His father, of Eastern
European heritage, brought home classic music. |
A self-titled
release
|
"I’ve always believed in
doing an album that crosses over" into a Latin style he says. And he’s done
that with his current release, the self-titled CD Freddie Ravel.
One cut from the release, Sunny Side Up, hit #1 on the charts the
first week of June and remains on the charts today. |
|
Ravel got word of reaching the top of
the charts by fax while in
Tunisia, Africa, with Al Jarreau’s world tour. (In addition to playing as
part of Jarreau’s band Ravel is also Music Director for the vocalist.) "I
stood still for about 15 seconds, I think I cried for about 15 seconds, then
I prayed thanks to God," he says of the experience. "I mean, I worked my
whole life for this. It was surreal," he adds. |
He says he has no regrets about being partway around the
world during the song’s climb to the top of the charts.
"Life is what happens to you while you’re doing something else!"
he exclaims.
His worldliness is also reflected in Ravel’s style, "I try to do much more
of a world style record." With this comment the conversation shifts to how
other parts of the world treat music. |
Ravel (front), pianist and Music Director for singer Al
Jarreau, is shown here with Jarreau and fellow band members during their
world tour.
|
While playing the North Sea Jazz Festival with Jarreau,
Ravel observed the area’s style of music promotion. "The U.S. tends to take
it one song at a time through the radio. In Holland, music is promoted in
clubs and other small venues with a lot of traffic.
Then the people get the word out. It’s word-of-mouth," he concludes.
Additionally, various songs from his current release are getting different
reactions in different parts of the world.
Samba Mundial is enjoying success as a single in the Netherlands
(Holland), and Germany usually follows the trend.
"The Netherlands considers itself the gateway to Europe and is where a lot
of new music is released," Ravel explains.
Yet London, England, is
making Conversations a success as a single. And
Miami, Florida, listeners
are showing signs of keeping up the momentum. |
But back in the states, radio is the media of music. Ravel says he
appreciates that there are smooth jazz stations to give music like his an
outlet.
Elaborating he says, "I try to make a record that isn’t defined as smooth
jazz. That label is a tricky one. Jazz by definition isn’t smooth. The use
of the word smooth is really more indicative of a lifestyle." He then adds
appreciatively, "Thank God for LOQ." |
Freddie Ravel
|
No doubt WLOQ, Orlando’s smooth jazz station, and
others like it across the country, conversely
appreciate Ravel and his music. Orlando listeners certainly
do when he plays its venues including Disney’s
Pleasure Island and Epcot, as well as Universal’s Hard Rock and City Jazz.
And now that Ravel is back from touring there’s a good chance he’ll be back
playing somewhere in Florida again soon. After all Florida is special to
Ravel ... and Ravel is special to Florida.
~August, 2001 Read Ravel's complete
bio and
a review of his current release, Freddie Ravel, or visit his web
site
at www.freddieravel.com. |
Newz!
Guitars & Saxes 2001
"This isn't a wine-sipping, cheese-tasting
crowd is it?!" |
|
... guitarist Jeff Golub
Guitars & Saxes 2001 Tour |
Four of the hottest names in jazz music joined forces for a
sold-out Guitars & Saxes 2001 show at the House of Blues in Orlando
one Thursday night in late July.
And, as guitarist Jeff Golub commented, the audience wasn’t a wine-sipping,
cheese-tasting crowd … they were a high-energy, hand-clapping, dancing crowd
that loved every minute of the show.
For fans of one ... or all ...
of these musicians, the evening offered something
for everyone.
Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa, who opened the show, says "We try to
speak to everybody with our show. Like I’m kinda the jazz/R&B
guy, Golub is more blues/jazz, Warren is high energy, and Craig speaks to
the rock music." Golub is guitarist Jeff Golub, Warren is saxophonist Warren
Hill, and Craig is guitarist Craig Chaquico. |
Jeff Kashiwa
(Photo courtesy of Cindy Adams.)
|
Kashiwa
continues to elaborate about the show and the audience saying, "Different
sets go over differently ... one [musician] may be a favorite one time, and
another will be a favorite on a different night. But, in Orlando, the fans
hear so much music, and so many different styles, that the response to this
show was fantastic for everybody."
They mix some things up at every show, but Kashiwa says the flow stays the
same. |
He
opens by playing a set with the
amazing band ... two guitarists,
a keyboard player, a
percussionist and a drummer ...
backing the headliners.
Even with such talent playing, the sound of Golub’s guitar
can be heard building
before he walks onstage to join Kashiwa for a couple of songs. Then Kashiwa
leaves the stage and Golub takes the set.
Near the end of Golub’s set, in the same style of hearing before seeing,
Warren Hill’s music is in the house before he’s on the stage. Once the
energetic sax-man joins his distinct sound on stage (with his actual
presence), he and Golub play off one another for a song or two before Golub
makes his exit.
Hill then heats up the room
and burns up the stage asking, "Is it hot in here or is it just the leather
pants I’m wearing?" (It was
both the pants and the music.) |
Chaquico
repeated the pattern for the last set.
Just before ending he just before
he brought the other
three musicians back to
the stage to play the wrap up.
Then during an encore, and as each artist
had done during their own
set earlier in the show, they walked the
room playing their way through the audience. |
Hill, Chaquico, Golub, and Kashiwa close the show.
(Photo courtesy of Cindy Adams.)
|
Without a doubt, the energy and quality of this show makes it sound,
literally, like a good idea to take the smooth out of smooth jazz.
With two jazz format radio stations, the University of
Central Florida's WUCF and independently owned WLOQ, Orlando may
suffer less "smoothing" than similarly sized markets. But, in general,
those in control of the record and radio industry need to give the
music back to the musicians and allow them to play it the way their
listeners want to hear it.
This show was beyond the usual adjectives ... so start
looking forward to next year's G&S tour today!
~ July, 2001
Check out our exclusive interview with
Jeff Kashiwa!
Visit his web site
at
www.jeffkashiwa.com. |
Newz!
Another Door Opens
for Jeff Kashiwa
... look into his
future! |
 |
|
Sax-man Jeff
Kashiwa was in town recently to play Orlando’s House of Blues
(HOB) as
part of the Guitars & Saxes 2001 Tour. He took a few minutes after the
show to talk with JazzIN’ Orlando!
A review of the
G&S show,
also featuring saxophonist Warren Hill along with guitarists Jeff Golub
and Craig Chaquico, is published on a separate page. And Kashiwa
also comments here about the tour and show.
He says each show and audience develops their own personality during the
evening, and the four headline musicians play to that. "One of the best
things about a tour like this is being able to try different things," he
adds.
Of the HOB he says, "It’s a beautiful room. It’s mostly wood, and it has
big beams so it has lots of nooks and cranny’s that make the sound
richer and fuller."
He says he also enjoys playing other Orlando venues,
like Disney’s Pleasure Island Jazz Company and Universal’s City Jazz.
But he especially likes the HOB "because of the sound, and the staff is
great, and so are the fans. I like it here [in
Orlando], it really does feel like my
second home." |
Jeff Kashiwa
|
But a return to the area will have to wait.
In September, he’ll travel to London to start rehearsal with Acoustic
Alchemy (AA). After rehearsal Kashiwa and his
band will tour the |
East Coast of the U.S.
with AA for six weeks. They’ll return to London where Patti Austin joins
the lineup to end the tour.
That works well because Kashiwa says he’d like to record his next CD in
Europe. He hopes to take the band from London to a studio in a small
village Germany. "There’s such a good vibe in a setting like that. We’ll
really be able to focus."
|
Kashiwa's current release ... Another Door
Opens
|
But, right now, the focus is on the success of
his current release. Two songs from the CD, Hyde Park and
Around The World, are on the charts.
"Excitingly enough, a second song from
Another Door Opens is #7 on the charts and climbing which is
great at this point in my career. It’s like a marker, I feel like I’ve
started a new phase of my career," he says.
|
| Although Kashiwa’s schedule won’t bring him back to Orlando anytime soon, be
sure to listen for the sounds of his music making it’s climb to the top.
~ July, 2001
Read a review of the
G&S show in Orlando! |
Newz!
You know they're out there
And this guy is one of them!
You know they're out there. And, in a town like Orlando,
you know there are a lot of them. Who are they?
They're artists and musicians whose names you may not know ... the ones
working quietly behind the scenes to bring success to those whose names you
do. |
Michael Crain ...
composer, producer, and musician
|
Composer, producer, musician Michael Crain is one of ... them.
Ten years ago Disney lured Crain here from Decatur, Illinois, with lucrative consulting
work. He never looked back. After all, Orlando provides him with amazing working opportunities.
Just consider some of the work he does. |
Working in conjunction with boy band machine TransCon, (Backstreet
Boys, 'NSync) Crain writes and produces for many of today's top pop groups
like Take 5, CNote, and Innosense.
He worked on the Backstreet Boys Millenium tour. He also worked with
A.J. McClain ... Backstreet Boys "Bad Boy" ... on McClain's Johnny No Name
tour. (Money from the tour goes to the Save the Music Foundation.)
And it just keeps getting better.
Crain has worked in one capacity or another with a few other names
you may recognize ... Brian Culbertson (a friend
since high school), the Rippington’s, Steve Reid, Kim Stone, Brian Bromberg,
Jeff Kashiwa, Paul Howards, and many others. |
In fact, much
of the work on Kashiwa's current release,
Another Door Opens, was done
in Crain's well equipped studio. (A platinum award for Crain’s work on LFO's
album hangs on one studio wall.)
Crain recalls the frenzy of last-minute activity to prepare the
Another Door Opens material for
final production. "Jeff was at one computer tweaking one track while I was
at another working on something else," he says smiling and shaking his head
at the memory. |
A platinum award for
work on LFO's album
|
The
two originally met through mutual business connections and are able to work
together whenever Kashiwa is in town for a gig ... or to conduct his Summer
Music Days workshop at the Disney Institute.
Another business connection avenue led Crain to work with another
outstanding saxophonist, Paul Howards. The two, both based in Orlando,
quickly became close friends. And says Crain, "I produced Paul’s last three
CDs." He also co-wrote a few songs from each of those releases. They’re
currently writing and arranging songs for Howards’ next release.
|
Gear in Crain's studio
|
Howards spends six to nine
months of the year involved with super-poppers ‘N Sync. He’s
currently on tour with the group, so he and Crain communicate and
collaborate on the new material via e-mail, voice mail and FedEx. Crain says
the CD will reflect a new style for Howards. Of production he says, "We’re
taking it slow, trying to get it right."
Slow going is no problem though, there’s plenty more for Crain to do
with his time. |
"I've been producing a group called Less
Than Seven (<7). They’re a four-piece vocal group. They’re very good. I'm
also talking with Connie Kunkle (Les Mis on Broadway, Joseph tour,
Andrew Lloyd Webber tour) about doing a smoky, jazzy album."
Even with so many music commitments and obligations he’s still able to fit
in more. For example, a keyboard player, he sometimes subs for groups like
Steve Reid’s Bamboo Forest as well as others traveling to Orlando to
perform.
He also handles keyboards for Howards' band whenever the saxophonist
plays Orlando. Crain says he continues to play jazz because he finds it
challenging.
And, whether writing or performing he says, "I love coming up with
something that’s creative and still fits the format." And aren’t you glad he
does?!
~May, 2001 |
Newz!
Doing Something Different
... because he
can!
|
Although Orlando-based guitarist Chris Taylor clearly
loves to play the guitar he often does something different ... sometimes anyway, for
awhile, or at least until the next time plays.
Taylor not only plays professionally, he also builds guitars. And, for about a year now,
he’s been touring with super group ‘N Sync as a guitar and equipment technician.
He says he likes to mix it up, "It’s kinda cool being able to do other things.
It’s easy to get burned out, this keeps playing (guitar) fun." He adds, "I
don’t want to have to take gigs just to pay the bills."
Taylor got his start when he was about 12 years old. That’s when cool-looking guitars
in catalogs began catching his eye. He began playing without making a deliberate decision
to play professionally, that decision came later. |
Chris Taylor |
The 11 years since he first saw those cool guitars have been years
of music lessons, practice and study ... and playing. Some of his study has been under two
other Orlando-based guitarists — Chuck Archard and Jim Gentry. |
Archard is head of the jazz department at Rollins
College in Winter Park, and he plays with local jazz-fusion group
Groove Logic. Gentry recorded on Into My Heart, the first release from Orlando
favorite, and ‘N Sync sax-man, Paul Howards.
Taylor says of Archard and Gentry, "They’re both incredible, I can’t say
enough good about them." He clearly admires the two players and Gentry’s
influence surfaces in Taylor’s style.
To further feed his passion for playing Taylor and a few friends put a band together. They
played locally until Taylor went on the road with ‘N Sync and two other band members
moved to New York and L.A. They recorded a CD before going their separate ways ... Taylor
wrote, or collaborated on, most of the songs. Now one of the former members is handling
the mixing and mastering for release. |
Guitars at Lyrical Lumber
|
Building guitars at
Lyrical Lumber in Maitland has been Taylor’s main non-playing/performing
gig since he took his own guitar there for reworking when he was around
16 years old. Soon after he got an apprenticeship position there
building, maintaining, restoring and
refurbishing guitars. |
The apprenticeship became a regular job and he’s now
integral part of the operation.
Playing in Paul Howards’ band has been his main playing and performing gig for about
three years. He jokes about landing the position in the band. Of the audition he says,
"It probably wasn’t that I was that good, it’s just that the other players
auditioning sucked so bad. I think I got the gig by default." (Just for the record,
nothing could be further from the truth ... this guy is good. And he really is only
joking about the other guys who auditioned.)
He says one of the nice things about being on the road with ‘N Sync is that he and
Howards, who also tours with the band playing sax, are on the same schedule. Now,
he’s able to play gigs with Howards whenever they’re home.
His job as guitar technician with ‘N Sync is to take care of all guitar and bass gear
from the time it’s unpacked until it’s time for tear-down and repacking. He does
everything from string changes to dealing with intonation changes commonly caused by heat
or cold, and dry or humid air.
He has to stay at the venue for every ‘N Sync performance and says if he’s done
his job well he just hangs out and gets bored. In this case bored is good because "If
anything goes wrong, it’s my responsibility," Taylor says.
When asked why he chose to play jazz Taylor answers, "The things you learn are things
that better prepare you to play any style. It works in other situations."
When asked what’s ahead he replies, "I definitely want to play more."
He’s also debating between having his own band or being a sideman. "There’s
so much more to having your own band. I think I really just want to play."
He even says, "practice is always fun." And he closes the conversation saying
"I have a lot to shed and a lot to learn. But, really, I just want to play."~March, 2001 |
|
