Pianist John Beasley with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band to Release New Project “Returning to Forever” on August 23rd, 2024 | LISTEN! #jazz #music

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED
MULTI-FACETED PIANIST, ARRANGER, COMPOSER AND MUSIC DIRECTOR
JOHN BEASLEY WITH THE FRANKFURT RADIO BIG BAND ARE
RETURNING TO FOREVER

DEBUT ALBUM ON CANDID RECORDS AUGUST 23, 2024

Multi GRAMMY® Winner Reimagines Return To Forever’s Music
with Chick Corea’s Blessing

It was In 2019 when John Beasley first embarked on the ambitious project: reimagining Return To Forever’s music for the three-time GRAMMY®-nominated Frankfurt Radio Big Band (hr-Bigband). While some of Chick Corea’s pieces (and Stanley Clarke’s “Vulcan Worlds”) had been performed in various ways over the years, they had never been adapted for a large jazz orchestra at this level. However, due to the COVID pandemic the music was not recorded until 2023 – and it was well worth the wait!

On August 23, 2024 the multi-faceted GRAMMY-winning arranger, composer, record producer, and music director will make his Candid Records label debut with one of the most challenging recordings of his career, John Beasley/Returning to Forever with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band. The album will be available on CD and all streaming platforms. The first single “Return to Forever” is out today and can be ordered HERE.

Return To Forever (RTF), led by Chick Corea and featuring bassist Stanley Clarke, was one of the great fusion bands of the 1970s. Although Beasley never saw RTF live, he toured with Clarke, recorded with Corea in the 90s, and worked with him on ABC’s broadcast of “Jazz Day at the White House” in 2016 to mark International Jazz Day. He has been influenced by RTF’s music since he was a teenager. Before starting the commission, Beasley reached out to Corea for his blessing. “Chick not only gave me his blessings but offered PDFs of his original handwritten charts. He was curious to know how I would reimagine his songs so he asked me to share my demos of the arrangements with him. I was amazed by how open-minded and supportive he was.” After Beasley wrote the first four arrangements, he was about to send them to Corea, but then he and the world learned of his passing.

For Returning to Forever Beasley preserved each song’s form, themes, and essence while making the pieces sound like a natural fit for a big band. Starting with the excitement of “Captain Señor Mouse,” Returning To Forever includes exhilarating transformations of “Space Circus,” “No Mystery,” the funky “Vulcan Worlds” (with the horns playing transcriptions of Corea’s keyboard solos), the passionate “Medieval Overture,” the lyrical samba “You’re Everything” which transitions to “La Fiesta,” and the episodic “Return To Forever.”

Mark Wexler Head of Candid Records stated: “We are thrilled to have John Beasley join the Candid Records family. His big band transformation of the music of Return to Forever, one of the greatest fusion bands of our time, with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band is an amazing achievement. RTF fans will be intrigued to hear Beasley’s individual expression.”

Exceleration Music Partner and Producer John Burk states: “With Returning to Forever, John Beasley showcases the extraordinary depth of his artistry while paying homage to the legendary Chick Corea and Return to Forever. John’s brilliant new arrangements, coupled with the precision and soul of the Frankfurt Radio Big Band, give us stunning new renditions of these classics that defy gravity!”

John Beasley’s musical journey has been a whirlwind of creative activity since the 1980s. With Returning To Forever his immense talent and creativity are on full display with the Frankfurt Radio Big Bad adding to the countless memorable recordings that continue to define his illustrious career.

EastWest Media

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Fast-Rising drummer Brandon Sanders readies ambitious new album, out October 4 #jazz #music

 

Fast-Rising Drummer Brandon Sanders Readies Ambitious New Album The Tables Will Turn, Out October 4, 2024 On Savant Records
 

In-demand jazz drummer Brandon Sanders has announced the October 4, 2024 release of his sophomore album The Tables Will Turn on Savant Records. 

 
Featuring vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Keith Brown, bassist David Wong and reedist Chris Lewis the album features classics from Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk alongside compositions by McCoy Tyner and Tony Williams. There’s also Duke Ellington’s “Prelude to a Kiss” and a Michael Jackson tune, both vocal numbers where Christie Dashielljoins the quintet.
 
“I'm an against-all-odds type of person,” Sanders says, sitting in his Brooklyn home. The 53-year-old drummer took a circuitous route to The Tables Will Turn — the follow-up to his debut, Compton’s Finest. 
 
Sanders left his California home to attend the University of Kansas in the mid-’90s and studied communications, while also walking onto the school’s Division I basketball team. He would go on to earn an advanced degree in social work, before heading to the Berklee College of Music — and forming a decades-long bond with vibraphonist Warren Wolf — when he was 25 years old.
 
“I've always liked the way that Brandon plays,” Wolf said recently while driving around Baltimore. “A lot of drummers nowadays — and definitely back then — were always trying to show one another up. But Brandon, what he did on the drums, he stayed in the pocket. It’s just very comfortable playing with him.”
 
Sanders readily accessing the groove belies the potentially treacherous road he’s traversed. A part of that journey’s related on his composition “Central and El Segundo,” a tune written about a time and place in the drummer’s past growing up in Compton, California that still affects how he interacts with the world.

“The whole thing with this record is, no matter how rough life gets or no matter where you're from, if you stick with what you believe and stick with your mission, the tables will turn,” Sanders said. “So, you have a guy getting chased at the intersection of Central and El Segundo in Compton, and he stuck with it. To be honest, at 19 years old, I told someone I wanted to play the drums, and he said, ‘Man, if you hadn't started at 3 years old, forget it.’”
 
While working to finish the album, the drummer and Wolf individually took a shot at devising the tracklist — and concocted strikingly similar visions, saving the title track, “The Tables Will Turn,” for the record’s conclusion.
 
It’s a gospel-inflected soul jazz tune with a message as ebullient as its groove — an ideal way to end a recording devoted to the idea that perseverance is really just the prelude to success.

Sanders embodies that idea, too: succeeding at multiple levels of the higher-education system and then using his accrued knowledge to help a new generation of students as a counselor at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
 
Bandleader Willie Jones III, who first met the drummer about a decade back, has produced both of Sanders’ recordings for Savant Records and watched the Compton native’s compositional acumen grow.
 
“What Brandon is doing, it's really incredible. I mean, his level of hustle is off the chain,” Jones said. “He has a passion for the music — for something that, to most people, is a hobby. But he feels so deeply about this and is so passionate about it. He's out here all the time, checking out music, checking out records. And all the while, he's raising three boys. He has to wake up in the morning, take his kids to school and go to work. Then he's also booking gigs himself? That, to me, that’s next level.”        
 
Sanders, who’s already begun working out ideas for his third leader date, said he never saw jazz as a way to make money or earn notoriety. It’s a forum to tell his own story.
 
“At 25, I didn't know a paradiddle from a double-stroke roll,” he said. “I just stuck with it.” 
 

Brandon Sanders On Tour:
9/15 – White Plains Jazz Festival – White Plains, NY
9/16-17 – Lied Center at the University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
9/26 – Scullers Jazz Club – Boston, MA
10/18-19 – Seattle Jazz Fellowship – Seattle, WA

 
 

 
 

Brandon Sanders Online:
Website
YouTube
Instagram

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Adam Larson, Clark Sommers, & John Kizilarmut to release debut recording "Movable Objects" #jazz #music

Hybrid, A new trio made up of Adam Larson, Clark Sommers, and John Kizilarmut to release debut recording "Movable Objects" Adam Larson - Tenor Saxophone Clark Sommers - Bass John Kizilarmut -Drums Release Date: September 6th, 2024 (Independent Release) "The tenor saxophonist Adam Larson is the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success. -Nate Chinen, New York Times

About the Hybrid Trio On the heels of a three-CD trio trilogy, spanning 2022-2023 and three major cities worth of sounds and musicians, bandleader and saxophonist Adam Larson formed “Hybrid”; a sax, bass drums trio featuring a musician from each of the albums of the trilogy. The result is a rhythm section consisting of KC-based drummer John Kizilarmut and Chicago-based bassist, Clark Sommers.   With multiple tours under their belt as an ensemble, the band has played at venues such as Smalls, University of New Hampshire, West Chester University, Ohio State University, Basd 249, Rudy’s Jazz Room and several others across the continental United States.   Their debut album is set for release in September 2024 and will coincide with a string of dates that include stops at venues and campuses in St. Louis, Wichita, Prairie Village, Tahlequah, Memphis, Nashville and Sioux Falls, among others. About Adam Larson Adam Larson (b. 1990) is an American saxophonist, composer and author. An endorsed artist for P. Mauriat saxophones, The Boston Sax Shop and Key Leaves, Adam began playing saxophone at the age of 11. Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined”, by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen as “a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind”, and by Nate Chinen of The New York Times as “the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success”, Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation. Upon graduating from high school in 2008, Adam moved to New York City to pursue his BM and MM in Jazz Performance on full-scholarship from The Manhattan School of Music, finishing his studies in 2014.  Larson has released eight albums; three for Outside In, one for Ropeadope Records, two under the Inner Circle Music label and two produced independently. Larson’s record “With Love, From Chicago”, received a rare 4.5 Star rating from Downbeat Magazine and was featured in JazzTimes Magazine, among other national media outlets. The second installment in his recent “trio trilogy” project- “With Love, From Kansas City”, was featured in ThePitch (KC), and the final installment of the trilogy, “With Love, From New York” featuring bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Obed Calvaire, received a 4 Star rating from Downbeat. Larson keeps an active schedule with his own groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S. including The Green Mill, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Estate, The Jazz Showcase, Dazzle, Noce, The Jewell and several others.  Music has allowed Adam to see more of the world than he once thought possible, having toured Poland, India,Taiwan, Holland, Germany, and South Africa, as well much of the United States. Larson’s Trio received a South Arts “Jazz Road Touring Grant” in 2022 and In 2015 Larson’s quartet was selected as one of ten ensembles to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department's "American Music Abroad" program and toured Africa for 35 days visiting The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ghana. Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought after clinician and masterclass presenter and has been a guest at more than 100 Universities across the world. Appearances include visits to University of Cape Town, HKU Conservatory-Utrecht, Temple University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, and University of North Texas among many others. Larson is currently on faculty at KCAI where he teaches classes in Entrepreneurship. Larson has previously taught jazz saxophone, music business and pedagogy at UMKC Conservatory and jazz saxophone and jazz ensembles at KU. Larson has a diverse private lesson studio of online students from the U.S. and abroad.  Adam has authored 12 jazz etude books that have been sold in over 45 countries and States. In 2018, in partnership with BestSaxophoneWebsiteEver, he created and released a successful online masterclass dedicated exclusively to developing great technique, called “Lightning-Fast and Crystal- Clean”. In 2023, Larson partnered with “BetterSax” to release a one-of-a-kind course dedicated to rhythmic diversity, called “The Rhythmic Pyramid”. He maintains an impressive portfolio of commissioned ensemble writing for school jazz ensembles, having written more than thirty original works to date, as well as over 200 original compositions for his own groups/projects. Adam was commissioned by the Illinois Music Educators Association to compose the All-State composition for the 2020 convention, where he directed the Honors Jazz Band. Larson has also directed the South Dakota All-State Jazz Combo. With a vested interest in giving back, Larson has worked in various capacities with organizations that showcase exceptional young talent in the United States. Adam has served as a mentor for the Grammy Foundation, and as an adjudicator for the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and YoungArts organization. Serving in the role of creative director of the YoungArts New York regional show, Larson has presented multiple genre-bending, interdisciplinary performances held at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. Larson currently resides in Kansas City.

About Clark Sommers Bassist, Composer and Educator, Clark has toured and performed extensively throughout the world. He has had the privilege of performing with Cedar Walton, Darrell Grant, Brian Blade, Ernie Watts, Bennie Maupin, Von Freeman, Ira Sullivan, Frank Wess, Charles McPherson, Peter Bernstein, Lin Haliday, Dana Hall, Jodie Christian, Bobby Broom, Jeff Parker, Ron Perrillo, Geof Bradfield, Michael Weiss, George Fludas, Kevin Mahogany, Eden Atwood, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, The Chicago Jazz Orchestra among others. Clark completed his undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies and World Music at California Institute of the Arts in 2002, where he studied with bass masters Charlie Haden and Darek Oles. While living in Los Angeles, Clark performed with Leo Smith, Vinny Golia, The Charlie Haden Liberation Orchestra, Joe La Barbara and Larry Koonse. Additionally, Clark completed a masters degree in Jazz Composition in 2021 from DePaul University. Clark is proud to be at home in the bass chair with vocalist Kurt Elling, with whom he tours the globe, bringing jazz to everyone from Istanbul to the Canary Islands. Thus far, he has been privileged to play on multiple recordings with the Elling. One of which won the GRAMMY for best jazz vocal album in 2009 “Dedicated to You” Kurt Elling sings the music of Coltrane and Hartman and the second in 2020 for “Secrets Are The Best Stories” featuring Danilo Perez When not on the road with Kurt Elling, Clark enjoys leading two of his own groups in and outside of Chicago. Ba(SH) which includes long-time collaborators Dana Hall on drums and Geof Bradfield on reeds released their debut album in 2013 which was acknowledged on the “notable and not to be missed” list by All About Jazz in 2013. The groups’ subsequent album “Peninsula” was released in 2020. The Lens Project “By A Thread” was released in 2014 and includes Jeff Parker, Kendrick Scott, Gary Versace, Geof Bradfield and Joel Adams. The latest Lens album was released in the Fall of 2022 and features Dana Hall, Chris Madsen, Matt Gold and Geof Bradfield. Clark can also be heard performing with Portland’s Darrell Grant in his “Territory” and “Step By Step” ensembles which include Brian Blade, Joe Locke and Steve Wilson. Other groups that Clark performs regularly with include Dana Hall’s “Spring” and “Black Fire,” Geof Bradfield’s “African Flowers Ensemble” and “Melba, Our Roots”, The Chicago Yestet and many other musicians.

About John Kizilarmut John Kizilarmut has performed with a wide range of artists and groups including Aretha Franklin, Doc Severinsen, Benny Golson, Jerry Bergonzi, Matt Wilson, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Adam Larson, Logan Richardson, Clark Terry, New York Voices, Ana Gasteyer, Conspirare, Shirley Jones, DJ Starscream, and the Des Moines Symphony. He is a frequent guest performer and clinician at percussion and jazz festivals throughout the midwest, including Texas, Iowa, and Nebraska Days of Percussion; Tallcorn, Kansas City, Cherokee, Hannover, and Iowa City Jazz Festivals. In 2013, John was a featured artist along with with TOCA artist Jamal Mohamed and Marimba One artist Matthew Coley at the PASIC convention. He is also an active composer and arranger, and his works have been featured by many award-winning music programs including the 2013 State Jazz champion Waukee High School Jazz Ensemble, Lake Central High School Band, several DCI Drum Corps, and the University of Texas percussion ensemble. As an educator, John directed the 2017 Iowa All-State Jazz Ensemble, and has served on the faculties of Drake University, Grinnell College, and Northwest Missouri State University. John and his son Evan currently reside in Kansas City MO, where he is a member of the jazz studies faculty at UMKC.

Hynbrid - Fall Tour 2024 9/4- The Dark Room, STL, MO, 6pm 9/5- Jefferson County Community College, Hillsboro, MO, 3:30pm 9/5- Saxquest, STL, MO, 6pm 9/6- Walker’s Jazz Lounge, Wichita, KS, 7pm 9/7- Prairie Village Jazz Festival, Prairie Village, KS, 7:45pm 9/18- The Dark Room, STL, MO, 6pm 9/19- Shawnee Mission East High School, Shawnee, KS, 1:30pm 9/19- The Ship, KC, MO, 9pm 9/20- Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK, 7pm 9/21- Rudy’s Jazz Room, Nashville, TN 9/25- St. James United Methodist Church, Danville, IL, 7pm

For more information, please visit: Adam Larson Website

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Smooth Jazz Chart - Weekly Top 100 - July 29, 2024 #jazz #music

Smooth Jazz Chart 

This chart from smoothjazz.com generally updates every Monday. 

When it updates, this post will be repeated with the most recent link. 

Click here to view the smoothjazz.com chart for this week

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Jazz Vocalist-Trumpeter Jumaane Smith Releases New Single “I’m Gone” | LISTEN! #jazz #music

Jazz Powerhouse Jumaane Smith Masters the Art of Letting Go on New Single “I’m Gone” 

New LP Come On Home Out August 16 via Zinn Music

Arrangement of “St. James Infirmary” Selected for WNYC’s 2024 Public Song Project

Performing at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center Following Sold-Out Run of Shows at NYC’s Renowned Birdland Jazz Club

Acclaimed jazz vocalist and trumpeter Jumaane Smith continues to captivate audiences with the release of his latest single, “I’m Gone,” the third track from his highly anticipated album Come On Home, set to be released on August 16 via Zinn Music. Smith, renowned for his collaborations with music legends such as Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder, as well as lengthy tenures performing with Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr., brings a profound depth and resonance to his latest work. His exceptional talent and versatility shine through, weaving together elements of jazz, blues, and contemporary soul to create a timeless sound.

“I’m Gone” is an exploration of the theme of moving on. With upbeat soulful melodies and candid lyrics, Smith delves into the complexities of setting someone free and the journey of releasing what no longer serves us. This single showcases his ability to blend emotional storytelling with musical prowess. “’I’m Gone’ is a song about the freedom and strength found in letting go,” says Smith. “It reflects a personal journey of overcoming challenges and leaving what you need to in the past.”

Born from a place of introspection and emotional exploration, Come On Home draws from Jumaane Smith’s own experiences of overcoming adversity, including early trauma and the challenges of his upbringing. The album serves as a cathartic expression of his innermost thoughts and emotions, offering listeners a glimpse into his soul. For Smith, creating Come On Home was a process of self-discovery and healing—a means of confronting past hardships while embracing the joy and refuge found in music. With each track, Smith channels a raw and authentic energy where vulnerability meets strength, and every note resonates with profound meaning. Ultimately, Come On Home symbolizes not only a musical homecoming for Smith, but also a statement to the power of art.

Jumaane Smith was recently tapped to contribute to WNYC’s 2024 Public Song Project by covering the classic “St. James Infirmary.” This project, which aims to celebrate the diverse musical heritage of New York City, invites artists to reinterpret iconic songs with their unique style. Smith’s rendition of “St. James Infirmary” brings his distinct blend of jazz, blues, and soul to the forefront, offering a fresh take on the timeless piece. Take a listen here: https://publicsongproject.bandcamp.com/track/st-james-infirmary

Jumaane Smith’s journey from the hallowed halls of Juilliard to the world’s grandest stages is a monument to his unparalleled talent and resolute dedication to his craft. As a product of the inaugural class of Juilliard’s Jazz Studies program, where he was mentored by the legendary Wynton Marsalis, Smith honed his skills and developed a profound understanding of jazz tradition and innovation. Since then, his career has been nothing short of extraordinary. From collaborating with Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin to sharing the spotlight with pop sensations like the Jonas Brothers, Smith has effortlessly navigated diverse musical landscapes while staying true to his jazz roots. His remarkable 18-year tenure as lead trumpeter and vocalist with Michael Bublé not only showcased his virtuosity, but also solidified his status as one of the most sought-after musicians in the industry.

Last month, Jumaane Smith and his quartet headlined a sold-out run of shows at the renowned Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, allowing audiences to experience his captivating live performances and storytelling. Fans can look forward to another unforgettable evening as Jumaane is set to perform at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center on September 25. Additional tour dates (listed below), tickets, and additional information can be found HERE.

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Jazz horn player Gabriel Mark Hasselbach is feeling "Lucky" amidst a prolific summer #jazz #music

“Count Your Lucky Stars,” his second album to drop this summer, will be released on August 2. The first single, “SunSeeker” featuring Marion Meadows, is now collecting playlist adds.

 

Juno Award-winning and multiple horn player Gabriel Mark Hasselbach has a long-established gratitude practice. As he prepares to release his second album since June, he’s feeling grateful about this prolific summer that will see the release of his fifteenth album, “Count Your Lucky Stars,” which he wrote and produced with Lew Laing Jr. (Paul Brown, Richard Elliot, Norman Brown). The Windtunnel Records release arrives on August 2.

 

“Count Your Lucky Stars” is a 13-song aural exploration through contemporary jazz rhythms, grooves and melodies. Showcasing his lyrically expressive horn play, Hasselbach wields multiple horns on every track throughout the project, finding the variety empowers him to uniquely color, shade and texturize each song.   

 

“I mix my flute and my muted trumpet and my flugelhorn in a lot of different combinations. And I really like the balance of those textures. It provides different sonic colors to me, so it’s something that I’ve gravitated to and just by nature have developed,” Hasselbach recently told the Jazziz podcast.     

 

The album opener, “SunSeeker,” is the first single from the new album and the cut spotlighting saxophonist Marion Meadows began collecting radio and Spotify playlist adds last week, including SiriusXM’s Watercolors. Both artists lived in Hawaii for many years. Hasselbach paints the picture of the song’s inspiration.

 

“The song title explains our journey to the islands, a magical place full of hope and love. Tradewinds create breezes that keep you cool, allowing the sun to gently burnish you,” said Hasselbach who will make his Catalina JazzTrax Festival debut on October 17.    

 

The uplifting title track is next and sprang from a daily affirmation that Hasselbach repeated.

 

“I spent the last twenty years or so doing the personal development work to reach my potential and higher self, and part of that exercise was a daily affirmation that started out as wishful thinking and became my reality along the way. A 'thank you' goes a long way in daily interactions, but even more so when you thank the Universe or Higher Power for the good things you have - mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually - rather than the things you don't have.”

 

Hasselbach’s positive mindset permeates “Positive Space,” a chill tune about the need for quiet, safe spaces free from toxic people.

 

“We all need places that nourish us, happy places free from toxic relationships. That is the key to a balanced and happy life, so I thought a musical expression of that reality was worth exploring,” said Hasselbach.

 

Juno and American Music Award-winning singer-guitarist Alfie Zappacosta plies his distinctive voice to “We Are,” continuing Hasselbach’s careerlong tradition of including at least one vocal track on every album. Pianist Miles Black is featured on “Force of Habit,” a slick percussive groove constructed by Laing Jr. and bassist Glenn Riley. Laing Jr.’s deft beats anchor “Funky Lew,” one of two duo tracks on the album performed by Hasselbach and Laing Jr. Eddie Bullen guests on “Written in the Stars,” issuing a poetic piano solo.

 

The tempo rachets up to dance floor on “Show of Hands,” which Hasselbach said was written to pay homage to those who step up to serve society. 

 

“This is an inspirational and aspirational track that is meant to promote community spirit and giving. The world needs more uplifting and civic minded people who don't always put themselves first. In a way, this song is an anthem for the good guys!” enthused Hasselbach.

 

From club vibe to romance, Hasselbach serenades on “Paris Solstice,” recreating the ambiance from when he proposed to his wife atop the Eiffel Tower.

 

“After a couple of French 75s and some cheese nibbles, the fading light of the summer's eve bathed us in a golden glow as we were basking in the joy following the ‘Yes!’” recalled Hasselbach.

 

“Just A Little Fling” is the only song on the set that is flute driven. Andrew Jacob Scott’s articulate electric jazz guitar features on “State of Play.” The atmospheric “That Being Said” ventures into exotic romance created by Andre Frappier’s rhythmic Latin guitar and Steve Alaniz’s sensual sax.

 

“Work the Magic” celebrates the magic of momentum, which began for Hasselbach last month when he released a retrospective collection of 18 vocal tracks taken from his 14 albums. “The Vocalists” features Michael Bublé, Dee Daniels and an accomplished assortment of popular Canadian vocalists as well as Hasselbach crooning himself. The vocal album is made up of straight-ahead jazz, R&B, blues and adult contemporary pop selections. 

 

This summer isn’t the first time that the fruitful Hasselbach has dropped two albums around the same time. His previous two projects, the contemporary jazz “Tongue & Groove” and straight-ahead “MidCentury Modern Vol.3,” both streeted in 2022. “Tongue & Groove” scored a Contemporary Album of the Year nomination at the inaugural Jazz Music Awards while “MidCentury Modern Vol.3” enjoyed a 17-week run on the JazzWeek chart.

 

A Denver native who has made Vancouver his home, Hasselbach is the rare jazz musician who is equally at home in contemporary, straight-ahead and traditional New Orleans jazz settings. He’s amassed eleven Billboard top 30 singles, and his extensive collection of honors and awards includes several Junos (Canada’s Grammy equivalent). Reflecting his resume  of projects in all hues of jazz, Hasselbach has recorded with a diverse array of Grammy winners and Billboard chart-toppers including Jeff Lorber, Paul Brown, Paul Hardcastle, Bob Baldwin, Marc Antoine, Greg Manning, Darren Rahn, Warren Hill, Rob Tardik, Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Larry Coryell, Ernie Watts and Bob Mintzer. He’s performed around the world at some of the most prestigious jazz festivals including Montreux, North Sea and JVC.

 

The “Count Your Lucky Stars” album contains the following songs:

 

“SunSeeker” featuring Marion Meadows

“Count Your Lucky Stars”

“Positive Space”

“We Are” featuring Alfie Zappacosta

“Force of Habit” featuring Miles Black and Andrew Freeman

“Funky Lew” featuring Lew Laing Jr.

“Written in the Stars” featuring Eddie Bullen

“Show of Hands” featuring Glenn Riley

“Paris Solstice” featuring Miles Black

“Just A Little Fling”

“State of Play” featuring Andrew Jacob Scott

“That Being Said” featuring Steve Alaniz and Andre Frappier

“Work the Magic”

“We Are” featuring Alfie Zappacosta (radio edit)

 

 

Listen to “SunSeeker” at https://lnk.to/yZjNCh6w.

 

For more information, visit https://gabrieljazz.com.

 

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