The fact that the album title comes from a line from an episode of Kojak proves that saxophonist Danny Lerman knows how to have fun. He also knows retro cool when he sees it. Lerman took a page from the 1970s when recording his second album, Meow Baby, which will be released February 26th on Sugar Whiskey Records, his label distributed by Lightyear Entertainment/EMI. He adopted old school sensibilities by utilizing live musicians and having a hand in writing all the new compositions for the disc. Tal Bergman, who worked on Lerman’s debut album, produced ten songs on Meow Baby and a few tracks were produced by urban-jazz icon Norman Connors. Radio programmers are already whetting their appetite for the CD with “Gotcha!,” a deep-pocketed groove that bursts into a chorus as sweet as one of Kojak’s Tootsie Pops. Since his last album release, Lerman traveled and performed around the world, including Turkey, Israel, Holland, South Africa, Venezuela and Mexico. He brought influences and musicians from the countries he visited into the studio when recording Meow Baby. While the tracks swing towards contemporary jazz, urban and adult pop, there are also traces of World Music, Middle Eastern, Latin and South African rhythms. The South Bend, Indiana native, who plays alto and soprano sax, recorded the majority of the collection in Los Angeles where he was joined by Randy Brecker, Hubert Laws, Howard Hewett, Paul Jackson Jr., Bobby Lyle, and Munyungo Jackson. Bergman, who played drums on records by Rod Stewart, Billy Idol, Loreena McKennitt, Herb Alpert, and Chaka Khan, was behind the kit on most of the album.
“Tal brought infectious rhythms that were both exciting and exotic. His strong rhythmic influences made the tracks spicy,” explained Lerman. “I wanted this record to be a glimpse into my world, including some of the friends that I’ve made in my travels. I put both myself and the places I’ve been into the music. There’s definitely variety on this record; you don’t know what’s coming next. I’ve found some great players from all parts of the world and they brought their unique perspective to the album.”
To help launch the album, Lerman has lined up a few concert dates in the Los Angeles area in mid-January with additional tour dates now being booked for the West Coast, Midwest and East Coast. He’s an entertaining performer who has shared concert bills with Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes, Richard Elliot, David Benoit and Eric Marienthal. When he’s off the road, Lerman occasionally performs free concerts in South Bend nursing homes. He has a gig lined up next month at the Ronald McDonald House for seriously ill children and their parents.
Lerman recently inked a pact with Conn-Selmer for saxophones, which will include sponsorship, marketing and advertising support, clinics and special events.
Making his debut with the album Danny’s Island, Lerman climbed into the top 20 on Radio & Records’ contemporary jazz chart and had a #1 single at Chicago’s top urban radio station, WGCI-FM. The cut, “Take My Breath Away,” featuring R&B vocalist Danny Boy, appears on Meow Baby as a bonus track. Additional information is available at www.dannylerman.com.
Lerman’s Meow Baby is comprised of the following songs:
“Meow Baby” - “Snoopy’s Dance”
“Summer In a Hummer” - “Saxsultan”
“No Ordinary Love” - “Amadeus’ Kiss”
“Imagine” - “Don’t GoGo There”
“The First Time” - “Baby Goes to Market”
“No Words” - “If Only”
“South Beach Serenata” - “You Take My Breath Away”
“Gotcha!”
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