Though best-known as a contemporary jazz performer, trumpeter Chris Botti made his initial splash on the pop music scene. A native of Oregon, he started playing at the age of ten, and while still in high school began performing professionally. After studying in the prestigious Indiana University music program under the noted jazz educator David Baker, Botti relocated to New York, where he served with saxophonist George Coleman and trumpet great Woody Shaw; under the guidance of producers including Hugh Padgham and Arif Mardin, he swiftly emerged as a highly regarded pop session player, lending his trumpet to recordings from figures including Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and Thomas Dolby. In 1990, Botti was asked to join Paul Simon’s band, where he remained for the next five years. Finally, in 1995, he recorded his solo debut, First Wish, a record combining the sounds of contemporary pop-jazz with the textures of art rock. After scoring the 1996 film Caught, Botti resurfaced in 1997 with his second LP, Midnight Without You, which was followed by Slowing Down the World in 1999. Two years later, he was a featured soloist on Sting’s Brand New Day world tour, and that time allowed Botti to rediscover old musical passions and create new ones. Night Sessions (2001), which was recorded in Los Angeles, captured such jazzy pop. That muse was explored further in 2003 with Thousand Kisses Deep, and to a lesser extent on the more tradtional orchestral jazz of 2004’s When I Fall in Love. Since that time, Botti has released a handful of albums including To Love Again: The Duets in 2005, a reissue of his holiday album December in 2006, and Italia in 2007. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Biography

Jazziz magazine writes that Nelson Rangell is “an artist of depth, a master of song, and an improviser non pareil.” The Times of London notes “his extraordinary facility on a range of instruments and his undoubted virtuosity,” adding that Nelson is “one of fusion’s most accomplished exponents.” Such praise is a confirmation of what contemporary jazz fans have known since the Denver based saxophonist emerged in the late 80s: that Rangell is one of the most exciting and diverse performers in the genre, equally adept at soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone, as well as being a genuine virtuoso on flute and piccolo.

Rangell is the fourth child in a musical family. His brother, Andrew, is a well known concert pianist living in Boston; his brother, Bobby, lives in Paris and is a leading woodwind player in European jazz and studio scenes. His sister, Paula, is a professional singer living in New Orleans.

Rangell first played flute at the age of 15. Within six months he was studying both classical and jazz music at The Interlochen Arts Academy, a national camp for gifted music students. He went on to attend The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. As a student he twice won Down Beat Magazine’s prestigious National Student Recording Awards competition both as best jazz and best pop/rock instrumental soloist. After college he headed to New York in 1984 to pursue his career.

The next four years were spent “paying dues”, sitting in, playing alongside, and gigging with some of the world’s greatest contemporary jazz musicians including Hiram Bullock, Jorge Dalto, Eric Gale, Richard Tee, Jaco Pastorius, David Sanborn and many others. He also found occasional employment with the legendary Gil Evans Monday Night Orchestra and worked on many commercial jingle recording sessions. Rangell’s 1987 debut album was released on Gaia/Gramavision Records, but soon thereafter he was signed by Larry Rosen and Dave Grusin at GRP Records.

A succession of albums followed at GRP where he recorded eight CDs, beginning in 1989. His stated ambition throughout these endeavors has been “to grow and evolve as a player and artist while making music that people can easily relate to in a form that is substantive.” With his musical armory encompassing flute, piccolo, alto, tenor and soprano saxophone as well as whistling, he was well equipped to fulfill this desire. He has recorded with The Rippingtons, Chuck Loeb, Patti Austin, Tom Browne, and The GRP All Star Big Band to name a few and is featured on Don Grusin’s Grammy nominated CD “The Hang.” Though Rangell has recorded mostly in the contemporary/pop and smooth jazz formats garnering top radio play and a large audience, The Times of London notes “heard live a much more robust and idiosyncratic player emerges.” In the late 90s Rangell continued his career with Shanachie Records and has now released 14 CDs nationally and internationally.

Now with Koch Records, Nelson Rangell has recorded two wonderful new CDs in less than a half a year. His first Christmas CD “All I Hope For Christmas” has been critically well received and has been called “an instant holiday classic” by Jazzreview.com. Rangell’s newest Koch Records release is titled “My American Songbook (vol.1)” and is Rangell’s most exciting, unique and artistic recording to date. Nelson Rangell plays ten new arrangements of American classics as diverse as Leonard Bernstein’s “America” from West Side Story, The Appalachian Bluegrass Fiddle hoe down “Freda”, and Earth Wind and Fire’s “That’s The Way of The World.” “My American Song Book” will break new musical ground for Rangell as he truly continues his path of artistic growth and evolvement.

Website:  www.nelsonrangell.com

Mike Phillips

Biography

Mount Vernon, NY, native Mike Phillips became interested in music at a young age, moving through several different instruments before settling on the saxophone. By the age of 16, he had decided to play professionally. He made an impromptu New York debut at Wilson’s nightclub in New York in 1993, and that led to a series of session and sideman jobs in jazz, R&B, and even rap. Eventually, he attracted the attention of Hidden Beach Recordings, which signed him and put him on the road in the summer of 2001 opening for Jill Scott. Phillips’ debut album, You Have Reached Mike Phillips, was released by Hidden Beach in May 2002. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Selected Discography

Uncommon Denominator
2005
You Have Reached
2002

Similar Artists

Kirk Whalum
Pieces Of A Dream
Euge Groove
Gerald Albright
Urban Knights

$(document).ready(function(){
CommentManager.init(CommentManager.COMMENT_TYPE_MUSIC, false);
});

William Woods

Every Part Of Me

About This Album

Familiarity breeds contentment, particularly among William Woods‘ smooth jazz fans. With Every Part of Me the medical doctor/pianist/composer rejuvenates his listeners with fresh, funky finesse on 11 new songs. Unlike Woods‘ 2005 Smoothie Award winner Cobalt Blue, his jazz piano voicing skills emerge from a darker space and logically progress into more exotic, advanced chords and substitutions as the program continues. “Alive, Living in Jersey,” “Every Part of Me,” and “As I Breathe You” are delivered with heartfelt emotion in a smooth jazz state of mind. Intuitive chord structures abound on “Under the Radar,” as it gives Woods the chance to flaunt his beautiful technique. The highlight of the session is Woods‘ haunting melody on “The Fire Within.” With the addition of flute, unusual changes, and shifting dynamic shadings, this song exudes soulful musical colors with its captivating sound. The Latin pulse underneath provided by percussionist Glen Caruba adds another noticeable dimension that Woods‘ fans are sure to enjoy. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide

Track List (try tracks 1,4 and 11)

var tokenList = (explicit_content_allowed ? “‘70fd5987603f38cb’, ‘d65e8c4511241dd0′, ‘93c59a82bdb49f6e’, ‘ffa6cbd39666d9f8′, ‘be2e3406a314d22a’, ‘ec7cf56073a857ef’, ‘8f83ea12f56c0440′, ‘70cb812a382c1d07′, ‘18228c4e6d04cdfb’, ‘f8b420fe734281c6′, ‘de368f24189d94ed’” : “‘70fd5987603f38cb’, ‘d65e8c4511241dd0′, ‘93c59a82bdb49f6e’, ‘ffa6cbd39666d9f8′, ‘be2e3406a314d22a’, ‘ec7cf56073a857ef’, ‘8f83ea12f56c0440′, ‘70cb812a382c1d07′, ‘18228c4e6d04cdfb’, ‘f8b420fe734281c6′, ‘de368f24189d94ed’”);
if (!window.ipBlocked && tokenList.length > 0) {
document.write(”<img id=\”sampleAllPlay1\” src=\”/images/sample-all.gif\” onclick=\”playAllSamples(1, [" + tokenList + "])\” onmouseover=\”this.src=’/images/sample-all-hover.gif’\” onmouseout=\”this.src=’/images/sample-all.gif’\” width=\”73\” height=\”15\” border=\”0\” class=\”sample_all_play_single\”>”);
document.write(”<img id=\”sampleAllStop1\” src=\”/images/sampling-all.gif\” onclick=\”stopCurrentSample(false)\” width=\”73\” height=\”15\” border=\”0\” class=\”sample_all_stop_single\”>”);
document.write(”<br />”);
}

drawSample(”70fd5987603f38cb”,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 1. trackTitle(”william+woods/alive+living+in+jersey”,”Alive, Living In Jersey”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleAlive, Living In Jersey

drawSample(”d65e8c4511241dd0″,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 2. trackTitle(”william+woods/whadja+expect”,”Whadja Expect?”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleWhadja Expect?

drawSample(”93c59a82bdb49f6e”,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 3. trackTitle(”william+woods/stir+ashes”,”Stir The Ashes”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleStir The Ashes

drawSample(”ffa6cbd39666d9f8″,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 4. trackTitle(”william+woods/every+part+of+me”,”Every Part Of Me”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleEvery Part Of Me

drawSample(”be2e3406a314d22a”,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 5. trackTitle(”william+woods/out+of+woodwork”,”Out Of The Woodwork”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleOut Of The Woodwork

drawSample(”ec7cf56073a857ef”,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 6. trackTitle(”william+woods/destroying+angel”,”Destroying Angel”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleDestroying Angel

drawSample(”8f83ea12f56c0440″,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 7. trackTitle(”william+woods/as+i+breathe+you”,”As I Breathe You”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleAs I Breathe You

drawSample(”70cb812a382c1d07″,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 8. trackTitle(”william+woods/under+radar”,”Under The Radar”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleUnder The Radar

drawSample(”18228c4e6d04cdfb”,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 9. trackTitle(”william+woods/quicksand”,”Quicksand”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleQuicksand

drawSample(”f8b420fe734281c6″,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 10. trackTitle(”william+woods/shadow+boxing”,”Shadow Boxing”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleShadow Boxing

drawSample(”de368f24189d94ed”,”", true, explicit_content_allowed) 11. trackTitle(”william+woods/fire+within”,”The Fire Within”,true,”nobold”,”sample_audio_action”)Loading SamplePlaying SampleThe Fire Within

Similar Albums

Flipside
by Jeff Lorber

Perry Joslin Project
by Perry Joslin

Larry & Lee
by Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton

The Very Best Of Norman Brown
by Norman Brown

My World
by Jamie Bonk

$(document).ready(function(){
CommentManager.init(CommentManager.COMMENT_TYPE_MUSIC, false);
});

what is this?

connie says: 01-17-2008 sooo sophisticate d ! ! !

Patron.insertIFrame(”bottom_leaderboard_container”, 2000, 8, { artist: “R220068″, webname: “” });

Bob James’ recordings have practically defined pop/jazz and crossover during the past few decades. Very influenced by pop and movie music, James has often featured R&B-ish soloists (most notably Grover Washington, Jr.) who add a jazz touch to what is essentially an instrumental pop set. He actually started out in music going with a much different direction. In 1962, James recorded a bop-ish trio set for Mercury, and three years later his album for ESP was quite avant-garde, with electronic tapes used for effects. After a period with Sarah Vaughan (1965-1968), he became a studio musician, and by 1973 was arranging and working as a producer for CTI. In 1974, James recorded his first purely commercial effort as a leader; he later made big-selling albums for his own Tappan Zee label, Columbia, and Warner Bros., including collaborations with Earl Klugh and David Sanborn. James remains relatively busy in the studio and since 2000 has released several albums including Dancing on the Water in 2001, That Steamin’ Feelin’ in 2002, Hi-Fi in 2003, and Urban Flamingo in 2006, among others. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Gui