Showing posts with label Saxophone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saxophone. Show all posts

10/13/2023

Legendary Miles Davis’s Saxophonist Sam Morrison “Whatever : Anthology 1” Now Available on Blue Buddha Productions

Soprano & Tenor Saxophonist, Alto & Bass Flute Player, Composer, and Synthesist

Sam Morrison is a multifaceted musician known for his mastery of the soprano and tenor saxophones, as well as his artistry on the alto and bass flutes. With a career that spans several decades, he has left an indelible mark on the world of jazz, collaborating with legendary artists and contributing to iconic recordings.

One of the standout moments in Sam’s career was his membership in the esteemed Miles Davis Band. His performance alongside Miles Davis at the 1975 Newport Jazz Festival, held that year at Avery Fisher Hall, garnered rave reviews from The New York Times. A portion of that historic concert's recording has recently been released in the Miles Davis bootleg series, “Volume 4: 1955-1975 Newport Jazz Festival.” Collectors and enthusiasts can also find bootleg recordings of concert and club performances featuring Sam Morrison with the Miles Davis Band, testifying to the lasting impact of his contributions.

Sam Morrison’s musical journey extends beyond his time with Miles Davis. He has collaborated with an array of jazz, rock, and blues luminaries, including Gil Evans, Al Foster, Buster Williams, Woody Shaw, Billy Hart, T-Bone Walker, Michael Shrieve, Michael Brecker, Masabumi Kikuchi, and Ryo Kawasaki. His presence has graced stages at major jazz festivals across Europe, such as Vienne, Nice, Paris, and Stockholm.

As a member of  “The Children on the Corner,” the Electric Miles reunion band featuring bass legend Michael Henderson and jazz tabla pioneer Badal Roy, Sam continues to explore new dimensions in jazz fusion. His musical education began at Columbia University in New York City, where he immersed himself in the vibrant jazz scene, frequenting legendary clubs like Slugs and the Village Vanguard. He also experienced the groundbreaking rock acts of the era at Fillmore East, further expanding his musical horizons.

Currently, Sam Morrison is actively working on a new trio album featuring Michael Shrieve, the original Santana drummer from Woodstock, and Patrick Gleeson, an electronic music and synth pioneer known for his collaborations with Herbie Hancock. Additionally, his forthcoming solo album is eagerly anticipated, with remixing by the legendary bassist, producer, and remixer Bill Laswell.

Sam Morrison’s contributions to the world of music continue to evolve and inspire. Blue Buddha is proud to have him as part of our roster of exceptional talent, and audiences can look forward to experiencing his innovative and genre-defying artistry in the years to come.

To purchase: https://bluebuddha.bandcamp.com/album/whatever-anthology-1

Blue Buddha Productions Contact: eliot.bluebuddhaproductions@gmail.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

9/30/2016

The King Of The Honking Sax BIG JAY MCNEELY Returns With A Brand New Set Of Recordings!


Los Angeles, CA - Before Jimi Hendrix, before Elvis Presley, there was Big Jay McNeely honking and squealing on his saxophone, wowing audiences with a stellar, energetic live show that often found him writhing around on his back or jumping into the middle of his enthusiastic audience, all while never missing a single beat! McNeely is truly the last of a generation of blues/R&B musicians who inspired the early rock pioneers, and are still around to remind us where popular music came from. Now, McNeely has teamed with Cleopatra Records to present this special album of 5 brand new recordings plus a handful of classics from the ‘50s & ‘60s called Blowin’ Down The House - Big Jay’s Greatest & Latest. This collection will be released on the Cleopatra Blues imprint September 30 on both CD and vinyl!

Big Jay McNeely’s incredible career began in the ‘40s and saw him play with several major R&B and blues legends of the late ‘40s and early ‘50s such as Little Richard, B.B. King, Etta James and Jr. Wells. He scored his first major hit with the 1949 smash hit instrumental “Deacon’s Hop” and scored again with a R&B vocal ballad “There’s Something On Your Mind” featuring Little Sonny Warner. He pioneered the flamboyant playing style called “honking” and is widely acknowledged as one of the first musical entertainers to make showmanship an important element of the live concert experience. His music continues to be an important signifier for that early era, earning McNeely gigs at major festivals both here and abroad as well as having his music featured in the 2013 Sean Penn film Gangster Squad starring and last year’s biopic Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston. This year, Big Jay partnered with producer Jürgen Engler for a set of new recordings in his classic style such as the Motown-esque “Love Will Never Fail” and the bluesy “I’ve Been Mistreated.” These songs demonstrate that even at 89 years of age, Big Jay McNeely can still blow them all away!

Those in need of a refresher about Big Jay’s history can watch this short promotional documentary film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whAxAIR2MD4

Catch Big Jay performing live at the Record Parlour on September 24!

Track List:
1. Love Will Never Fail
2. Love Is Stronger Than Hurt
3. My Love Never Ended
4. I've Been Mistreated
5. You Don't Have To Go Home
6. Party
7. Big Jay's Hop
8. Blow Blow Blow
9. Willie The Cool Cat
10. Rock Candy
11. Nervous Man Nervous
12. Get On Up & Let's Boogie

Buy the CD: http://flyt.it/BigJayMcNeelyCD
Buy the Vinyl: http://flyt.it/BigJayMcNeelyLP
Buy the digital version: http://flyt.it/BigJayMcNeelyDig

Facebook: Cleopatra Blues https://www.facebook.com/Cleopatra-Blues-584680441701352/?fref=ts

Youtube: Cleopatra Blues

Twitter: Cleopatra Blues
https://twitter.com/cleopatrablues ;

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

1/02/2015

Rock Sax Legend From The Beatles to The Eagles, Phil Kenzie Tours to Save Our R&R Sax Solo and Releases New Album


The Last Of The Great Rock Sax Players Phil Kenzie! Saxophonist With The Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Al Stewart, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, The Eagles and many Others!

Nashville, TN - With the recent passing of Bobby Keys, the last of the legendary rock sax players still remains - Phil Kenzie! Phil has the great distinction of playing sax on The Beatles legendary 'Let It Be' album! Along with The Beatles, Phil's impressive resume includes recording sessions and tours with such iconic music groups and artists as John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, The Eagles and many others. It's easy to be familiar with Phil Kenzie's superb sax work. Just recall the soaring solos on Al Stewart's “Year of the Cat” or “Time Passages” still enjoying favored airplay to this day, or the punchy brass intro to “Jet” by Paul McCartney, or the inspired solo on “The Long Run” from “The Eagles Live” album. In fact, this gifted sax player/arranger has lent his masterful touch to hits by everyone from Rod Stewart to Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks and Rosanne Cash to David Bowie, and in the process amassed some nineteen gold and platinum albums! Phil also holds the world record for the highest note ever played on Alto Sax on a solo on a top ten hit record (entry note on the first solo on “Time Passages” by Al Stewart). A documentary of Phil's incredible musical journey is in progress and is 99% finished. With 120 minutes in length, it is produced by Harry Jarvis an Independent video producer from Nashville TN.

Phil relates, “I'm originally from the Liverpool area in England and in my first band, The Pressmen, I played many of the clubs made legendary by The Beatles, even occasionally sharing billing with the 'Fab Four', including The Cavern and Hamburg's famous Star Club. So it was totally appropriate that I should be asked later to play on the most classic 'swan song' of the century, 'Let It Be'. This connection continued with my work on recordings for Apple Records, most notably John and Yoko's 'Plastic Ono Band' at Lennon's home in Ascot and all of the horn section work and solos on George Harrison’s 'All Things Must Pass' and playing in the massive sax section on 'Jet' for Paul McCartney and Wings. Through these sessions, I also worked with such notable stars as Eric Clapton, Steven Stills, Peter Frampton, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, Doris Troy and Billy Preston.

“As a session man, I was doing gigs around London with Manfred Mann's 'Chapter Three', arranging and performing shows for Jack Good's psychedelic update of Othello entitled 'Catch My Soul', finding time to appear on Paul McCartney's 'Band On The Run' album and to be heavily involved in the hit cult classic 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', playing and recording both the show and the movie; supplying the screaming rock sax for Meatloaf's portrayal of 'Eddie'. During this time I also worked with Alan Parsons, David Essex, Joan Armatrading, Ian Gillan, Alex Harvey, Leo Sayer, Black Sabbath, Steve Harley, Marc Bolan, Wishbone Ash, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, The Coasters, The Temptations, Arthur Connolly, Mick Ronson, Ian Hunter and Roger Daltrey appearing on his 'Ride a Rock Horse' and 'One Of The Boys' albums and on both David Bowie's 'Diamond Dogs' album and his wildly inventive television special 'The 1980 Floor Show'. At this point I was asked by Alan Parsons to record what would become a legendary hit 'Year of The Cat' by Al Stewart. In the subsequent tour of America and another hit for Al, 'Time Passages', I caught the attention of Rod Stewart and was asked to join his band, recording with Rod what would turn out to be his biggest album to date 'Blondes Have More Fun'. I would ultimately appear on five albums for Rod including 'Footloose and Fancy Free', 'Foolish Behaviour', 'Rod Stewart Truly Live' and 'Greatest Hits'.”

Now, much to the excitement of his fans worldwide, Phil is releasing a CD titled 'A Night With The Cat'. The album, recorded between 1998 and 2008, has never been released before and is an instrumental depiction of the lyrics/story of “The Year Of The Cat” hit single by Al Stewart, in which Phil plays the world acclaimed hit saxophone solo. Titles on Phil's new CD reflect the lyrics of the song. Phil is backed on 'A Night With The Cat' by Peter White “king of the soft jazz charts”and legendary session players Bob Babbitt and Larry Knechtal.

Says Phil, “The album's listed producers are Phil Kenzie and Michael Snow and the album was recorded partially in Los Angeles and partially in Nashville Tennessee. It was done in my personal recording studios using analog and digital methodology and myself being the recording, mixing and mastering engineer. I am Industry recognized in these fields. My daughter Anna Pauline Kenzie did all the hand drawn and digitally colored artwork for the CD sleeve which is exceptional. Apart from both composition and musical artistic performances by current top 'Soft Jazz' star Peter White. There are what well might be the final recording performances from two of the biggest iconic pop/rock session artists of our age, Bob Babbitt ( Motown, “Poppa Was A Rolling Stone” etc) and Larry Knechtel (Bread, The Wrecking Crew, “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” etc.). These two legends both passed away in recent years. The album contains a composition and a performance by Larry called 'Amazing' which I co-wrote with him.”

In support of his new CD release, plans for Phil's S.O.S.S (Save Our Sax Solo) tour is currently in the works. The show will premier at Jazziz Nightlife on Jan 15th, 2015 in Boca Raton, Florida.
For more information: www.jazziznightlife.com

Considered one of the greatest rock 'n; roll sax players of all time, Phil Kenzie has worked with The Eagles, Rod Stewart, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Rodney Crowell, Roseanne Cash, Brian Wilson, Vince Gill, Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Karla Bonoff, America, Boy George, Carly Simon, Randy Meisner, Steven Stills, Poco, The Pointer Sisters, Kenny Loggins, Tom Petty, Ronnie Spector, David Lyndley Eric Carmen and Debbie Gibson etc. At his latest sell out concert appearance with Al Stewart at The Royal Albert Hall on October 15, 2013, Phil received a standing ovation from a more than 6000 strong audience. Also, The Eagles have recently posted two songs on their official website featuring sax solos by Phil!

For more information:
www.philkenzie.com
https://www.facebook.com/phil.kenzie.7

Management:
SeaSide Music Management
Kim Reilly
www.seasidemusicmgmt.com
561-350-3867

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

12/14/2008

Freddy V-Easier Than It Looks Review


Artist: Freddy V
Title: Easier Than It Looks
Genre: Jazz-Funk-Soul
Label: Independent
Website
CD Baby Link
Source Link

Fred Vigdor (or Freddy V) pushed his stake in the ground a long time ago when he stepped in with his saxophone to help the legendary pop-soul band Average White Band climb the charts. AWB remains one of my favorites to this day. For a decade Freddy’s trademark sax was a steady groove on AWB tracks. His accomplishments with that band alone still resonate today...READ MORE...