This was a classic Jazz session featuring the wonderful Mary ann Moore and my favorite Jazz Trio "The Big Swing Trio". What a pleasure to record with these good friends and great players. I got the call the same day of the gig and went in and did first takes or two takes all live in the studio.
Heres a song originally recorded by Boz Scaggs from the movie Urban Cowboy that we did as a bossa featuring the extra ordinary composer/pianist David Foster and my good friend the talented Cecily Gardner. What a pleasure to play on this lush track with such a super star!
I was really overjoyed to combine my organic old school efforts with a fantastic and well known DJ. DJ Nu mark from the rap group Jurassic 5 is such a pleasure to work with. He is fast and knows what he wants and has great taste. I love the percussive and berimbau effects I got out of the guitar on this track. And to be featured on Sergio Mendes record "Timeless" and J5's newest release in the same year was a thrill!
What a pleasure to work, hang out and create in the studio with Sergio Mendes and record on his star studded CD "Timeless" To record with the genius Guinga and famous Brazilian rapper Marcello D2 is a true honor. In the session I ended up doubling a lot of Guingas guitar parts as well as coming up with a kind of James Brown like funky guitar part.
Here are some liner notes: Written by Guinga, probably the most important Brazilian composer of his generation, who is also a very close friend of Sergio's, this song is a rhythmic gem. The title is a play on the words Forro, which is a very popular Brazilian rhythm and dance, and Hip-hop. It features Guinga, Gracinha and again Marcelo D2, who brings his unique rap, this time peppered with names of Brazilian and international cities and foods.
I have been working with Cape Verde's Maria de Barros since 2003 and enjoy the music and camaraderie so much. Maria is a truly special person in show business, and her turning me on to Cape Verdean music and culture has changed my life. It was an honor to play the guitars on this luscious French creole track. In fact now when we play this live I take extended solos...
This is an old Cape Verdean classic "Coladeira" that is always a big sing along in our shows with Maria. There is some great "bordona" work here by guitarist Dickie Tavares and I improvised all the guitar fills and solo. This is from Maria's second release "Danca Ma Mi"
I had the pleasure to arrange and play on three songs on the Ray Brown Jr. latest release "Friends and Family" Here is Laughter In The Rain which features Ray Brown Jr and Kim Hoyer on vocals, my acoustic and electric guitars, Otmaro Ruiz on Piano, Enzo Tedesco on drums and Jose Marino on bass. It was fun to arrange these old songs in a new outfit with such great musicians.
This is a classic standard song I was invited to arrange and play on by Lannie Garret. The song features myself on all instruments with Lannie singing and Nelson Rangel's Alto sax. I am really proud of how my arrangement turned out and in fact the recording was featured in Recording magazine and they loved how I had creatively recorded my hand brushing across my arm for a shaker sound. Its so fun to take the Brazilian influences and instruments I play and apply them to an old standard like this.
The record is called "Just For A Thrill" and I was a featured arranger and musician on the tracks "Amor" & "Our Day Will Come" as well. I recorded on other Lannie Garret records as well.
A great song from Vinx's "Demos" CD that features my acoustic steel string guitar quite nicely. I love the intro/outro and the sound Vinx got recording me. This track also features the genius piano and keyboards of Yayoi "Betty" Yoshida and a fantastic rhythm section that worked with Brian McKnight.
This song that Vinx and I wrote came about while traveling in a tour bus in Europe. The bridge he scat sings borrows from another song that I wrote. I love how well my guitars are featured here. I feel this was a song that really captured our extensive work together from that period but unfortunately it did not make it on the record we recorded it for. He released it later on the CD "Lips Stretched Out" I even played some Djembe on this, there were 20 of us playing Djembes in the studio!
This is an arrangement I did with Vinx for his CD that features my acoustic steel string guitar very nicely.
Notes:
Unmastered and raw! Vinx has invited you into the studio with a snapshot of his work. Fourteen Vinx tracks - not yet mixed or mastered, but up for consideration for his next label release. This collection of songs is more or less a soundtrack to romance. Feel free to let us know your favorites!
Here is a duet tune I always wanted to do. I finally met the perfect singer to perform it with! Andrea Ferraz is a good friend and special vocalist with Opera and Brazilian music influences. We recorded this live to one mic in in my home studio for a demo. The arrangement is improvised and the song so beautiful I had to share it!
Here is a nice duo and jazz arrangement of a classic Beatles tune. I met Amy Katchur in the Colorado Jazz scene at a jam session one night and she invited me to play on her record "Blackbirds" Its a nice record featuring my Guitar, Mark Diamond on Bass and Jill fredicksen on drums. I used my 7 string nylon and improvised the arrangement after listening to a few different versions of the tune.
I recently arranged and recorded two beautiful songs for her next record to be released soon.
This is a Trumpet - Guitar Duet from Brad Uptons CD "Sweetness". The composition Moondream is quite interesting. In fact my guitar style and playing was part of the inspiration for the song according to Brad. Brad and his drumming son Sam are big fans of my playing. He heard me using this same chord on the guitar a lot and wrote an interesting piece based around that chord. Its a nice sound and vibe.
Here is a nice tune from highly acclaimed trumpeter Brad Uptons CD "Sweetness" Theres a nice guitar solo with some burning at the outro vamp worth waiting for! Not to mention The great band with monster pianist Joe Bonner, Bijoux on bass, Mike Marleer on drums
I have been working off and on with songwriter Billy Kent since the early 90's when I met him through Vinx. Cabin Window is another great tune we worked on a lot and finally recorded a great version!
Are you mine is from the same sessions as Cabin Window. Its another gem. Billy is an amazing songwriter. I really wonder where he comes up with this stuff, he seems to have a goldmine musical soul inside him. Its always a pleasure to play guitar on his tunes. This came out nice!!!
