Peter O'Mara: Stairway (1993)

Peter O'Mara (born 9 December 1957 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian jazz guitarist, composer and teacher. He studied at the Academy of Guitar under George Golla, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and at jazz clinics under Jamey Aebersold, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, John Scofield and Hal Galper.
O'Mara began his professional career in Australia between 1976-81. He was a Prizewinner for Jazz Composition 1980 & 1982, awarded by the NSW Jazz Action Society. His first album "Peter O?Mara" was released 1980, receiving widespread critical acclaim. He was awarded the "Don Banks Memorial Fellowship" for overseas study. 1981 he was studying in New York under Dave Liebman, John Scofield, Roland Hanna, Jimmy Raney and Attila Zoller.
O'Mara moved to Munich, Germany in late 1981. He joined Klaus Doldinger's band Passport in 1990 and has toured Europe a number of times with this group, as well as South Africa and Brazil.
His teaching activities include, among many workshops throughout Europe, a professorship for Jazz guitar at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance Austria, as well as the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. He is also author of four highly acclaimed books published by internationally renowned Jazz publishers Advance Music.

Down Beat (9/93, p. 47) - 3 Stars - Good - "... O'Mara can definitely play... ".

Tracklist:

1. Abertura 5:34
2. Stairway 8:00
3. Round & Round 6:14
4. Crescent 7:03
5. Mr. Lucky 6:15
6. For Emily 5:32
7. Weather or Not 5:42
8. Change of Mind 8:17
9. Continuity 6:37
10. Irish 2:02

Personnel: Peter O'Mara (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Anthony Jackson (guitar); Tony Lakatos (saxophone); Russell Ferrante (piano, keyboards); Tom Brechtlein (drums); Alex Acuсa (percussion)

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Hiromi Trio Project: Move (2012)

It is often said that one "sees" a musical performance, but in jazz concerts there is usually little to watch. Not so with Japanese keyboardist and composer Hiromi. An explosive presence on stage, she resembles a jazz fusion marionette with big hair. Rhythmic accents and displacements are accompanied by almost balletic physical gestures, made possible by a prodigious technical control.
The music is structured in short sections during which Hiromi, contrabassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Simon Philips (of Toto fame) play across the underlying beat to upset listeners' expectations. All is resolved when, at the end of the section, the three musicians triumphantly arrive together at the first beat of the bar. It produces a cycle of tension and release. Hiromi never dwells on any one stylistic approach for long, rather like a polymath keen to shift from one subject to another in a perpetual display of bravura. Her cross-rhythmic phrasing is exceptional, articulation flawless and percussiveness impressive.
The melodic lines are balanced and her musical vocabulary effortlessly spans styles of jazz. There are also classical allusions. Beethoven's Pathetique sonata was developed in jazz blues style. Aesthetically, Hiromi is yet to fully mature. Her music hovers uneasily between showmanship and joyousness, at the expense of the latter. But the excitement is irresistible. At the end of the performance, Hiromi appeared tired. Dancing while playing will do that to you.

Tracklist:
1. Move [08:34]
2. Brand New Day [07:02]
3. Endeavor [07:24]
4. Rainmaker [07:28]
5. Suite Escapism "Reality" [05:32]
6. Suite Escapism "Fantasy" [06:36]
7. Suite Escapism "In Between" [07:52]
8. Margarita! [07:28]
9. 11:49 PM [11:29]
Personnel:
Hiromi Uehara - piano & keyboards;
Anthony Jackson - bass;
Simon Phillips - drums
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Mike Stern: All Over the Place (2012)

Since his days with Blood Sweat & Tears in the mid-1970s, followed by stints with Billy Cobham and Miles Davis band in the 80s, and a solo career that now spans more than 25 years, guitarist Mike Stern has used his jazz roots as a starting point for exploring a range of alternate territories that include R&B, rock, swing, funk, world music and numerous other regions along the musical topography. The recipient of Guitar Player magazine s Certified Legend Award for 2012, he s an artist who's not afraid to bring numerous styles and ideas however diverse into the same place just to see what happens.

All Over the Place is Stern s new recording on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group. Set for release on June 19, 2012, the 11-song set aligns the characteristically diverse and adventurous guitarist with a cadre of brilliant guests, including trumpeter Randy Brecker; saxophonist Kenny Garrett; and drummers Dave Weckl, Keith Carlock and Lionel Cordew. Also on hand is a delegation of high-caliber electric and acoustic bass players: Esperanza Spalding, Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, Anthony Jackson, Dave Holland, Tom Kennedy, Will Lee and Victor Bailey.

I' ve been playing a lot of different kinds of great music with a lot of different musicians on some of my more recent records, says Stern, whose Big Neighborhood released on Heads Up in 2009 followed a similarly eclectic vibe. I love bebop, swing, rock, all the stuff that a lot of guitar players especially jazz players tend to include in their music. It s the nature of the instrument, but very much a part of my nature as well. There s a lot of music that really inspires me, and it usually covers quite a few territories.

The guitar tends to keep you open-minded, because you hear it in so many places, says Stern, listing many places he himself has ventured along the way not just on All Over the Place, but in earlier work as well. You hear it in rock, in country, in pop, in funk, in classical, you hear it in jazz, you hear it in so many kinds of music that you can immediately identify it on one level or another.

Stern is ready at a moment s notice to go to all of these places and more, and he s ready and willing to bring anyone along for the ride. Music, to me, is a language of the heart, he says. I hope people will get some emotional payoff from what I ve done on this recording. That s the vibe that I continue to go for with all of my music.

Tracklist:
01. AJ
02. Cameroon
03. Out Of The Blue
04. As Far As We Know
05. Blues For Al
06. OCD
07. You Never Told Me
08. Half Way Home
09. Light
10. Flipside
11. All Over The Place
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[BY REQUEST] - Joe Farrell: La Catedral Y El Toro (1977)

Signed to Warner Bros. in 1977, Farrell, who had been a valued sideman, had also released a few albums under his own name. On CTI, he released albums like Moon Germs, Song of the Wind, and Outback. But like many artists of his type, he was only as good as his producers and the album's premises. Ralph McDonald and William Eaton produced La Catedral Y El Toro. Despite the authoritative title, this is a fairly standard fusion set. The title track aims for Chick Corea-like expansion and excitement, but the production renders it listless, even Stanley Clarke's bass solo sounds enervated. "Promise Me Your Love" is trademark low-key and soothing McDonald and Eaton, with guitarist Eric Gale and Richard Tee's keyboards ably assisting Farrell's fluid soprano and tenor sax solos. Even halfway before it's over, it's apparent that La Catedral Y El Toro's most notable facet is how it squanders the eye-popping talent and Farrell's gifts. "Cyclone Rider" and Patti Austin's "Is It Asking Too Much" both feature Farrell as little more than a bystander on his own album. The final track, "Imagine Me," is a feather light offering featuring his often-captivating flute work falling into off notes and lack of energy. La Cathedral Y El Toro also features the talents of bassist Anthony Jackson and drummer Steve Gadd, among others. This 1977 effort is a case of Farrell not clicking with his producers, and that fact makes this less than recommended.

Tracklist:
A1 La Catedral Y El Toro - Drums [Orchestra Snare Drum] – Chris Parker (2), Guitar – Jay Berliner, Piccolo [Bass] – Stanley Clarke, Saxophone [Soprano] – Joe Farrell, Synthesizer – Kenneth Bichel* 9:52
A2 Promise Me Your Love - Saxophone [Soprano, Tenor] – Joe Farrell 4:32
A3 Disco Dust - Percussion [Additional] – Rubens Bassini, Saxophone [Tenor] – Joe Farrell 4:37
B1 Cyclone Rider - Saxophone [Tenor] – Joe Farrell, Synthesizer [Mini-moog] – Dave Grusin 6:06
B2 Is It Asking Too Much - Flute, Oboe – Joe Farrell 6:02
B3 Imagine Me - Flute – Joe Farrell, Percussion [Additional] – Rubens Bassini 6:04
Personnel:

Arranged By, Conductor – William Eaton
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Congas, Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Drums – Steve Gadd
Engineer – Richard Alderson
Engineer [Assistant] – Eddie Heath Jr.*
Guitar – Eric Gale
Horns – Alan Rubin, Barry Rogers, Brooks Tillotson, Dave Taylor*, George Young (2), Jim Buffington, Michael Brecker, Paul Faulise, Randy Brecker, Ray Alonge, Ronnie Cuber, Tony Miranda, Tony Price (2), Victor Paz
Mastered By – George Marino
Mixed By – Ralph MacDonald, Richard Alderson, William Eaton
Piano – Richard Tee
Producer – Ralph MacDonald, William Eaton
Strings – Alan Shulman, Alfred Brown, Avram Weiss, Charles Libove, David Nadien, George Duvivier, Harry Cykman, Joe Malin, Julien Barber, Kermit Moore, Max Ellen, Max Pollikoff, Regis Iandiorio, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke

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David Spinozza: ST (1978)

David Spinozza is an American musician (guitar), who worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album Walking Man.

Spinozza worked with McCartney during sessions for McCartney's Ram album during 1971. When the chance came to work with Lennon two years later, as Yoko Ono prepared her Feeling the Space album and Lennon his Mind Games, Spinozza discovered that Lennon was not aware he had previously worked with McCartney, and was afraid he would be fired if Lennon found out, given their recent feuding in the media. When Lennon did learn of it, his only comment was that McCartney "knows how to pick good people."
Spinozza contributed to Ono's album A Story, recorded during 1974 (but not released until 1998), served as her bandleader during a residency at Kenny's Castaways, and rehearsed Ono's band to tour her native Japan, but parted ways with her when the tour began. After no communication for several years, Ono contacted Spinozza late in 1980, for his permission to release "It Happened", a track from A Story, as a B-side to "Walking on Thin Ice", her tribute to the recently-assassinated John Lennon and the last song they had recorded together. Spinozza gave his permission. The track appeared with a new coda, recorded by Lennon and Ono's band from Double Fantasy.
Spinozza also appeared on Ringo Starr's 1977 album Ringo the 4th, earning him the distinction of having recorded with three of the four Beatles.
Spinozza played the guitar solo on Dr. John's hit, "Right Place Wrong Time", Paul Simon's albums Paul Simon and There Goes Rhymin' Simon, Don McLean's American Pie, and later made contributions to the soundtracks of the movies Dead Man Walking, Happiness, and Just the Ticket. The first album David produced in its entirety was the Folk rock trio Arthur, Hurley & Gottlieb who were signed by Clive Davis during his ten years as president Columbia records.
He held the first guitar chair in the Broadway orchestra of Hairspray, and is currently appearing with his reunited band from 1973, "L'Image" which also includes Mike Mainieri, Warren Bernhardt, Tony Levin and Steve Gadd.

Tracklist:

1 Superstar - Bramlett, Bramlett, Russell 5:45
2 On My Way to the Liquor Store Pendarvis 6:52
3 Prelude to "The Ballerina" - Spinozza 3:13
4 The Ballerina - Spinozza 5:27
5 Edge of the Sword - Mainieri, Spinozza 5:01
6 Country Bumpkin - Mainieri, Spinozza 4:06
7 Doesn't She Know by Now - Spinozza 4:45
8 Airborne - Spinozza 5:35
9 High Button Shoes - Monnsey 3:19

Personnel:

David Spinozza : electric guitar (on 1,2,5,8,9), acoustic guitar (on 3,4,7), vocals (on 4)
Joe Caro : guitar (on 1,2,5,6,8,9)
Anthony Jackson : bass (except on 3)
Rick Marotta : drums (on 1,6,7,8)
Steve Jordan : drums (on 2,5,9)
Mike Mainieri : polymoog synthesizer (on 1), synthesizer (on 2,6), percussion (on 6), vibes (on 8), xylophone (on 9)
Leon Pendarvis : acoustic piano (on 1,2,7), electric piano (on 6)
Rob Mounsey : electric piano (on 2,8,9)
Warren Bernhardt : acoustic piano (on 4,9), clavinet/Fender Rhodes/synth (on 5)
Don Grolnick : acoustic piano (on 6)
Gary Mure : percussion (on 4)
David Carey : percussion (on 4)
Rubens Bassini : percussion (on 5)
Eric Weisberg : banjo/pedal steel guitar (on 6)
Michael Brecker : tenor saxohone (on 7)
Luther Vandross : background vocals (on 1,7)
David Lasley : background vocals (on 1,7)
Diva Gray : background vocals (on 1,7)
Kim Carlson : background vocals (on 3), scat vocal (on 8)

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Harvey Mason: Stone Mason (1982)

Rare album of the fantastic drummer Harvey Mason who played with the best jazz funk musicians during the 70s. This album was only issued in Japan and was produced by Lee Ritenour and Harvey Mason. This LP includes a killer modern soul tune "What goes around" and a good remake of Donny Hathaway's song "Someday We'll All Be Free".

Tracklist:
A1 It All Comes From You
A2 Appassionata
A3 Autumn Flow
A4 Grusin's Groove
B1 What Goes Around
B2 Love Letters
B3 Hot Summer Nights
B4 Someday We'll All Be Free
Personnel:
Backing Vocals – Arnell* (tracks: B1), Deon Estus (tracks: B2), G. Kronstadt (tracks: B2), Harvey Mason (tracks: B1, B2), J.D.* (tracks: B1), King Floyd (tracks: B2), Pages (3) (tracks: B3), Ray Parker* (tracks: B1)
Bass – Abe Laboriel* (tracks: B4), Anthony Jackson (tracks: A3, A4), Gary King (tracks: A1, A2), Scott Edwards (2) (tracks: B1), Welton Gite (tracks: B2)
Drums – Harvey Mason
Engineer – Don Murray, Humberto Gatica, Joe Jergenson*, Keith Seppanen, Peter Chaiken
Flugelhorn – Kenny Mason (tracks: A3)
Guitar – Cash McCall (tracks: B2), John Tropea (tracks: A2), Lee Ritenour (tracks: B3, B4), Ray Parker* (tracks: B1), Steve Kahn (tracks: A1 to A4)
Lead Vocals – Karen Floyd (tracks: B2), Kelly McNulty (tracks: B1), Lisa Nemzo (tracks: B3)
Lyricon – Rod Zantey (tracks: A1, A2)
Marimba, Bells [Orchestra] – Harvey Mason (tracks: A1)
Percussion – Harvey Mason (tracks: A1, A3, A4), Jack Ashford (tracks: B1)
Piano – Bob James (tracks: A1, A2)
Piano [Accord] – Bernard Wright (tracks: A3, A4), David Paich (tracks: B3), Teuneson Stevens (tracks: B2)
Piano [Fender] – Bob James (tracks: A1)
Piano [Rhodes] – Dave Grusin (tracks: A3, A4), David Foster (tracks: B4), Sylvester Rivers (tracks: B1), Teuneson Stevens (tracks: B2)
Producer – Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour (tracks: B3)
Recorder – Phil Ayling (tracks: B4)
Saxophone [Alto] – Dave Boruff* (tracks: B2)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Tom Scott (tracks: A2)
Synthesizer – Bob James (tracks: A2), Dave Grusin (tracks: A4), Harvey Mason (tracks: B1, B2), Ian Underwood (tracks: A1), Jeremy Lubbock (tracks:
A1, B4), Jerry Peters (tracks: B1, B2), Steve Pocaro* (tracks: B3)
Synthesizer [Keyboard Bass] – David Paich (tracks: B3)
Vibraphone – Harvey Mason (tracks: A3, A4)
Vocals – Harvey Mason (tracks: A1), Stephanie Spruill (tracks: B4)
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Harvey Mason: Earth Mover (1976)

In the 1970s, Harvey Mason was one of those busy L.A.-based sessions players who had one foot in jazz and the other in R&B. The drummer backed his share of soul heavyweights (including Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and the Brothers Johnson), but he never lost his jazz chops. Recorded in 1976, Earthmover is among the mostly instrumental albums that Mason provided during his stay at Arista. This self-produced LP, which finds him trying to balance commercial and creative considerations, is a mixed bag. Some of the material is strong, especially the cerebral fusion item "No Lands Man" (which boasts Jan Hammer on keyboards) and the funky "Bertha Baptist." And the contemplative "First Summer" is an enjoyable track that reminds the listener of the underrated Hawaiian funk/fusion outfit Seawind, which isn't surprising because it was co-written and arranged by Seawind's Bob Wilson. Meanwhile, some of the more commercial jazz-funk and pop-jazz tracks are less impressive and tend to sound overproduced. But while Earthmover is uneven, it has more ups than downs. Overall, this isn't a bad record, although Mason is capable of being more consistent.

Tracklist:
1 K. Y. And the Curb-Mason, Peters 4:58
2 Sho Nuff Groove-Johnson, Mason 3:56
3 The Mase-Mason 4:13
4 Sweet Mercy-Mason, Peters 5:54
5 Earthmover Prelude-Mason 0:58
6 Bertha Baptist-James 5:46
7 First Summer-Mason, Wilson 6:12
8 No Lands Man-Hammer 4:22
9 When I'm with You-Mason 4:25
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Patti Austin: Havana Candy (1977)

CTI was having its troubles financially at the time. They recycled arrangements for all their artists and limited their budgets. Austin sang this undistinguished material with as much conviction as she could muster, but the general pallid air lingering over the production also affected her vocals. -- AMG

Tracklist:
01. That's Enough For Me (5:50)
02. Little Baby (4:15)
03. I Just Want To Know (4:57)
04. Havana Candy (4:37)
05. Golden Oldies (4:44)
06. I Need Somebody (4:32)
07. We're In Love (4:03)
08. Lost In The Stars (5:02)
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Steve Khan: Parting Shot (2011)

Parting Shot represents a most special moment for Steve, because it is the first time that he has felt ready to present an entire recording dedicated to Latin Jazz. Anthony Jackson, Manolo Badrena, and Steve are together yet again, alongside their bandmate of 20 years, Dennis Chambers, where, joined by master Latin musicians, Marc Quinones and Bobby Allende, they have crafted these 10 pieces of music. It is their hope that everyone will enjoy the recording to the fullest, Vaya!!!

Tracklist:
1. Chronology
2. Los Gaiteros
3. Change Agent (El Catalizador)
4. Bye-ya
5. Maria Mulambo
6. Influence Peddler (Traficante de Influencias)
7. When She s Not Here (Cuando Ella no Esta)
8. Blues Connotation
9. Zancudoville
10. Just Deserts
Personnel:
Steve Khan: guitar
Anthony Jackson: contrabass guitar
Dennis Chambers: drums
Manolo Badrena: percussion, voice (5, 10)
Marc Quinones: timbale, bongo, percussion
Bobby Allendes: conga
Rob Mounsey: keyboards (9), orchestrations (2, 4, 6 7)
Tatiana Parra: voice (6)
Andres Beeeuwsaert: voice (6)
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