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Seamus Blake, Thelonious Monk Competition winner in 2002, teams up with former Bloomdaddies band member Chris Cheek for his latest outing on the Criss Cross label.

The CD’s title, “Reeds Ramble”, is taken from a tune by Jerry Reed made famous by country guitarist Chet Atkins. On the CD Seamus and Chris take an extraordinary journey through their influences  as top of the line jazz musicians for the past 25 years.

Two saxophones up front is not your everyday line-up, but Seamus and Chris know each other’s playing so intimately that the results seem magical. They shared the task of song selection, and their choices ranged far and wide. As an opener Chris chose Chico Buarque’s “No Carreira”. Seamus followed with an Eddie Harris tune, “!974 Blues”. Both Seamus and Chris are big Eddie Harris fans, which should come as no surprise to those familiar with their Bloomdaddies CDs. Seamus has done an Eddie Harris show at Smoke for the last two years and there is talk of doing a live recording of the 2014 gig.

Both Seamus and Chris contribute an original tune. For Seamus it’s “All About Me”.  And  no, it’s not all about Seamus, but rather a wry reference to the Facebook generation. In an interview with Jazz writer David Adler, Seamus notes, “Onstage I like to dedicate this to the Facebook generation, taking selfies and posting their twerking videos to instagram”  While “All About Me” draws on bebop, Chris’ original,  “Blue Moose”, was inspired by listening to country music. And the eclecticism continues with songs by Monk, Brian Wilson and Jim Beard.

The outing ends with a song, “Lady in Langour” by  Canadian composer Vickie Yang. In the Adler interview Seamus comments, “I wanted harmony that was not songbook kind of harmony, but more modern”.

SEAMUS BLAKE tenor sax

CHRIS CHEEK tenor & soprano sax

ETHAN IVERSON piano

MATT PENMAN bass

JOCHEN RUECKERT drums

1. NA CARREIRA

(Ch. Buarque) 7.50

2. 1974 BLUES

(E. Harris) 7.04

3. HOLODECK WALTZ

(J. Beard) 6.09

4. BLUE MOOSE

(Chr. Cheek) 6.27

5. DE DAH

(E. Hope) 6.23

6. ‘TIL I DIE

(B. Wilson) 7.34

7. I SURRENDER DEAR

(Clifford-Barris) 7.29

8. ALL ABOUT ME

(S. Blake) 6.34

9. LADY IN LANGUOR

(V. Yang) 6.44
TOTAL TIME: 62.32

To: Listings/Critics/Features
From: Jazz Promo Services
Contact:  Pat Phillips patmusic2@gmail.com
Press Contact: Jim Eigo, jim@jazzpromoservices.com
www.jazzpromoservices.com

With a career that spans four decades in the recording industry and theatre world, multi-Grammy and Tony Award-nominated composer/producer Frank Wildhorn has started performing again.  “It’s my joy!”  Wildhorn will step into the musician’s shoes at the piano at the iconic Café Carlyle in New York, sharing the stage with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Jane Monheit award-winning entertainer Clint Holmes, joined by Julia Adamy on bass, Clint de Ganon on drums and David Mann on reeds.  Wildhorn will take you on a musical journey of the many songs from his pop, jazz and theatre life.

It all started recently with performances at the legendary jazz club Birdland and with orchestras in venues here and abroad.  The pull to play is eating at him to interact with great singers and musicians in front of a live audience.

Among the many artists who have recorded and performed Wildhorn’s works are Whitney Houston (#1 international hit “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”), Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Linda Eder, Trisha Yearwood, Patti LaBelle, Jeffrey Osborne, Amy Grant, BeBe Winans and The Moody Blues, to name a few.  He also wrote the song “Gold,” heard at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

It will be a thrill for him to be at the piano and share his love of music at the beautiful, intimate Café Carlyle.  “What an honor,” says Wildhorn.

Café Carlyle in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 East 76th Street

Reservations:  212 744 1600

Tues. to Fri. at 8:45, Sat at 8:45 & 10:45

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