|
Network
New Members
(Part One)
Summer
2009 |
|
|
Tom Hemby, Phil Upchurch, Michael
Parlett,
Barbara Dennerlein, Richy Stano, Sam Levine. |
|
The Christian
Jazz Artists Network celebrates and promotes the diversity and infinite
variety of jazz music! We believe that jazz is a gift from the Creator to
be enjoyed and savored! The Creator loves diversity and so do we! Jazz
music, with its roots coming from spirituals, church, and the blues, has
birthed a myriad of musical styles. Therefore we do not promote one style
of jazz only. Neither do we discriminate on this basis either in any way.
Instead, we celebrate and promote jazz in it's many forms, encouraging an
open heart, open mind, and open attitude of acceptance and appreciation
for the creativity and infinite musical ideas of others!
Our network is a community
that goes beyond music and unites us for a greater cause...spreading the
good news that the Creator God has given us life, Jesus, salvation, and
the gift of jazz music to share and overflow to others in
the world.
The demographic of our network outreach is very diverse as well:
independent jazz artists, jazz artists with label representation, radio
stations, record labels, managers, promoters, producers, engineers, studio owners,
freelance musicians, educators, churches, ministries, fans, hobbyists, and much more.
|
|
The CJA Network
Welcomes New Members! |
|
the CJA Network adds 11 new members!
Our network
membership
of Christians who are jazz artists continues to grow and expand in many innovative and
creative ways and for that we are very thankful!
We have recently added
11 new members and because of the volume of information we have to divide
the "new members welcome" into 2 separate e-mail announcements!
Check Out Our New Members Part 1
|
Tom Hemby
is a
Guitarist, Producer, Songwriter, and Programmer. Tom has lived and worked
in Nashville as an active musician for the past 29 years. Starting out in
Nashville in 1978 he soon became an active touring musician, backing
artists such as “The Imperials” and Amy Grant. His touring career has
evolved into a recording career as a studio guitarist/ producer/
songwriter.
Tom’s recording credits include artists:
Michael English, Kenny Loggins, former Doobie Brother Michael
McDonald, Amy Grant, Donna Summer, Vince Gill, Peter Cetera, Barry Manilow,
Faith Hill, Brian McKinight, Steve Winwood, Glenn Shorrock (Little River
Band), Michael W. Smith, BeBe & CeCe Winans, and many, many more. Tom’s
songwriting credits include songs recorded by artists: Amy Grant, Faith
Hill, Dionne Warwick, Hank Williams Jr., Bruce Carroll, BeBe & CeCe Winans,
The Gaither Vocal band, Michael English, and others.
Tom’s solo instrumental CD “Chasing The
Wind” is available for purchase!
You can hear audio clips
here. Tom
one a Dove Award for this project in 2004 which won “Instrumental Album Of
The Year”!
Review - "Chasing The Wind"
An amazing amalgam of jazz-flavored R&B layered over elements of Americana
and shot with tribal beats and world music influences. . . . Tom Hemby s
deft acoustic guitar pierces straight to the soul.- Mike Parker,
www.BuddyHollywood.com
Tom's next instrumental project" In The
Moment" which is
nearing completion, is a electric guitar outing of great jazz fusion and
will feature a "who's who" list of famous guest artists and musicians! You
can preview audio clips of this new recording project
here!
For even more on
Tom Hemby visit here! |
|
|
 Phil Upchurch
has
been a prominent figure in the blues, soul, R&B and jazz circles for more
than 50 years. In addition to his work with the legendary Jimmy Smith,
Upchurch has performed and recorded with some of the music industry’s
biggest names. His talents have teamed him with musical legends such as
Quincy Jones, Bob Dylan, Julio Iglesias, Ray Charles, Ramsey Lewis, Carmen
McRae, George Benson, Donny Hathaway, Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, Carmen
McRae, Marlena Shaw, Eddie Harris, Brother Jack McDuff, Joe Williams, Stan
Getz, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Grover Washington, Jr. and
Wynton Kelly, among many others.
A prolific guitarist whose distinctively funky,
blues-steeped jazz style has graced well over a thousand recordings across
the popular music spectrum, the legendary Phil Upchurch has also recorded
27 albums of his own leadership, as well as movie soundtracks. Jazz
enthusiasts love and respect Phil Upchurch for his singular approach to
composition. Phil is unusually versatile, moving from classical, jazz,
funk or contemporary just as easy as walking from one room to
another.
In
2006, Phil Upchurch married actress/songstress Sonya Maddox and, for the
first time in his career, recognized his bride as his writing partner.
“The timbre of her voice and her style of language rings perfectly with my
intricate combination of chords,” he states. “Sonya completes me."
Phil &
Sonya share a Christian Music Marriage Ministry, assisting gifted young
musicians in realizing their objective of studying music at a college of
their choice through the Jimmy Smith Foundation, which Phil founded,
partnered with The Jackie Robinson Foundation. Through their WONDERVISION
company they are also producing a book of Phil’s photography, a book and
documentary on his life, and a solo CD for Phil.
You can hear some of Phil Upchurch's
audio clips here.
Sonya Maddox And Phil Upchurch CD
Phil and Sonya team up on this recording!
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/philsonya2
Much more info on Phil
here!
|
Richy Stano & Mindwalk
In his career guitarist/composer Richy Stano has
performed with Bo Diddley, Jimi Tunnel, Dan Toler, Producer/Songwriter
Stan Lynch, Chieli Minucci, Bob Welch, Andy Prieboy, All My Children's
Alan Dysert, Sister Hazel's Andrew Copeland, Joe Porcaro, and Steve
Bailey. As a composer, Stano's film & TV soundtrack credits and commercial
jingle credits include: "Problem Child II," "Lobster Man from Mars," "Mr.
Belvedere," "On the Television," AT&T, ESPN, CNN, Nickelodeon, Special
Olympics, FOX-TV, ABC-TV, CBS-Sports, and many many others.
Richy also served as Staff
Instructor at Hollywood's Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) and the
Curriculum Coordinator for the Musicians Institute (MI). While in the Los
Angeles area Stano worked with Chieli Minucci & Special EFX, Boney James,
Michael Lington and many other notable musicians.
Richy's group "Mindwalk" are
a five piece group representing a "talent
pool of diversity" rarely seen in the industry. From nationally recognized
albums, movie scores, jingles, award winning big band compositions to
recording engineering and sound design, Mindwalk and it's members deliver
musicianship at the highest levels and back it up with instrumental
virtuosity. Mindwalk's original music is artfully sprinkled with Fusion,
Bebop, Funk, Latin, Rock, and Smooth Jazz.
Mindwalk's live performances
include opening concerts for such prominent Artists as Spyro Gyra, The
Yellowjackets, Herbie Hancock & the Headhunters, Bill Frisell, Jon Secada,
Acoustic Alchemy, The Rippingtons, Richard Elliott, Joan Osbourne, BB
King, Steve Morse Band, Less Than Jake, Maceo Parker, Eric Darius, Larry
Coryell, Pieces Of A Dream, Greg Karukas, Daryle Singeltary, Les Dudek,
Pat Travers, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones and many others.
"The five piece Mindwalk
amalgam of experienced musicians play an eclectic, unclassifiable style of
music best described by the band’s name - "Mindwalk." It’s a journey
through the uninhibited vistas of the mind’s expanded musical
consciousness, like a trip into the eye of a star, emerging on the other
side... In this realm of the free spirited mind walkers, time and space
are distorted by music with no boundaries or limited intervals" - Rick
Grant, Editor, First Coast Entertainer Magazine
You can hear audio clips here!
www.myspace.com/richystanomindwalk |
|
Michael
Parlett
was
born in Bexleyheath, Kent, England.
Michael is a soulful and expressive musician and Producer with
over 25 years experience in the music industry. Michael plays
Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxes, Flute, Piccolo and a collection of
Indian Flutes as well as the WX7 Yamaha wind synthesizer.
Michael has performed and recorded with many top artists around the world
including Jeff Lorber, Peabo Bryson, Najee, Eric Marienthal, Marion
Meadows, Darlene Zschech, Ron Kenoly, Adlan Cruz, Andre and
Sandra Crouch, and just too many others to list here!
Michael shares that "... I have
played with some amazing musicians in Church where I received most of my
training playing alongside other more established singers and musicians at
concerts and functions."
Michael has released his solo recording project "Waiting On You". Joining with
Michael on this recording is keyboardist Luke "Duke" Smith, Joy Rose,
(lead singer of the band Incognito and currently working with Sting) and
other outstanding musicians. Serving up a feast of energetic, funky, and
soulful sax, Michael's CD covers unique arrangements of well known
up-tempo worship classics "Lord I Lift Your Name On High", "Ancient Of
Days", slower tempo moving renditions of the worship songs "As The Deer",
"Welcome Into This Place", as well as originals penned by Michael and
others from the group. Hear audio clips
here!
Michael continues to work as a
session musician and producer working from his own studio "Talented
Productions" as well as host his own radio show on
Solar Radio. He has also been playing with Jeff Lorber and there is a
YouTube video with Michael and Jeff playing 'live' on
Michael's myspace website.
|
|
 Barbara
Dennerlein
The list of venues where
Barbara has wowed audiences is as varied as it is long: the "Blue Note"
and the "Sweet Basil" in New York, "Ronnie Scott's Club" and the "Jazz
Café" in London and the "Blue Note" in Tokyo; Philadelphia, Berkley, San
Jose, San Diego; the Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, and Victoria
jazz festivals, as well as appearances all over Europe.Her CD productions feature hand-picked line-ups of
prominent musicians versed in different styles; first rate musicians like
Ray Anderson, Antonio Hart, Mitch Watkins, Randy Brecker, Jeff "Tain"
Watts, David Murray, Howard Johnson, Frank Lacy, David Sanchez, Roy
Hargrove, Bob Berg and Dennis Chambers.
Swing, bebop, blues, soul, latin and funk - for
Barbara there are no rigid boundaries, only fluid transitions. Audiences
are captivated by her talent, her absolute mastery of the instrument, her
taste, and not least, her warm personality.
"Barbara is the only jazz organist
I know that can play jazz on a pipe organ in church and really pull it
off! You simply have to hear it to believe it! And she really "cooks" on
the Hammond B-3 as well..." - David Arivett (CJA Network)
Barbara is booked at churches all
across the US this summer playing jazz in church and other jazz concerts!
Check out Barbara's You Tube Video, JS Bach Improv
Toccata & Fugue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvgsU-RuKlo
"Spiritual Movement 2" is Barbara Dennerlein's
second solo CD featuring jazz on a church organ. It is her indisputably
unique artistry to make the powerful pipes, voluminous manuals, and
weighty pedals more tractable for the turbulent syncopations of
jazz...Hear audio clips
here!
To hear more of Barbara's recordings with a
band visit her web site:
www.barbaradennerlein.com |
Sam
Levine
Nashville studio musicians know Sam Levine as one of
the busiest woodwind players in town. In one day he might play saxophone
for a country artist, flute or penny whistle for a gospel artist and
clarinet in a traditional jazz band. His playing has given color and
expression to a wide variety of artists' tracks, including Amy Grant, the
Neville Brothers, Vince Gill and Michael McDonald. He is known for his
reliable ensemble skills and his melodic, expressive solos.
Sam is the leader of several
different bands in the greater Nashville area and has served as music
contractor for performers as diverse as Henry Mancini, Bill Gaither and
Danny Gans. Bands include CITY LIGHTS, PHATJAZ, and BOURBON ST.
Sam has more than 10 artist CD's in
the smooth jazz and contemporary Christian
genres. He has been nominated three times for a Dove Award and played on
at least two Grammy Award winning recordings.
He is currently an artist with Village Square Music.
While music and the music business
dominate Sam's schedule, his family remains the foundation of his life. He
is married to Lee, Principal Clarinet of the Nashville Symphony, and they
have two teenage children. They are members of Westminster Presbyterian in
Nashville, a relationship that Sam says is a result of his life-long
spiritual development that began with his parents unique blend of Jewish
and Christian traditions.
Hear audio clips from "Smooth Praise"
here!
www.samlevinemusic.com
|
|
|
For more news/info on all of
our Network Artists visit
here!
|
|
  
Charts/Arrangements
Jazz Educational Resources Jazz Food For The
Soul |
|
|
Smooth
Pizzazz...Jazz with Pizzazz!
 |
|
Just a few clicks away is an internet radio
station containing nearly 500 tracks from top jazz artists.
Broadcasting all over the world 24/7 Smooth Pizzazz has the most
complete collection of jazzed up hymns, sacred jazz, and spirituals
you will find anywhere!
More
info
here! |
Celebrate
Today And Be Jazzed!
|
