Steve Weingart & Renee Jones: Dialogue (2011)

In the making of my third album, 'Dialogue', I enjoyed many first time experiences. One was developing some of the music in co-writing with my wife, Renee Jones. It is her first time recording bass and vocals on an entire project with me. Renee's participation in this music brought about another level in our friendship/marriage. We decided that since everything went so well, we would make our partnership the core of this work, and make plans to tour together in support of this album. Also very noteworthy was my experience with drummer, Simon Phillips who, during the initial stages became co-producer. Because we shared a lot of common ground in our musical tastes, it was very easy to work together. I think that companionship is quite evident upon listening to the very high production value Simon brought to this album, -not only in his musical performance, but also in engineering and mixing the album. My good friends, Steve Lukather, Victor Wooten, and Lenny Castro graciously brought their voices to this album as well. It was quite an experience working with these guys as well as my friends and great musicians, Mike Miller-guitar, and Katisse Buckingham-saxes & flute, who appear throughout this album. I'm very proud of this body of music. I am also honored that we all shared such good and positive experiences in the making of this CD. I learned that you cannot underestimate the power of friendship, and I know my fond and happy memories of these sessions will live forever. ~ Steve Weingart

Tracklist:
01. Village [05:29]
02. Restless [04:59]
03. Back Down [05:36]
04. Eethray [05:24]
05. Lighthouse [05:03]
06. Busy Day [05:35]
07. Empty Chair (for Zawinul) [03:04]
08. Spider Web [05:26]
09. Tell Tales [04:55]
10. Do Note Move [05:43]
11. Dialogue [05:21]
Personnel:
Steve Weingart - Piano, Keyboards, Vocals;
Renee Jones - Electric Bass, Vocals;
Simon Phillips - Drums;
Mike Miller - Electric Guitar ; Bouzouki on 'Busy Day';
Katisse Buckingham - Saxes & Flute;
Lenny Castro - Percussion (Tracks 01, 04, 06, 09, 11);
Michael O'Day - Additional percussion on 'Dialogue'.
Special Guests:
Steve Lukather: electric guitar on 'Busy Day', Acoustic guitar on 'Dialogue';
Victor Wooten: electric bass feature and solos on 'Do Note Move'.
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George Benson: Guitar Man (2011)

Grammy-winning legend George Benson brings his guitar to the forefront in his newest album Guitar Man. The 12-song collection includes a mix of jazz and pop standards - some in a combo setting and some solo, but all of them tied together seamlessly by Benson's soulful and exploratory signature sound. Lending a hand on this recording is a solid team made up of veterans and newcomers alike - pianist Joe Sample, keyboardist and musical director David Garfield, bassist Ben Williams and drummer Harvey Mason. Williams is one of the hottest up-and-coming new artists on the jazz scene. Mason is a regular member of Fourplay, and a studio collaborator with Benson all the way back to Benson's 1976 blockbuster album, Breezin'.

In a career that spans five decades, more than 30 recordings as a leader and ten Grammy Awards, Benson has used his jazz roots as the foundation for an engaging mix of pop, R&B and other shades that add up to a style that appeals to a broad mainstream audience. Along the way, he has also established himself as a formidable jazz singer - one whose biggest career hits have showcased his vocals. But Guitar Man is just what the title implies - an album that highlights Benson's unparalleled guitar playing, perhaps more than any other album he has released in decades.

For the new project, the crew came together in the studio with a minimum of prior rehearsal time but an eagerness to jump in and lay down tracks in something very close to the live experience - what Benson describes as an "old school" approach. The impromptu sensibility comes across in the final product, much of which came together with minimal takes in a single day of recording.

"We figured that we would get the best energy if we went into the studio with some live musicians who are savvy and flexible," says Benson, "and boy, did we accomplish that." On Guitar Man, Benson's mastery of the guitar is demonstrated in a variety of styles and settings, all with legendary jazz roots. Benson has never been one to shy away from innovation or experimentation. For this guitar man, putting a jazz spin on pop standards - not just on this recording but throughout his career - is less of a taboo when you're willing to dispense with labels and the limitations that come with them. ~ amazon.com

Tracklist:
01. Tenderly [2:01]
02. I Want To Hold Your Hand [5:10]
03. My Cherie Amour [4:08]
04. Naima [3:41]
05. Tequila [4:31]
06. Don't Know Why [2:45]
07. The Lady In My Life [4:30]
08. My One And Only Love [3:24]
09. Paper Moon [2:44]
10. Danny Boy [3:26]
11. Since I Fell For You [2:58]
12. Fingerlero [3:40]
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Los Lobotomys: ST (1989)

Los Lobotomys is an American fusion group, conceived by Toto-members Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro and keyboarder David Garfield. A range of well-known 'session cats' worked together with the core trio.

Anyhow Los Lobotomys is an occasional band by a bunch of musical friends in California, with Steve Lukather and David Garfield as core members. This eponymous record is recorded live on april 29th 1989 at the Complex, West Los Angeles, USA, and produced by David Garfield and Alan Hirshberg for Creatchy Productions. The songs are instrumentals which vary from relaxed slow and midtempo fusion to uptempo heavy rock, like Smell Yourself (in an in memoriam on Jeff Porcaro Vinnie Colaiuta recalled: "We had so much fun when I guested briefly on Los Lobotomys. Double-drumming with Jeff was one of the high points of my career and my life").
A comic one is Purple Haze that ends right after the intro, because nobody knows the lyrics (compare this one to the Red House version on the Lukather single cd Borrowed Time and the Los Lobotomys version of Candyman, where Lukather starts yelling because a string of his guitar snaps at the end of a solo).

Tracklist:
01. Dismemberment (Lenny Castro, David Garfield)
02. Oozer (Carlos Vega, David Garfield)
03. Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix)
04. Big Bone (Jeff Porcaro, David Garfield)
05. Jorainbo (Joe Sample, David Garfield)
06. Lobotomy Stew (Steve Lukather, David Garfield)
07. Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix)
08. Smell Yourself (Steve Lukather)
09. All Blues (Miles Davis)
Personnel:
Steve Lukather: guitar
David Garfield: keyboards
Jeff Porcaro: drums
Will Lee: bass
Brandon Fields: alto sax
Lenny Castro: percussion
Joe Sample: piano
Carlos Vega: drums
Vince Colaiuta: double drums
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Mike Porcaro: Brotherly Love (2010) [2 CD]

For almost a half century, the name Porcaro has been synonymous with musical greatness. It began with Papa Joe Porcaro, whose roots go back to gigging in Connecticut before transplanting and continuing his music career in Los Angeles. Soon to follow were three amazing prodigies who embraced the Los Angeles music scene in the mid to late 70’s and didn’t let go. Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro’s talents transcended their band Toto and touched thousands of recordings that came out of the LA music scene. But their success in the music industry is only a small part of what makes the Porcaro family so special. Having had the good fortune to meet many members of the family, what strikes me most about each and every Porcaro is how upbeat, personable and friendly they are. And although I didn’t have the opportunity to meet Jeff, I get the sense that he was every bit as inviting and open as his parents, brothers and his sister, Joleen. When you consider the loss of Jeff and the impact this had on the world of music and his fans – even to this day - I can’t imagine how this impacted the Porcaro family. We now have come to realize that another Porcaro brother, Mike, is struggling with ALS on a daily basis and has been for a few years. I have no doubt that the spirit of the Porcaro family is stronger than ever and rallying around him. For those of you who know Mike or have had the opportunity to watch him perform with Toto, it only takes a glance at his face while he’s performing to tell you how passionate he is about music. Mike’s groove is so deep-in-the-pocket-tight, but loose enough that his bass parts always seem to blend so nicely with everything Toto lays down. I’ve always likened Mike’s role in Toto to that of George Harrison’s with the Beatles. George was often thought of as the quiet one, but in many ways the ‘glue’ of the band. Like Harrison, Mike didn’t get the spotlight as often as his band mates, but he was always so steady, reliable and rhythmically solid both on albums and during live performances.

With the realization of Mike’s condition, it was such a wonderful surprise to learn about “Brotherly Love” and that Mike spearheaded this project. As mentioned, “Brotherly Love” is a 2 CD set that was recorded live in Germany in 2002 as a tribute to Mike’s brother, Jeff. It features an all-star cast of musicians, including David Garfield, Steve Gadd, Greg Bissonette, Lenny Castro, Glenn Hughes, brother Steve Porcaro and father Joe Porcaro. The songs on this project cover many Porcaro influenced selections, including ones by Toto, Boz Scaggs, Los Lobotomys, Michael Jackson, Al Green, Steely Dan and more. “Brotherly Love” has been released in Japan, but is only available as an import here in the States. There is speculation that it might be available here soon.

I highly recommend this album for anyone who is not only a fan of Mike Porcaro, but for those of you who are a fan of his love and passion for the music he created with so many incredible musicians over the years, including his brothers, Jeff and Steve. The Porcaro spirit runs deep on the appropriately titled “Brotherly Love.”

Tracklist:

Disc 1:
1. Rosanna (7:08)
2. Manic Depression (4:43)
3. Georgy Porgy (9:38)
4. Lowdown (8:07)
5. E Minor Shuffle (8:05)
6. English Eyes (7:21)
7. Human Nature (5:24)
8. Straight No Chaser (8:52)
9. Africa (6:52)
10. Let's Stay Together (Bonus Track) (8:37)
Disc 2:
1. Stuffy (1:31)
2. Jeff's Strut (8:06)
3. Babylon Sisters (7:31)
4. Big Bone (7:44)
5. Corbitt Van Brauer (10:43)
Personnel :
Mike Procaro - Bass
David Garfield - Keyboards
Steve Porcaro - Keyboards
Michael O'Neill - Guitar
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Larry Klimas - Sax, Flute
Ralph "Mosch" Himmler - Trumpet
Glenn Hughes - Lead Vocal (1, 2, 10)
Bobby Kimball - Lead Vocal (1, 6, 9, 10)
Alex Ligertwood - Lead Vocal (3, 4, 9, 10)
Steve Gadd - Drums (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
Gregg Bissonette - Drums (1, 2, 5, 9, 13, 14)
Robin DiMaggio - Drums (4, 9)
Chase Duddy - Drums (6)
Joe Porcaro - Drums (8), Percussion (9)
John Robinson - Drums (10)
Bernard Purdie - Drums (13)
Doug Bossi - Guitar Solos (1), Additional Guitars (6)
David Paich - Piano (9), Additional Vocals (9)
Joseph Williams -. BG Vocals (6, 9)
Brotherly Love
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Dan Siegel: ST (1982)

Smooth jazz keyboardist Dan Siegel has been helping to shape the genre since his recording debut in 1980. Born in Seattle and raised in Eugene, OR, Siegel started taking piano lessons at age eight and was fronting a rock band at 12. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he received a degree in composition from the University of Oregon and began recording his own works. Soon thereafter, well-known independent jazz label Inner City Records signed the young keyboardist, releasing 1980's Nite Ride, which featured guitarist Lee Ritenour. Siegel's second album for Inner City, 1981's The Hot Spot, was more successful and spent ten weeks in the Top Ten of Billboard's jazz chart. In 1983, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue film and television work, as well as a more active recording career.

Spending half of the decade composing TV and film scores as well as releasing several albums of varying interest, he signed with Epic in 1986 and began moving away from the ailing jazz fusion scene and into the adult contemporary jazz sound that he had been toying with all along. Highlights of this era include 1994's worldbeat-influenced Hemispheres and the urban-flavored Clairvoyance, released in 1998. Siegel spent the 1990s recording for a variety of labels, working with some of the bigger names in smooth jazz (Boney James, Larry Carlton, John Patitucci), and leading the hard bop combo Birds of a Feather. In 2000, Legacy Recordings released a greatest hits compilation called Along the Way: The Best of Dan Siegel.
Tracklist:

1. GREAT EXPECTATIONS
2. ENCHANTED FOREST
3. UPTOWN
4. SOARING
5. THE LONE RANGER
6. TOUCH AND GO
7. DESERTED BEACH
8. PASSING TIME
9. THE CONQUEROR
Personnel:
Paul Jackson Jr., Larry Carlton, Marlon McCLain: Guitar
Tom Scott, Jeff Homan: Saxophone
Tom Brown: Trumpet
Mark Hatch: Fluegel Horn
Rob Thomas, Abraham Laboriel: Bass
Moyes Lucas Jr., John Robinson: Drums
Lenny Castro: Percussion
Dan Siegel: Keyboards
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Peter White: Caravan Of Dreams (1996)

Peter White is one of those rare artists whose unique sound and natural, unpretentious musical vision encapsulate all the charm, appeal, and excitement of his genre. However one chooses to label that style -- new adult contemporary, contemporary jazz, pop instrumental -- the English-born acoustic guitarist has struck rare chords, artistically, commercially, and emotionally, in becoming a melodic mainstay at the top of every radio airplay and sales chart known to soulful, smooth jazz since launching his solo career in 1990 with reveillez-vous. White's similarly warmhearted, instantly infectious Columbia debut Caravan of Dreams continues in the R&B vein of his previous two discs (1993's Promenade and 1994's Reflections), focusing on his trademark breezes while texturing street-smart synth grooves with a free-spirited all-star ensemble to create a whimsical musical travelog. While many of his best radio hits have been very saxophone oriented, for Caravan of Dreams, White made sure that his beloved guitar is in the forefront. And to better accentuate the urban sensibilities his previous albums only hinted at, he chose to collaborate with veteran producer Paul Brown, whose street vibe with Boney James has helped make the saxman one of rhythm and jazz's premier performers. Helping add spice to White's snappy strains and Brown's Midas urban flow is a perfect complement of contemporary jazz's usual suspects, James (on sax and WX-7 windsynth) to White's longtime reed player Dave Camp (on flute), Rick Braun (flьgelhorn) and urban gypsy guitarist Marc Antoine, who duets with White along the simmering, Latin-tinged edges of "Cafe Mystique." James adds a lush yet muscular harmony on tenor and soprano, respectively, to the laid-back hip-hop of the title track and the silky, romantic "Together Again." Lenny Castro's surefire percussion adds a lively rhythmic vibe to the summery pleasures of "Venice Beach," while the swirling passions of "Ready & Willing" showcase the guitarist at his most intimate. The explosive energy of "Long Ride Home," featuring artsy solo turns by Braun and Camp, perfectly reflects the drive-time lunacy of life on the road. ~ Jonathan Widran

Tracklist:

01. Caravan Of Dreams
(Featuring Boney James)
02. Together Again
(Featuring Boney James)
03. Venice Beach
04. Soul Embrace
05. Long Ride Home
(Featuring Rick Braun)
06. Just Another Day
(Featuring Basia)
07. City Of Lights
08. Cafe Mystique
(Featuring Marc Antoine)
09. Bittersweet
10. Lullaby

Personnel: Peter White (vocals, guitar, accordion, keyboards, synthesizer, mini-Moog synthesizer); Paul Brown (vocals, programming); D. Harvey, Basia (vocals); Marc Antoine (guitar); Dave Camp (flute); Boney James (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, synthesizer); Rick Braun (flugelhorn); Allan A. Sams, Michael Egizi (keyboards, programming); John Mahon (drums, timpani); Joel Rosenblatt (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Daddy Shakespeare, Paul Brown (programming).

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Joe Sample: Old Places Old Faces (1996)

Pianist Joe Sample's Warner Bros. session mostly features relaxed acoustic music. Sample emphasizes his original melodies during his improvisations and is backed quite ably by bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Ralph Penland and an occasional percussionist. Most notable is that tenor saxophonist Charles Lloyd guests on three tracks, playing in his usual mellow version of John Coltrane. But in general this is a relaxing trio set, not overly memorable but relatively quite pleasing. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracklist:
01 - Free Yourself
02 - Black And White (As Simple As)
03 - Clifton's Gold
04 - Old Places Old Faces
05 - Tones For Ben
06 - Hippies On A Corner
07 - Souly Creole
08 - First Love
09 - Miles Of Blue (Blue Miles)
10 - Angels On My Mind
Personnel :
Charles Lloyd - tenor saxophone
Dean Parks - guitar
Lenny Castro - drums, percussion
Joe Sample - piano, Fender Rhodes piano
Ralph Penland - drums
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Steve Lukather: All's Well That Ends Well (2010)

Guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger, Steve Lukather release his new solo album "All's Well That Ends Well" on October 2010 only in Europe. For over 30 years Lukather has been known as one of the founding members of the multi-million selling band TOTO. He has played on hundreds of albums with the biggest stars and music legends including Van Halen, Whitney Houston, Alice Cooper, George Benson, Rod Stewart and even played guitar on Michael Jackson’s multi-million selling milestone album ‘Thriller’.Along with several Grammy Awards over the years, in April 2010 he received the international Eddy Christiani Award for 33 years of guitar mastership. Lukather showcases in this recording his innate feel for rock and guitar music, along with his songwriting talents. The new album is laden with extraordinary guitar playing performed across some of the best and most emotional songs of Steve’s career.

Fee Waybill of THE TUBES is featured on backing vocals and contributes to some of the co-songwriting with CJ Vanston and Lukather. Other friends come up contibuting background vocals, like Joseph Williams (TOTO), Bernard Fowler (ROLLING STONES), Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD).

“I’m very excited because I have some great new music,” says Lukather. - “I am trying for a personal best and working very hard on all aspects of music. It’s a journey, that’s for sure.”

To coincide with the release of the album, Steve will embark on a European tour in November that will take in concerts in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland and England.

The concerts will showcase classics from his all his solo albums, Toto, plus tracks from his new album.

Tracklist:
1. Darkness In My World
2. On My Way Home
3. Can't Look Back
4. Don't Say It's Over
5. Flash In The Pan
6. Watching The World
7. You'll Remember
8. Brodie's
9. Tumescent
Personnel:
Steve Lukather - all guitars, lead & bg vocals
CJ Vanston - keyboards, atmospheres
Steve Weingart - keyboards and atmospheres
Carlitos Del Puerto - bass
Eric Valentine - drums
Lenny Castro - percussion
Joseph Williams, Phil Collen (3) (4), CJ Vanston (3) - background voacals
Trev Lukather - power guitar (4)
Tina Lukather - background vocals (1)
Fee Waybill - background vocals (5) (7)
Bernard Fowler - background vocals (1)
Jory Steinberg - background vocals (1) (2) (8)
All's Well That Ends Well
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