What’s New:
Let Me Call You Sweetheart – This is an adaptation of the old waltz from 1910 (Yes that Let Me Call You Sweetheart) that was updated and funkified by John Seiter and myself, with a rap section written by Sharaya J (Missy Elliot’s protégé, and choreographer to a host of A-list Urban stars). The rhythm section and horns (including the great Tenor Sax solo by Gary Herbig) were all recorded live at East West Studios in Hollywood. The only overdubs were the vocals, Ellis’ organ and a touch of sweetening, but it is primarily a live recording. This version features the unparalleled Ellis Hall on lead vocal and organ, the amazing rising star Sharaya J rapping, and a vocal cameo from the one and only Táta Vega, the legendary Waters on background vocals, and the best band anywhere! Including Jim Cox on piano and Ralph Humphrey on drums.
This is my homage to Chick Corea. I have long admired Chick and love his iconic composition Spain. On a sailing trip to Mallorca, Spain several years ago I fell in love with the islands, the sailing, the people, and of course the food and the wine. And I wrote this piece not to copy Chick’s classic composition, but to try and capture the essence of the Iberian Peninsula and of course, to pay homage to Chick. For the opening section of the piece, I wanted to evoke the richness of Iberia with a history dating back to some of the first cave painting of early Man to the conquest of the Phoenicians. For this section I utilized the unique talents of LA session musician Phil Ayling. Phil is best known as a principle oboist for numerous film scores by A list composers. But here, I had Phil play an array of exotic (and in some cases ancient) woodwind instruments to conjure an “otherworldly” vibe to take up back in time. This section morphs into the groove driven by the rhythm section featuring Kait Dunton, piano, Dominic Genova, bass, Jake Reed, drums, Brian Kilgore Percussion, and John Goux guitar. The melody (reminiscent of the sounds from Chicks Return to Forever) is sensitively delivered by Jeff Driskill on flute and Katja Pod Koren, vocals. The middle section gives way to a chorus featuring the legendary Waters on vocals along with Katja leading to the beautifully inventive soprano sax solo from Jeff and final reiteration of the melody.
For this recording I teamed up with Indian violinist, composer and recording artist Sharat Chandra Srivastava to create a unique blend of jazz and World Music in an East Meets West tour de force featuring the outstanding young Slovenian jazz vocalist, Katja Pod Koren and an International cast of stellar musicians. We recorded keyboards in my studio in Los Angeles, tabla and violin in New Dehli, then back to LA to record Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, then sent the track to Scotland to record percussion in Glasgow, then back to LA to record a Slovenian pianist and a Slovenian vocalist. If this does not qualify as World Music, I don’t know what will. ”This is a very special song which speaks to a world without borders. We are all living on this beautiful planet as one family and look forward to a time when we are free to explore, meet new people, understand their cultures, habits, food and share the love. For us as musicians we have only one language which is music and music is love. This song has so many musicians from India, America and Europe - all from different walks of life, who come together merging into this song to become one. This song is about freedom, care, compassion, love for each one of us living on this beautiful planet. In today’s times we see so many unpleasant things going around everywhere, so this song is a message, a plea, a prayer to the world to open all the borders to spread love.” -Sharat Chandra Srivastava
Almas Gemelas - This is a song that I did not write or produce. However, I was one of the engineers and we recorded a lot of it at my studio and shot the video at my home and studio. In fact, this was the last project at the Studio City home, before dismantling the studio and moving to Woodland Hills.
Anyway, this is a lovely gen written and produced by my old friend Nan Schwartz, and featuring the ever lovely Tierney Sutton and my new friend Javier Almaráz.
In Javier’s words…”Tierney Sutton landed in L.A. from her European tour “The Sting Variations” along with a Grammy nomination, she made some space to sing in Spanish with me this new hot gem “Almas Gemelas” by Maestrissima Nan Schwartz.”
It's time to get up and shake it out, get groovin'!
Listen to our new single with Ellis Hall Music "Can't Stand It"
