Showing posts with label Bill Meyers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Meyers. Show all posts

Friday, February 2, 2018

Bill Meyers & David Benoit - The Invitation From L.A.

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:26
Size: 100,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Killing Me Softly With His Song
(4:55)  2. Bridge Over Troubled Water
(3:32)  3. Flash Dance
(3:31)  4. Just The Way You Are
(3:55)  5. That's What Friends Are For
(3:58)  6. Sailing
(3:42)  7. Saving All My Love For You
(4:15)  8. The Way We Were
(5:06)  9. You've Got A Friend
(5:06) 10. We Are The World

A jazz/classical pianist and synthesist, Meyer bridges the gap between jazz, rock, and new-age. His is very high-quality music from a compositional perspective.~ Paul Koher https//www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-meyers-mn0000767072/biography

One of the more popular performers in the idiom somewhat inaccurately called "contemporary jazz," David Benoit has mostly performed light melodic background music, what critic Alex Henderson has dubbed "new age with a beat." Benoit has done a few fine jazz projects (including a tribute to Bill Evans and a collaboration with Emily Remler) but most of his output for GRP has clearly been aimed at the charts. He studied composition and piano at El Camino College and, in 1975, played on the soundtrack of the Robert Altman-film Nashville. After recording with Alphonse Mouzon and accompanying singer Gloria Lynne, he was signed to the AVI label when he was 24, recording sets like 1977's Heavier Than Yesterday that paved the way for his later output. In 1986, Benoit signed as a solo artist with GRP, a relationship that would last until 2003. Albums like 1989's Waiting for Spring and 1999's Professional Dreamer showcase his smooth, lyrical style, while projects like his 2000 tribute to Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts scores, Here's to You, Charlie Brown!: 50 Great Years!, demonstrate where his own tastes lie. A decade after their first joint venture, Benoit and Russ Freeman collaborated on Benoit/Freeman Project 2, released by the Concord-associated label Peak in 2004. For 2005's Orchestral Works he was joined by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and members of the Asia America Symphony Orchestra. He released two studio albums including Full Circle in 2006 and Standards, which appeared later that same year. In 2008, Benoit paid tribute to some of his musical idols with the album Heroes. The album saw him covering songs by Elton John, the Beatles, Dave Brubeck, and others. Two years later, Benoit delivered the Clark Germain-produced electronica-inflected album Earthglow, and in 2012, he returned with Conversation, which featured the classical trio-meets-jazz-trio title track taken from his "Music for Two Trios" suite. n 2014, Benoit contributed to former Ambrosia guitarist David Pack's Napa Crossroads set with Alan Parsons, Ray Manzarek, Larry Carlton, Mindi Abair, and others. Benoit shifted focus on his next outing. Deciding to record an all-originals vocal album, he collaborated with lyricists Lorraine Feather, Mark Winkler, and Spencer Day. Released in the June of 2015, 2 in Love featured Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Jane Monheit. She was also featured heavily on Believe, a Christmas recording that appeared just four months later. In 2017, Benoit paired with guitarist Marc Antoine for So Nice! on Shanachie Records. Also that year, he delivered the solo piano date The Steinway Sessions. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-benoit-mn0000635760/biography

Personnel:  Keyboards – Barnaby Finch, Bill Meyers (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9), David Benoit (tracks: 2 to 4, 7, 10);  Backing Vocals – Darlene Koldenhoven (tracks: 7, 10), John Lekman (tracks: 7, 10), Joyce Wilson (tracks: 7, 10);  Bass – Niel Stubenhaus;  Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta; Guitar – Mike Landau;  Percussion – Luis Conte, Oliver C. Brown (tracks: 3, 4, 7, 10);  Saxophone – Brandon Fields (tracks: 1, 4 to 6, 8, 9), Gary Herbig (tracks: 2, 3, 7);  Vocals – Clydene Jackson Edwards* (tracks: 7, 10), Harold Payne (tracks: 4, 10)       

The Invitation From L.A.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Bill Meyers - The Color Of Truth

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:32
Size: 94,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:10)  1. Style
(4:26)  2. Color of the Truth
(5:23)  3. I'm Still Standing
(2:33)  4. Sounds of Rhythm
(4:28)  5. Perfect Crime
(3:23)  6. Fanfare
(4:29)  7. Just Say the Word
(4:12)  8. Say What You Mean
(4:34)  9. Halfway There
(2:50) 10. From a Distance

For a label purporting to be a contemporary jazz outfit, it's curious that Agenda's first two releases were pop/vocal albums (the first was David Lasley's fine Soldiers on the Moon). Perhaps keyboardist/arranger Meyers, who can sing but not exceptionally well (à la David Foster), should've focused on instrumentals since the perky "Fanfare" and the pretty, new age closing piece "From a Distance" are the most likable tunes here. As a pop tunesmith, Meyers is on the average side, much more provocative lyrically than memorable musically, and his voice is no match for his keyboard expertise. Still, the album does have its moments. "Just Say the Word" is a potential soft rock hit and "The Sounds of Rhythm" shows some imagination. Meyers also has some good backing players on hand, most notably Brandon Fields, Mike Landau, Jeff Porcaro, Vinnie Colaiuta, and onetime Styx guitarist Glen Burtnik. Meyers, who has played with and arranged for Earth, Wind & Fire and Madonna, seems to fancy himself a pop artist, but this platter makes it clear that he should be satisfied being a great musician. ~ Jonatham Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/color-of-the-truth-mw0000316081

Personnel: Bill Meyers (piano, keyboards, synthesizer).

The Color Of Truth

Monday, January 22, 2018

Bill Meyers - All Things In Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:59
Size: 112.1 MB
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Pop
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[5:10] 1. High Tide (Feat. Larry Carlton, Lenny Castro & Vinnie Colaiuta)
[4:07] 2. Valdez In The Country (Feat. Sonny Emory & Munyungo Jackson)
[5:28] 3. All Things In Time (Feat. Paul Jackson Jr. & Munyungo Jackson)
[5:12] 4. Lite 'em Up (Feat. Curt Bisquera, Chris Severin, Luis Conte & Tom Scott)
[4:36] 5. Sky (Feat. Earth, Wind & Fire, Sonny Emory & Munyungo Jackson)
[5:44] 6. Changing Times (Feat. Barbara Weathers & Lenny Castro)
[6:04] 7. Marrakesh
[3:18] 8. I've Got The Feelin' (Feat. Chris Severin & Brandon Fields)
[6:45] 9. Across The Water (Feat. Dianne Reeves, Will Wheaton & Brandon Fields)
[2:30] 10. The Heart Remembers

This CD, hard as it is to obtain, is an INCREDIBLE MIX of Jazz. R&B, Pop and Fusion. It features several of the members of Earth, Wind & Fire (Meyers took over the arranging chores from legend Charles Stepney in the late '80's). He infuses World Beat and Brazillian melodies and writes in a very unique but only semi-commercial vein. This is very accessable music, much of it very rhythm/groove oriented. His vocals are pleasant and conveys the mood of the title track (with a tasty groove rhythm). "Valdez In The Country", Donny hathaway's killer hit, is redone here in a uptempo slamming way with finely tuned synth horns and George Duke-style keyboards. "All Across The Water" features Dianne reeves on vocals and has an Afro-centric rhythm feel. It just BREAKS DOWN midway into a SMOKIN Funk romp that you cannot help be pump th evolume on! There is even an update on James Brown's "I Got The Feelin'". But it's the WAY Bill Meyers arranges these tracks that makes this a standout Jazz/Funk/Pop blend that I, for one, certainly enjoyed and cannot stop playing. Thjis album IS a bit hard to categorize, I suppose. I agree that "IMAGES" is Meyer's orchestral tour de force, and is closer to an Alan Silvestri movie soundtrack album (which is STILL good). It IS beautifully done-also impossible to find. But ALL THINGS IN TIME is a fantastic update to Meyer's sound and style. Contemporary Jazz lovers (like me) will find it simply astonishing and beautifully executed. For the curious, to get an idea of Meyer's song style, listen to "RUNNIN" (from E,W&F's "All In All" album). THAT track, is essential Meyers at his Contempo best! ~Contemporary Media Intrispectives

All Things In Time mc
All Things In Time zippy