Eric Essix - Stride

Styles: Guitar Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:44
Size: 114,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:14) 1. Stride
(4:54) 2. Coming Home To You
(4:27) 3. The Start Of It
(3:58) 4. Ain't No Sunshine
(5:10) 5. Steady
(5:11) 6. Inside Out
(3:53) 7. Until We All Are Free
(5:28) 8. The Light
(5:32) 9. Slow And Easy
(3:53) 10. Import
(2:59) 11. Slow And Easy (Chill)

Following the success of his Songs From The Deep project, Eric is now set to release his 28th album entitled STRiDE on his Essential Recordings label, again distributed by Lightyear Entertainment/Virgin Music/UMG.

The album features nine original compositions written by Eric and a lush arrangement of the Bill Withers' classic, Ain’t No Sunshine, featuring fellow Birmingham, AL native and American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard. Released as a single, the song is currently climbing the Smooth Jazz Charts.

STRiDE showcases a diverse mix of songs ranging from danceable, funk instrumentals, sultry ballads, hints of blues and traditional jazz textures and, as always, a very intentional nod to Eric's gospel roots. "This album is an extension of the Songs From The Deep record in a sense. I made a conscious effort to build on what I did with that project compositionally and maintain the same kind of vibe. Musically, it just felt like a good place to explore a while longer."

Even though STRiDE does not directly have Eric's southern upbringing in the forefront conceptually for this record, the influences and the sound are still essential ingredients in the mix. "Some things will just always be buried in every note I play I think and those down home elements that are inherent in my playing are never going away. I gave up trying be someone other than myself 22 years ago and learned to embrace who I am as a guitarist and an artist. I haven't looked back."

STRiDE has several uptempo standout's with Steady, Coming Home To You, The Light and the title track leading the pack. However, the ballads Until We All Are Free, Slow And Easy and the beautiful 6/8 time, Inside Out (featuring flutist Claudia Hayden and a brilliant synth solo by Grammy winner, Phil Davis), are compelling vehicles for some of Eric's best guitar work on the session.

"I'm not done yet," Eric says. "In fact, when the last record was so well received, I felt I was starting to hit my 'stride' again with my audience and my music. It really inspired me to keep going and I am excited to see how this album will resonate with listeners."https://ericessix.net/bio

Stride

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Eric Essix - The Isley Sessions

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:28
Size: 162,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:19) 1. Hello It's Me
(6:02) 2. For the Love of You
(6:31) 3. (At Your Best) You Are Love
(5:33) 4. Footsteps in the Dark
(6:47) 5. Make Me Say It Again Girl
(4:24) 6. I Once Had Your Love (And I Can't Let It Go)
(5:26) 7. Let Me Down Easy
(4:56) 8. Caravan of Love
(6:58) 9. Voyage to Atlantis
(3:33) 10. It's Only Me
(4:38) 11. Caravan of Love (Radio Edit)
(4:38) 12. Hello It's Me (Radio Edit)
(4:39) 13. Footsteps in the Dark (Radio Edit)

The Isley Brothers were one of Eric Essix’s favorite bands as a teenager growing up in the seventies. The group enjoyed a lengthy string of hits throughout the decade, beginning with songs from the landmark "3+3" album, where brother’s Ernie, Marvin and cousin Chris Jasper joined the already established vocal trio.

"To say I am a fan of the Isley Brothers and their music is an understatement," Eric says. “When Ernie Isley exploded onto the scene with his brothers, it was like nothing I had ever heard before. Ernie was so much like Jimi Hendrix - who I idolized - and was featured in a soul/r&b band while playing rock guitar licks. For me at that time, it was the best of all worlds and I instantly identified with the music and the sound! It was an important time that really shaped who I would later become as an artist."

When Herbie Hancock released River: The Joni Letters (which won 2 Grammys in 2007), Eric was intrigued by the way Hancock interpreted Joni Mitchell's mostly pop songs in a traditional jazz setting. “I still listen to that album regularly because it is such an amazing tribute to Joni’s music,” Eric says. “It made me want to do a similar project one day. Then I happened to be on the Soul Train Cruise in early 2014 playing with the great Peabo Bryson and got to see Ernie and Ronald Isley perform. In one portion of the show, Ronald was pouring out his soul on some of their classic ballads, and right then I knew this was the music I wanted to explore.”

Although the album begins with Todd Rundgren's, Hello It's Me, the Isley's soulful version of that song in 1974, resonated with Eric and "I just felt like I had to include it in this collection," he says. Kaleah Wooten, daughter of the album's producer, Kelvin Wooten, lends a beautiful background vocal treatment to the songs refrain which mirrors the Isley Brothers original arrangement. Other standout moments from The Isley Sessions come courtesy of singer and jazz keyboardist, Frank McComb who puts his personal stamp on Footsteps In The Dark and Nashville's newest rising star, Jason Eskridge, who contributes a staggering vocal arrangement and performance on Caravan Of Love. The rest of The Isley Sessions features Eric ‘s well defined, signature guitar sound on hit ballads like I Once Had Your Love, Voyage To Atlantis, Let Me Down Easy and Make Me Say It Again. With the skill of a 26 year veteran recording artist who has released 21 albums over his career, Essix respectfully interprets the Isley’s familiar melodies on the guitar and, at the same time, effortlessly makes each one of these musical gems his own with thoughtful arrangements and solid performances.

Personnel: Eric Essix – Guitars (Arranger, Executive Producer); Kelvin Wooten – Piano/Bass/Percussion (Producer); Marcus Finnie – Drums

The Isley Sessions

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