Mike Fageros Organ Trio - On The Loose

Size: 141,5 MB
Time: 61:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Close Your Eyes ( 7:06)
02. Just for Then ( 6:33)
03. Invitation ( 6:48)
04. One Step Ahead ( 7:02)
05. Angel Eyes ( 6:45)
06. Minority (10:04)
07. Love for Sale ( 5:57)
08. Just for Then (Alternate Version) (11:25)

The CD "On the Loose" is guitarists Mike Fageros aka (The Unknown Guitarist) 6th CD to date. His selection of fellow sidemen Pat Bianchi/Hammond and Carmen Intorre Jr/Drums takes the music to a new level. The tracks are all live with no overdubs in an open setting in the studio so as to increase the listeners perception that he or she might just be in a jazz club with their eyes closed catching a set. What you are about to hear is pure unabashed jazz in the guitar/organ/drums trio setting with incredible musical interaction between the players. The arrangements were done by Mike with help from his friend and fellow guitarist, Clint Strong on Close Your Eyes and Love for sale.

Whether you are looking for straight ahead bop, funk, standards, 6/8 or a ballad, "On the Loose" covers it all and we believe in recording "the old school way" with you the listener in mind. No isolation booths, everything in real time, just an honest blowing session with some truly incredible and soulful moments!

The story behind the session is an interesting one. Guitarist Mike Fageros had always loved the way Pat Bianchi and Carmen Intorre Jr swung so hard when they toured with legendary guitarist Pat Martino. With this in mind, Mike's first choice for sidemen was obvious. When the decision was made to record, Carmen's home town of Buffalo was selected using the facilities of Audio Magic and Mike drove in from Detroit to make it happen.

Special appreciation is given to Pat Martino for the use of "Just for Then" as well as guitarist Clint Strong for helping with the arrangenents on Close Your Eyes and Love For Sale.

Thanks to Marc.
On The Loose

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Mike Fageros - Mars In October

Size: 87,6 MB
Time: 37:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Bebop
Art: Front

01. Mars In October (3:15)
02. Footprints (6:36)
03. Tribute To Paul Yeargers (4:50)
04. These Are Soulful Days (2:43)
05. Dear Luis (3:35)
06. In A Mellow Mood (4:50)
07. Little Sunflower (7:39)
08. Mr. Jimmy Smith (4:09)

Texas guitarist Mike Fageros is a relative unknown in the larger spectrum of the "music business". This release "Mars in October", is a melange of originals and classic jazz standards like Shorter's "Footprints" and Hubbard's "Little Sunflower", not to mention "These are Soulful Days" as well. If you are a jazz lover or a guitarist, you will definately find something appealing on this CD.

Wes Montgomery fans will love the rendition of "In a Mellow Mood" and as well, fans of the late Hammond B3 Organist Jimmy Smith will love the treatment of the tune re-arranged by Mike entitled simply, "Mr. Jimmy Smith". The track is a medium tempo swing based on alternate blues changes with a few organ riffs thrown in for good measure as "Jimmy" would have liked.

This CD will be his second release and more effort has been put into this creation than any previous project. His teaming up with the "Young Lion", Houston drummer Jovol Bell has given his career new direction. That and with the addition of sidemen DeLover Axel and Kato Mc Kay (Al McKay's son) utilizes the guitar trio to its utmost. With few overdubs, and many live cuts, the real music comes through, similar to many of the Blue Note Albums in the 60's. The result is self evident in the final product, jazz guitar playing at its best.

Mars In October

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Mike Fageros - Booker Ervin Tribute (Jazz Organ Trio)

Size: 100,3 MB
Time: 43:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Bebop
Art: Front

01. Just Friends (6:14)
02. Den Tex (6:14)
03. Stella By Starlight (5:02)
04. Take Five (Alt Take) (4:26)
05. Nicas Dream (9:49)
06. Midnite Tippin' (6:40)
07. Voyage (4:57)

When guitarist Mike Fageros hooked up with Hammond Organist Booker Patterson and Drummer Marion Booker (previously on Cookbook w/George Benson), the musicians decided to pay "Hommage to tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin". Booker Ervin hailed from Texas as does Mike Fageros so they decided on two tracks that Booker Ervin made famous.

The first is a cut from the "Tex Book Tenor" CD by Booker Ervin entitled "Den Tex", which basically is an abbreviation for "Denton Texas" about 30 miles north of Dallas on Interstate 35 where the North Texas University is located. North Texas University has always had the reputation for being one of the best if not "the best" colleges for aspiring jazz musicians. Little wonder that Booker Ervin hailed from there before he made his trek up to "The Big Apple".

Secondarily, Guitarist Mike Fageros plays another Booker Ervin tune that was the title track of one of Booker Ervin's CD'S entitled "Just Friends". Even though Mike Fageros and Booker Ervin come from different periods of jazz, there is a deep undertone and connection between the two artists.

Regarding the first cut, "Den Tex", the trumpeter that Ervin chose for his session was none other than Woody Shaw. You can hear some of the nuances of Ervin and Shaw in Mike Fageros' solo, weaving in and out during the descending chromatic dominant thirtheent chords. As well, you can hear the post modern bop influences of Ervin and Shaw in Hammond Organist Booker Patterson's playing and the steady bop feel from drummer Marion Booker. Marion had as well performed with Hammond Organists Lonnie Smith on the "Think" CD (Blue Note) and with Jimmy McGriff on "Groove Grease".

The CD is rounded out in the same tradition as Ervin did with some solid "Standards" in the form of an up tempo version of "Stella" including an "Ervinesque" version of Brubeck's "Take Five" with some excellent "going out" as Booker Ervin would have. Bonus tracks of Kenny Baron's "Voyage" and Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream" along with Tipper Mike Fageros title track "Midnite Tippin" from the Midnite Tippin CD are also included in this exciting CD.

Booker Ervin Tribute

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Mike Fageros - Melange De Jazz / Midnite Tippin'

Album: Melange De Jazz
Size: 143,0 MB
Time: 61:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Guitar
Art: Front

01. Son Of Ice Bag (7:42)
02. Recorda Me (3:57)
03. Rita (Texas Hurricane) (4:44)
04. Minority (5:23)
05. Mad Hatter (4:29)
06. Take Five (4:09)
07. Love Trip (6:11)
08. Prodigal Son (5:08)
09. Song For My Father (5:12)
10. Sunny (4:54)
11. Impressions (7:37)
12. Mars Project (2:05)

MELANGE = MIXTURE, BLEND (action) MIXING OR BLENDING OF JAZZ OR MIXOLOGY AS THE CASE MAY BE.

In this case we are talking about a mix or blend of jazz in regards to instrumentation and the style of jazz.

The first cut, Son of Ice Bag, is a tribute to legendary Hammond Organist Dr. Lonnie Smith. Houston Organist Travis Doyle really does it justice, with Mike taking the first solo in the Melvin Sparks tradition and drummer Andrew Griffin paying tribute to drummer Marion Booker who played on the original cut with Dr. Lonnie. Organist Travis Doyle is also featured on Fageros' composition "Rita" the Texas Hurricane which is a dedication to the citizens of Texas and Lousiana Gulf Coast, who suffered severely as a result of Hurrricane Rita (2005).

Take five, a Brubeck composition is "Funked Up" a la Benson with the same personnel, Mike on guitar, Travis Doyle Hammond B-3 and Andrew Griffin on drums. Hammond Organist Robert Sanders, no stranger to Top Secret(Smokin' on the B-3) is featured on tracks 2,4,5,7 and 8. He also makes his debut as a composer at Top Secret with his soulful "Love Trip" which features some great work by drummer Andrew Griffin. Andrew's discography includes Hammond impressario Joey DeFrancesco and tenor titan Marschal Ivery on the "Marschal meets Joey" CD(Leaning House).

Minority features the same trio, Robert Sanders(Hammond), Andrew Griffin(drums), and Mike on guitar. It really swings as does the remake of the Henderson composition, "Recorda Me, that offers a Latin feel.

We have gone back to the "Cookbook" feel(Dr. Lonnie, George and Marion) to get the "Return of the Prodigal Son", with a great solo by Mike. The Mad Hatter is an original by Mike dedicated to Pat Martino, that has a groove type feel in 6/8 that reminds us of the days when Pat used to play with Organist Trudy Pitts.

Three bonus tracks, Song for My Father, Sunny and Impressions are included with a different core group, Mike on guitar, Spare Time Murray bass and John Fontenot drums. This trio has a great spontaneous feel and check out how they stretch on Impressions.

Last but not least is "Mars Project" a Fageros composition done on electric 12 string which is an experiment into the abstract using consonance and dissonance.

In all, 62 min. and 3 seconds of Melange, we are sure that you the listener will enjoy. All tracks were recorded live in the studio with Mars Project having the only overdubs.

Melange De Jazz

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Album: Midnite Tippin' Vol. 1
Size: 135,0 MB
Time: 58:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Guitar
Art: Front

01. Black Nile (5:28)
02. Opus De Don (6:00)
03. The Midnite Tipper (6:40)
04. Voyage (4:57)
05. Tune Up (5:24)
06. Nica's Dream (9:49)
07. Inner Urge (5:17)
08. Lean Years (8:24)
09. Softly As A Morning Sunrise (6:12)

Detroit was the city and Jazz was the game, so when Guitarist Mike Fageros, Organist Chris Codish and Drummer Ron Pangborn hooked up at the Cadieux Cafe on the East Side during Sunday night "Soul Sundays" jazz session, they decided to take it to the next level and record at the "White Room" to make it official.

During one of the coldest days of March 2009, which would have been the third, with the temperature down around 18 degrees, they recorded the first session for the project Midnite Tippin' known herein as Volume I.

Enclosed in the grooves, you will find the warm sounds of their version of the Guitar,Organ,Drums Trio with great arrangements of standards by legendaries including Horace Silver, Pat Martino,Don Patterson, Wayne Shorter,Miles Davis, Joe Henderson and Kenny Barron along with the title track written by Mike Fageros entitled The Midnite Tipper'.

Special thanks go out to Pat Martino, Oksana Neverkovich,John Smerek, Candice Byrd and Jeff Smith at Southwest Recording for help on the project. The title track The Midnite Tipper' is dedicated to Pat Martino.

Midnite Tippin' Vol. 1

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