Jeff Lorber Fusion Trio
Fusion Jazz (USA)
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AVAILABILITY 2023 FOR EUROPE
OCTOBER 20th / NOVEMBER 5th
Jeff Lorber | Keyboards
Jimmy Haslip | Bass
Sonny Emory | Drums
Jeff Lorber (Jeffrey H. Lorber born November 4, 1952) is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Prototype by his band the Jeff Lorber Fusion.
Many of his songs have appeared on the Weather Channel’s Local on the 8s segments and on the channel’s compilation albums, The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz and The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his album He Had a Hat (Blue Note, 2007).
Jeff Lorber Fusion
His first group, the Jeff Lorber Fusion, released their self-titled debut album The Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1977 on Inner City Records. Supported by a revolving cast of musicians, including drummer Dennis Bradford, he recorded five studio albums under this moniker. These early albums showcased a funky sound influenced by other jazz fusion practitioners such as Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, and Return to Forever, the latter’s Chick Corea appearing on several songs. Like his contemporaries, Lorber performed on multiple keyboard instruments, including piano, Rhodes piano, and analog synthesizers, often favoring the Minimoog and Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. The Jeff Lorber Fusion’s 1980 album, Wizard Island, introduced saxophonist Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, better known as Kenny G.
Solo career
In 1984 he released his second solo album In the Heat of the Night and Jeff Lorber Fusion compilation album Lift Off. Later that year, he and the production duo of David Frank and Mic Murphy, otherwise known as the System, produced Step by Step. The title track, written with Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, rose to number 31 in the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. The song “Facts of Love” (featuring Karyn White) from the 1986 album Private Passion was his biggest chart hit, reaching No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the R&B chart. Several singles from this period also appeared on the Billboard Dance charts. However, Lorber was not satisfied that he was being overtaken by a more vocal and R&B feel on his own albums, so he took a seven-year hiatus. After Step by Step, he quoted Clive Davis as telling him, “We really want you to put more vocals on your records”, which Lorber thought was a mistake.
Lorber’s keyboard work appeared in the video game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. His input can be heard during the game’s closing theme song “I Am the Wind” (which also featured the saxophonist Gerald Albright).
Two greatest hits compilation albums were released in 2000 and 2002. Flipside (2005) was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, his 2013 album Hacienda was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album. In 2018, he received a Grammy for his album Prototype in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category.
Lorber has done extensive production and session work for other musicians, including Dave Koz, Eric Benét, Herb Alpert, Carol Duboc and Laura Branigan. He hosts a show on Sirius Satellite Radio.
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JIMMY HASLIP
James Robert Haslip (born December 31, 1951) is an American bass guitarist who was a founding member of the jazz fusion group the Yellowjackets, which he left in 2012. He was also an early user of the five-string electric bass.
Early life and career
Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican immigrants, Spanish was Haslip’s first language and he learned to speak English in kindergarten. His father, James Joseph (Jaime) Haslip (1915–1999) served in the United States Customs Service, beginning as a Merchant Marine until moving to patrolman and eventually deputy commissioner, marrying Jimmy’s mother Virginia (Viera) Haslip (1912-2009) in 1937.
Haslip moved to Huntington, New York when he was four years old. At age seven, he began playing drums and then moved onto other instruments such as trumpet and tuba until playing bass at age 15. Although he took music lessons and went to a private music school, he considers himself self-taught. He has said that he went to a local music shop with his father and purchased a right-handed bass (he is left-handed) and learned to play it upside down (without restringing).
In an interview with magazine JazzTimes, Haslip said he was surrounded by music as a young boy, from visiting nightclubs and concert venues to his peers. He explains that there was music in his house as well, from his older brother Gabriel listening to classic jazz, his father listening to Latin and orchestra jazz and his aunt listening to “sappy stuff like Jerry Vale and Johnny Mathis”. In high school, Haslip created his first band called Soul Mine with his high school classmates, playing soul music at school dances and parties.
In the early 1970s Haslip played with New York glam band Street Punk, he toured alongside musicians, and moved to Los Angeles in 1976, where he played with guitarists Tommy Bolin and Harvey Mandel. in addition to the Yellowjackets, he has worked with Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Bruce Hornsby, Rita Coolidge, Gino Vannelli, Kiss, Tommy Bolin, Allan Holdsworth, Marilyn Scott, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Donald Fagen, and Anita Baker.
Haslip has released two solo albums: Arc, and Red Heat, with Joe Vannelli, in 2000. He was active with the Yellowjackets between 1977 and 2012. He was part of a combo with Allan Holdsworth, Alan Pasqua, and Chad Wackerman. Other collaborations include Jing Chi (with Robben Ford and Vinnie Colaiuta) and Modereko. Haslip was a member of the rock group Blackjack from 1979–1980 with Bruce Kulick, Sandy Gennaro, and Michael Bolton. He also toured with guitarist Allan Holdsworth and drummer Virgil Donati.
In 2012, Haslip took a year-long hiatus from Yellowjackets, which later turned permanent. Haslip wanted to devote more time to his family and other musical projects. He was replaced in Yellowjackets by Felix Pastorius, the son of Jaco Pastorius. Regarding this topic, he stated: “The primary reason for my hiatus is so that I can spend more quality time with my family”, says Haslip. “I spent ten months on the road last year. The break will give me an opportunity to spend more time at home as well as work on other artistic endeavors, such as independently producing projects”. Haslip adds, “This was not a rash decision and there is no animosity by any means. Everybody is still friends and I’m excited for the band and their upcoming plans with Felix”.
SONNY EMORY
Sonny Emory is a native of Atlanta who received his first drum set at the age of four. After graduating from Georgia State University with a Bachelor in Jazz Performance, Sonny began his transition into becoming a professional drummer playing with Joe Sample and the Crusaders. With over 30 years of live performance and studio work behind him, Sonny maintains a busy schedule in the music industry and is highly regarded in the business.
Though probably best known for his groundbreaking drumming with Earth, Wind, and Fire; Sonny has performed with a virtual “who’s who” in pop and jazz music including Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau, Paula Abdul, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Boz Scaggs. He is also known for innovative visual effects during live performances that include exciting stick-twirling and back-sticking techniques. As a World Renowned Drummer and Grammy Award Winner, Sonny is considered to be one of the greatest drummers to have come along in a while. His proficiency and style have awarded him the opportunity to record on platinum status albums such as the B52s’ Cosmic Thing and Steely Dan’s Grammy award winning Two against Nature.
While Sonny is in high demand as a touring musician for what he delivers during live performances, he is equally in demand for studio work. He is a former member of the legendary group Earth, Wind, and Fire, having held down the drum seat for thirteen years. Sonny has additionally played with artist that include Bruce Hornsby, Jennifer Lopez, Lee Ritenour, Bette Midler, Steely Dan and he is currently touring with Eric Clapton.
In early 2015, Sonny completed a tour with Spyro Gyra and ended the year by performing in the Dreams Come True Japanese Wonderland Tour. Currently, he is gigging with Lee Ritenour, Jeff Lorber and Bruce Hornsby and Eric Clapton. Sonny’s latest CD entitled “Love is the Greatest” was released worldwide though Universal Japan on October 10, 2017.
PROFESSOR
With a wealth of teaching experience, Sonny is committed to balancing academics and entertainment. He served as an Adjunct Professor of Applied Percussion at Georgia State University. Additionally, Sonny teaches private lessons to assist students in developing their craft and setting long-term goals in order to be successful in their chosen musical endeavors.
CLINICIAN
Sonny has performed countless clinics and master classes in academic settings, drum stores, and during national music conferences, both independently and for his endorsers YAMAHA Drums and ZILDJIAN Cymbals.
COMPOSER/MOVIE CREDITS
Sonny co-wrote the tune “Crusin”, which can be heard on the score to Spike Lee’s 1998 film “Get on the Bus”. Also, he worked on the “Lethal Weapon II” soundtrack with Eric Clapton and David Sanborn. He most recently performed on the score to Spike Lee’s 2015 film “Chiraq”. Sonny released several projects, including “Hypnofunk” produced by the late, Maurice White, founder of Earth, Wind and Fire. Sonny has also released a jazz project entitled “E.S.P.”, and a funk project entitled “Love’s Pure Light” and “Rock Hard Cachet” featuring Eric Clapton and Bruce Hornsby.
His latest release on Aftertouch Music is titled “ FULL TILT featuring SONNY EMORY”
ENDORSEMENTS
Sonny is endorsed by YAMAHA Drums, ZILDJIAN Cymbals,Vic Firth Drumsticks, Remo drum heads, Shure Microphones, Meyers Sound Systems, Toca Percussion, and LP Percussion.
Jeff Lorber Fusion
Website: https://www.lorber.com/
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