Los Angeles, CA- When is
the last time a jazz ensemble named after the nefarious scheme of a James Bond
villain packed such a solidly melodic and grooving punch?
Project
Grand Slam, named by leader Robert Miller as a play on “Goldfinger”’s plan to
steal all the gold from Fort Knox, is probably the first—and he and PGS are up
to plenty of melodic and grooving wonder this summer on Spring Dance, their
explosive new album on Cakewalk Records.
The collection’s lead track is its title tune,
an upbeat, feel-good, winner penned by Miller. Miller’s other songs include the
Joe Zawinal tribute “Joe Z,” a high energy blast that brings to mind the fiery
fusion magic of Weather Report, complete with exotic chanting and old school
keyboards; the sensual and elegant soprano sax led ballad “Ma Petite Fleur,” a
piece Miller dedicates to his wife and that he calls his favorite on the collection;
the brass-fired, classic blues-funk explosion “Catch You Later”; and “Flat
Busted,” an in-the-pocket, mid tempo grooving urban jazz tune featuring Gilad
Ronen’s hypnotic flute runs.
Ronen and Joye Hennessey’s “Remember” is
featured first as a dramatic and soulful, longing romantic vocal (highlighted
by strings and an emotional sax solo) and, as a coda to Spring Dance, a thoughtful and reflective instrumental that evolves
into a percussive, easy rolling, rhythmically engaging samba. Ronen also
composed the ambient, slightly melancholy ballad “The Turn,” which featured a
smoky sax melody and soaring horn textures.
The band
also covered the old Hollie’s hit, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”. Says Miller: “Joye did an incredible job with
the song, almost like Mariah Carey singing jazz!”.
The
eclectic nine-track collection is the follow-up release to PGS’ critically
acclaimed 2008 debut, Play, which
included the Top 20 jazz radio hit “The Captain Of Her Heart” (sung by Judie
Tzuke). Five of the tracks from Play,
along with the band itself (with Miller having a speaking part), were
prominently featured in an episode of the hit NBC-TV series “Lipstick Jungle,”
starring Brooke Shields. PGS did several live performances at clubs in NYC in
addition to a charity show for the Ronald McDonald House.
For the
new album Miller invited Mike Eckroth, keyboardist for guitar legend John Scofield,
and alto sax man Danny Lerman to complement the core trio. After a few days of
rehearsal, the new lineup of PGS convened in the studio and nailed the basic
tracks in a week, with most songs done in two or three takes. After some
overdubs, Justin Smith was brought in to sweeten some of the tracks with
strings. And Joye Hennessey added her soaring vocals.
Miller is
a renowned solo artist. His debut project, Child’s
Play (Wildcat Records 1994) included performances by Randy Brecker, Jon
Lucien and Anton Fig; his follow up, Prisoners
of Love (1996) was released on 32 Records, a label Miller co-founded that
became famous in the late ‘90s for a series of “Jazz For…” compilation
recordings (Jazz For a Rainy Afternoon,
Jazz For The Quiet Time, etc.) that dominated
the Billboard Jazz charts and sold well over one million units. His band, The
Robert Miller Group, played at many major New York area clubs, graduating to
the national festival circuit where they appeared with artists like Bruce
Hornsby, Bela Fleck and Kenny Barron.
“The essence of where we are as a group, and
where I am personally in my life, is captured in the title track of the album with
its upbeat vibe,” says Miller. “It’s a feel good kind of piece with an
uplifting melody, funky beat and elements of my jazz fusion background. We’re
all about strong melodies and great playing. What excites me most is exciting
the listener.”
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