Lorber worked with Colomby for the first time on When I Fall in Love, the orchestral project that transformed trumpeter Chris Botti into an international superstar Colomby was the album’s producer, while Lorber helped arrange the radio single, “No Ordinary Love.” Once he knew he wanted to take the 180-degree turn, Lorber felt that Colomby would be the perfect choice to helm He Had a Hat. His first three Narada Jazz projects, including Kickin’ It (2001) and Philly Style (2003), featured Lorber creating fresh tracks with fellow first-call producer Steven Dubin. But on his later projects, Lorber sought fresh inspiration himself by collaborating with other producers. Two of my biggest influences have always been Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans, and with this record I think we were able to approach the kind of progressive jazz they are famous for.”Īs high-charting, pop/jazz-oriented releases like West Side Stories (1994), State of Grace (1996) and Midnight (1998) were establishing him as one of the genre’s top artists, Lorber also became an in- demand producer every smooth jazz artist looking for a hit melody and groove, from Michael Franks to Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun, tapped his behind- the-board talents.
JEFF LORBER FUSION YOUTUBE FREE
Even if I didn’t have an overriding specific concept going in, I knew I wanted to be free from the usual expectations. What I’ve done previously is more about songwriting and creating a style, but the music here is about just playing, having incredible fun and ensemble energy with some of my all-time favorite musicians. The timing is perfect because I get the sense that a lot of people are looking for something unique and different out there.
“I’ve been making funky jazz for some time now, and some of my early Jeff Lorber Fusion projects pointed the way to what became the smooth jazz radio format. “I’m making a quantum shift on He Had a Hat because I felt it was time to shake things up a bit,” says Lorber. Colomby, former drummer and a founding member of jazz-rock legends Blood, Sweat & Tears, also recruited that band’s esteemed horn section for five of the recording’s tracks. Lorber’s guest list rolls like a euphoric, multi-genre jazz encyclopedia: Randy Brecker, Chris Botti, Brian Bromberg, Tom Scott, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Bob Sheppard, Hubert Laws, Alex Al, Paul Jackson, Jr., Paul Brown, Russell Malone, Abe Laboriel, Jr., Dave Weckl and Vinnie Colaiuta. Over the course of 13 tracks, the keyboardist pays homage to a wide range of his favorite influences, tapping into everything from gospel and brass-driven old school jazz-fusion to smoky and sultry Miles Davis-flavored moods, hard driving bebop, swinging jazz and, of course, his more familiar funk-jazz vibe.
JEFF LORBER FUSION YOUTUBE FULL
Long considered one of modern music’s most adventurous players and performers, Lorber goes full throttle on He Had a Hat, taking a freewheeling, stylistically varied approach as whimsical as the collection’s title (a punchline from a beloved old Borscht Belt joke). The disc marks his first recording under Narada Jazz’s new affiliation with the Blue Note label.
Riffing quite literally on the title of his 2005 Grammy-nominated recording Flipside, Lorber stretches beyond his comfort zone on He Had a Hat, a distinctively eclectic “player’s session” with a batch of contemporary jazz’s most exciting artists. – Happy Birthday !!! Some three decades after breaking funky R&B-jazz ground as leader of the pioneering Jeff Lorber Fusion, the Philly- born and bred composer, producer and keyboard legend still believes in the element of surprise.
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