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CDs and SALES
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I started AERIE RECORDS as a company whose
sole function was to produce CDs (specifically, my CDs). It is
a sole proprietorship. AERIE RECORDS began in 1995 to produce
my first CD and at the same time I became a member of BMI for
writing, and for publishing with VOCALESE MUSIC INK.
TCB Music (which stands for "Takin'
Care of Business") is an independent Swiss jazz label selling
to markets around the world, owned and operated by well-known
Swiss jazz drummer, Peter Schmidlin. TCB
Music is located in the beautiful French Swiss city of Montreux,
home to the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival.
I currently have three CDs produced by AERIE
RECORDS (my original contributions/Vocalese Music Ink). The first two are distributed
by TCB and the most recent is currently distributed on line via CD Baby. |
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IS IT MAGIC? is comprised of 12 tunes, 8 of which are my originals. For me, this CD has been the most risky and I am grateful to my co-producer and arranger, Greg Gordon Smith, for helping me make this album contemporary. I am also grateful to bassist Pablo Motto for taking the Sting tune FRAGILE and turning it into a traditional Argentinian waltz and to dummer Chris Wabich for taking TAKE FIVE and suggesting we play it in 10/8. Finally, I am forever grateful to Scheila Gonzalez for playing the flute and sax solos just exactly the way they should be played, with imagination and heart. This is the CD I am the most proud of. Please give the tracks a listen. I hope you like them.
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My second CD, JAZZ AT THE RANCH, is a live concert recording.
It was recorded in a National Park at a concert I give every
year during a summer series sponsored by the U.S. National Park
Service in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
The stunning, rustic venue, complete with oak and eucalyptus
trees in the City of Malibu, is called the Peter Strauss Ranch.
I call this CD "JAZZ AT THE RANCH." Joining me on this
CD is Ken Rosser on guitar, Carey Christensen on bass, Mike Faue
on percussion and drums, and Chuck Manning on tenor saxophone.
JAZZ AT THE RANCH is a special CD for
me, not only because of the venue but also because the musicians,
the audience and I received a pre-concert blessing by my friend,
Hereditary Elder of the Southern Chumash, Tiq Slo, Chief Charlie
Cook |
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My first CD "JUST JAZZ" was
recorded live in the studio at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California.
It consists of originals and covers and is backed by some of
the best musicians in Los Angeles. Special guest on this CD is
saxophonist Ernie Watts, whose friendship I am constantly grateful
for. Ernie graces "JUST JAZZ" on "Our Lonely Hearts
and "Round Midnight." The tune "Our Lonely Hearts"
began as an Ernie Watts composition. Co-written with David Whitman
and originally titled "Lonely Hearts," it can be found
on Ernie's JVC album "Unity." With my lyrics, the song
is called "Our Lonely Hearts." |
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JUST JAZZ and JAZZ AT THE RANCH can also be
purchased via TCB MUSIC or at my concerts. IS IT MAGIC? can also be purchased via CD Baby. Please see my Performance
Schedule link. Or, please feel free to e-mail me about CDs directly.
Finally, though I myself am not of Native
American ancestry, my label AERIE RECORDS and I support the Native
American Cultural Center FRIENDS OF SATWIWA, an inter-tribal
cultural center located in the Santa Monica Mountains and in
partnership with the U.S. National Parks. It is an inter-tribal
center for all Native Americans to come and share their culture,
and a learning center for all peoples. |
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