New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Sunset Jazz Recordings) - Smooth jazz saxophonist Don Ward's debut release Dreaming is a ten song delightful symphonic jazz masterpiece with melodic grooves interweave a blend of keyboard with constant bass beats. His jazz-mood style of playing is similar to
John Coltrane and Miles Davis with magic carpet rides made up of upbeat grooves of saxophone escalates smoothly throughout the underlying support of drums. The harmonious expressions have a pleasing flow that blends sweet sounds with sonic perfection making for an amazing magic carpet ride from song to song along with quintessential festive jazz drive.
Produced, recorded and mixed by Rod Millwood, Dreaming features ten songs making up one of the top jazz records of the year. As an acclaimed producer and composer for many popular music artists today (Gina Thompson, Mykal Rose, L. Myers, Kevin Hart, more), his latest production with Ward is proving to develop yet another acclaimed solo artist with smooth jazz over tones for his fans to admire. Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz Recordings says he is still looking to sign more 'jazz styled artists' this year at the jazz record label. The brand new upstart jazz label started last year by Lichterman (Don) has two releases coming out this 2nd quarter in 2009 (LR-60 & Mr. Moods release their Acid Jazz Trip Hop Coldest Memories' CD on May 5th).
Ward begins with an upbeat predisposed syncopation on 'Black Diamond' honing in on an old school night club feel with great saxophone expressions and joyful grooves. The CD proceeds with the track 'Loves Amazing,' which ignites foot stomping beats and funky horn grooves along suave movements that show off excellent transitional chord changes with a seamless pace throughout the next few songs. 'Ride' then shows us a smooth jazz melodic side of the jazz aficionado while the upbeat funky rhythms off the song named for the album title, 'Dreaming' is an easy jazz allurement as far as accessibility.
The overtones of 'Tribute To Grover' are a perfect fusion of horns and keyboards enticing some vocals reciting the name of the song. Contrasting the activity of 'Midnight Hazel' is the melodic ballad although all the songs have a sense of melody. 'On The Come Up' rounds of the full length CD with a soft and flowy momentum led by incredible sax playing. The flamboyant sax camber of the Dreaming CD has a definite jazz club feel with smooth moves mixed in with toe tapping beats that ride into the relaxing grooves of a great jazz album.
Ward's tribute if you will, to the legend Grover Washington Jr. 'Tribute To Grover' is an elegant with graceful sax based song representing long grooves and a wonderful ride. Ward has an amazing offering with this debut CD release showing off his jazz overtones and elegance of the chord movements in every song. All songs are original with upbeat funky hooks, energetic horn action and soaring grooves that bring in any jazz listener into its festive world. Ward also uniquely presents a new vision in jazz by adding in comfortable vocals on a few tracks that blend in every so subtly, like on 'Dreaming,'' which is not only a shroud in delicately enthused sax playing rising and falling at a relaxed yet upbeat pace. His compositions are a mouthwatering combo of a flowing horn and bass riff coordinated by Ward and Millwood. The album epitomizes smooth jazz with soothing ballads and magic carpet rides making up beautiful melodies throughout every song and the title track 'Dreaming' with its deliberate style of horn playing into an ultimate CD.
Don Ward's debut album Dreaming embraces the idealistic warmth of smooth jazz and brings the listener into a satisfying sense of style. This CD makes an easy introduction into the smooth jazz format at its finest and shows an attraction for its inherent splendor. Ward is the type of music artist that that is not only perfect for 'chilling out,' seeing Ward live is toe tapping experience. For the listener, this is a record that is so accessible that you will want to listen to it over and over many times. The CD is available at every retail outlet around the world, including Borders, Amazon, Target, CD Universe and every retailer that sells downloads, streams and ringtones (iTunes, Real/Rhapsody, eMusic, Napster, Verizon Wireless, Myxer, etc.)
Tracks:
01 - Black Diamond (4:46)
02 - Loves Amazing (4:21)
03 - Midnight Hazel (4:05)
04 - Dreaming (3:27)
05 - Ride (3:49)
08 - Tribute To Grover (3:53)
09 - On The Come Up (4:22)
Record Label Website: https://www.sunset-jazz.com
Artist's Website: https://DonWard.Sunset-Jazz.com
Sunset Jazz, founded in 2008, is the Sunset Records jazz label that opened its doors last year by distributing its licensed product. All Sunset Jazz artists are distributed all over the world through the Sunset records label system and via CBuJ Entertainment.
For all information about the label, its artists and current releases that are currently in stores, along with artist interviews with Don Ward, please contact Don Lichterman at the Susnet Jazz offices in New York City.
