Durham, NC. (Top40 Charts/ Omnific Music) - Gospel group Clarkwise (www.clarkwise.com) has released the lead-off holiday single from their forthcoming debut CD titled 'Brand New' on the Omnific
Music Label. The single, 'The Christ-mas Song', and the corresponding instrumental version 'A Star In The East' are gaining momentum on radio stations in the United States and around the world.
'The Christ-mas Song' is a warm, jazz-infused ballad that features the lush vocals of the group Clarkwise and the lead vocals of Rochell C. Irving and Chris Murrell, the Grammy Award winning former lead singer of the Count Basie Orchestra. The song takes one back to a much simpler time when Christmas was pure and innocent and captures the true essence of what Christmas is all about. 'A Star In The East' is an instrumental version of the song and features James Perkins, Jr. on alto saxophone. Both 'The Christmas Song' and 'A Star In The East' are now available for digital download via iTunes, Amazon MP3, Napster, CD Baby, Zune, etc.
Robert Irving III, a world-renowned pianist and former Music Director and composer for jazz legend Miles Davis, produced the tracks; he called in jazz greats Ernie Adams on drums and Marlene Rosenberg on acoustic bass to lay the song's foundation. In a conversation weeks after the recording session, Ernie Adams relayed to Robert, 'Man, I just can't get that tune out of my head.' The Robert Irving III Trio, consisting or Irving, Adams and Rosenberg, also recorded a piano instrumental version of 'A Star In The East' that will soon be released on the Sonic Portraits label via iTunes and CD Baby for digital download.
A dream team of promoters from Gospel, Christian and Jazz genres is promoting the singles to radio stations globally and generating quite a buzz. Promotion companies include, The Artist Company International, TKO Marketing and Kate Smith Promotions of Chicago. Kate Smith states, 'You must tell all involved how healing is the nature of this song, from its instrumentation through its meld with the strong, clear yet gentle voices. After a sleep-deprived, stress-filled week, listening to 'The Christ-mas Song' and the piano take of the instrumental version 'A Star In The East' were like a restorative meditation that has brought a sweet calm to my soul and overall sense of well being.'
Paul Irving, President of Omnific Music states, 'US-based Gospel and Christian markets are our primary targets, but I have been very pleasantly surprised by the enormous support for 'The Christ-mas Song' and 'A Star In The East' from jazz and R&B radio stations in Australia, Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom, Belarus, Greece, Belgium and other countries. Jazz/Soul crooner Phil Perry sums up the song as, 'Classy, Very tastefully done. I'm impressed! Love it...'
'The Christ-mas Song' is the first single from Clarkwise's debut CD. The project is produced by Robert (Baabe) Irving III and Denver A. Wright, producer for R&B-turned-Gospel vocalist Tony Terry, and Paul Irving, most noted for his work with the Edwin Hawkins and Bishop Walter Hawkins Music and Arts Love Fellowship Choir. Robert Irving III called in some of his immensely talented friends to make things sizzle. Bassists include, in addition to Marlene Rosenberg, Darryl 'The Munch' Jones of The Rolling Stones, Michael Manson of The Winans and Frank Russell of the Ramsey Lewis Band. In addition to Ernie Adams, drummers include, Vincent Wilburn Jr, Miles Davis' nephew and Charles Heath, the former drummer of The Color Purple Tour. In addition to Chris Murrell, guest vocalists include Twinkie Clark-Terrell of The Clark Sisters and Dr. Harry L. Clark, Sr. Edwin Hawkins serves as the Music Consultant for the project.
Omnific Music LLC is a gospel music label established in 2005 and headquartered in Durham, NC. Omnific Music is a Christian-based company that strives to provide innovative Gospel/Christian music that does not compromise Christian values.
