NEW YORK () - For the past nine years, one of the most popular attractions for adult summer concert goers is the Guitars & Saxes tour, which features the collaborative efforts of four smooth jazz stars. This year's edition is certain to be a highly entertaining crowd pleaser as guitarists
Marc Antoine and
Jeff Golub will make the trek with saxophonists
Euge Groove and Warren Hill. The artists will open and close the show playing on stage together. In between, each artist will have his own turn to take over the stage to play his individual hits, which includes plenty of No 1 singles from chart-topping albums. Since jazz has always been about improvisation and collaboration, fans can expect unique pairings and trios to share the stage throughout the concert as well, especially since these musicians have made guest appearances on each other's albums.
First to take the stage for a solo set will be saxophonist Euge Groove (Steven Eugene Grove), which is appropriate since he's tirelessly energetic and enthusiastic. Groove was a long-time sideman to such luminaries as Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Richard Marx and Tower of Power.
In 2000, he launched his solo career with two No 1 radio singles and a No 1 track on the MP3 jazz chart. Through just three albums, including his new release, Livin' Large, Groove has already topped the charts often enough to become a smooth jazz radio staple. He strives to create music that is timeless, utilizing elements of jazz, pop and R&B as his muse. His records are built upon the dual foundation of quality songwriting and top-notch musicianship.
Adding culture and romance to the evening will be flamenco-jazz guitarist Marc Antoine, a Parisian who now resides in Madrid, Spain. The gypsy spirit and classical soul of Antoine's recordings can't help but transport instrumental fans seeking musical paradise. Through his collection of six albums and chart-topping singles, Antoine has created a unique sound that incorporates jazz, flamenco, Latin, dance and Euro-pop. The title track of Antoine's latest album, Mediterraneo, is currently in the Top 10 on the smooth jazz radio singles chart.
Toronto native Warren Hill co-starred in the first Guitars & Saxes concert tour when it was conceived by agent Bob Engel of Variety Artists International in 1995. Hill's first love was rock and roll, but he fell in love with the sax after discovering jazz. He had mainstream pop successes with Chaka Khan and Natalie Cole and was a part of the hit movie soundtracks for "Reality Bites" and "Body of Evidence," the latter of which starred Madonna. His seven albums have spawned No 1 singles in a variety of radio formats, proving Hill's crossover appeal. Performing and songwriting from the heart are amongst Hill's many talents. He's passionate and charismatic and he infuses both into his music, which is soulful, emotive, and romantic.
The last to take the stage for a solo set will be Jeff Golub, whose soul-jazz grooves are edgy, gritty, and funky. Golub thrives on the concert stage and he aims to capture the live sound in the studio, where he has recorded six albums and a bevy of No 1 singles. After years as a highly coveted sideman backing such artists as Rod Stewart, Vanessa Williams, Ashford & Simpson, John Waite and Billy Squier, Golub formed his own band and released a debut album in 1994 under the band name Avenue Blue. By the time Golub started recording under his own name five years later, he was already an image artist in the smooth jazz format.
Smooth jazz moniker aside, Golub pushes the envelop musically, emphasizing creativity and spontaneity in the spirit of jazz, but drenched with soulful and bluesy nuances.
