Burr Ridge, IL (Top40 Charts/ Rock 'n Retail) Some things just seem to get better with time. Fine wine, classic cars and leather jackets all improve with age. Like beach glass polished by ocean waves, smooth jazz gets smoother as time goes by - especially when it's composed and produced with the masterful touch of Grammy Award winner Jim Peterik - founding member of The Ides of March and
Survivor and co-writer of hits like Vehicle, Eye of the Tiger and Burning Heart. The iconic composer fell in love with the genre years ago, seeking respite from the sound and fury of rock. His latest creation is Jim Peterik's Lifeforce Forces at Play
Deluxe Remastered Edition.
The two-disc set, scheduled for release in May, offers a diverse buffet of listening pleasures. Following the critically-acclaimed debut of Forces at Play in 2011, Jim decided to give new listeners a second chance to sample his unique blend of sounds, while providing dedicated fans a fresh perspective on their favorites.
He began by utilizing Slate
Digital Technology®, which produces a vibrantly warm, textured sound that replicates the depth and immediacy of analog recording. Then, he added two new bonus tracks: Voice of
America (a song that came to him in a dream) and a live version of his classic, Vehicle, performed with the legendary
Buddy Guy. Finally, he tapped his Ides of March bandmate and brilliant engineer, Larry Millas, to remix and remaster everything, further accentuating the nuances of the original tracks.
In addition to the core personnel from Jim Peterik's Lifeforce (Jim on guitar, vocals, keyboards and percussion, Ed Breckenfeld on drums, Klem Hayes on bass and Jeff Lantz on keyboards), the group is joined by an astounding array of talented musicians: Mindi Abair, Lisa McClowry, Steve Eisen, Steve Cole,
Jessy J, Tim Bales, Mike Cichowicz, Steve Oliver, Nick Colionne, Mike Aquino, Jeff Carlisi,
Blake Aaron, Richie Davis, Miles Gilderdale, Greg Carmichael, Khari Parker, Alex Ligertwood, Sijay, Marzette Griffith,
David Pack, Chieli Minucci, Ariel Engelbert, Christian Cullen, Larry Gray, The Ides of March Brass, Thom Griffin, and Zoey Engelbert.
The recording is comprised of one disc that is entirely instrumental and another complete with vocals. The first is perfect for adding ambiance to a romantic evening that won't interfere with conversation. The second is for thoroughly immersing oneself in the sensual world that Peterik's vision creates. The set - presented by World Stage International Records - is available at retailers locally or through iTunes and Amazon.com starting May 7th.
While the single Forces at Play enjoys extensive coverage on smooth jazz radio, Jim Peterik's Lifeforce can be seen live at a number of venues, including The Parrot Cage in
Chicago and at the largest music festival in the world, Milwaukee Summerfest, on July 7th.
Once you experience the dynamic ensemble performance of Jim Peterik's Lifeforce Forces at Play
Deluxe Remastered Edition, you'll agree that this is a vintage year for smooth jazz.
(Background)
Mr. Peterik's passion for songwriting has resulted in numerous hits, including Vehicle, Eye of the Tiger, Burning Heart, Caught Up in You, Hold on Loosely, Rocking Into the Night, High on You, The Search is Over and That's Why God Made the Radio. He divides his time between performing with his first group, The Ides of March (who will celebrate their 50th Anniversary shortly), as well as his work with Pride of Lions, Jim Peterik's Lifeforce and Jim Peterik and World Stage. He is the co-author of Songwriting for Dummies and enjoys mentoring rising stars in a number of genres, from jazz and rock to inspirational country. He recently co-wrote and produced a tribute song for the victims of the
Sandy Hook tragedy with singer Marc Scherer, entitled Newtown (You're Not Alone), available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/newtown-youre-not-alone/id5925542666), with all proceeds benefiting The
Sandy Hook School Fund (newtown.uwwesternct.org). Please Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/newtownthesong and see the music video at newtownthesong.com. You can learn more about Jim Peterik and Lifeforce by visiting jimpeterik.com and jimpeterikslifeforce.com.
