Tampa, Florida (Top40 Charts/ Great Scott P.R.oductions) In the midst of graduation season, it seems like the ideal time for the release of long-time sideman Mike MacArthur's first major recording on center stage. The saxophonist's 10-song "
Feels Like Home" was released today by Paradise Point Music. On the collection produced by Grammy-nominee Brian Bromberg, MacArthur graduates surrounded by his scholarly musician friends on the set comprised of soulfully performed jazz standards and alluring originals.
When asked to describe how he felt after recording the album at Bromberg's suburban Los Angeles home, MacArthur said "It felt like the beginning of a lot of things to come - like I've finally moved away from the kids' table with my own (musical) offering. It confirms that I can stand alone as a frontman."
"
Feels Like Home" sounds live. MacArthur describes it as "real players making real music on real acoustic instruments." Playing the music of the masters such as Duke Ellington ("In A Sentimental Mood"), Miles Davis ("Jean Pierre"),
Sonny Rollins ("Blue Seven") and Joe Zawinul ("Birdland"), MacArthur, bass prodigy Bromberg, Ron Reinhardt (piano, B-3 organ) and Frank "
Third" Richardson (drums) formed the core quartet that features spotlight soloing from contemporary jazz maverick
Jeff Lorber on piano,
Rick Braun on trumpet and flugelhorn, and
Jeff Golub on guitar. Journeyman percussionist Alex Acuna decorates and texturizes the tracks. MacArthur graciously gives his friends permission to uncork their finest vintage of improvisational jazz.
Radio stations have been playing the gospel soul cut "Sanctified," which was christened as the first single and includes a vocal hook belted out by the almighty Alva Copeland. MacArthur wrote the three other original tunes on the disc, including the title track, a heartfelt ballad with a gorgeous melody gracefully emoted from his tenor sax. He penned the boisterous blues joint "Around The Corner" specifically with Golub's gritty guitar in mind. Written on piano in his daughter Sydney's playroom while the then 5-year-old was gleefully dancing, MacArthur refers to the frenetic "Sydney Style" as the "up tune on the album."
Throughout the album, MacArthur's sax play is dexterous, precise and efficient. He plays just enough notes to convey the song and solos with just enough pizazz to get his point across. Having performed with a bevy of marquee musicians as a sideman throughout his career, including with Bromberg, Braun and Golub, he wants the release of "
Feels Like Home" to signal the start of a new chapter. Setting the bar high in terms of performance, production, and composition, MacArthur's stride into the spotlight is smartly executed with confidence, poise and a whole lot of soul.
After recently opening for superstar
Queen Latifah, MacArthur will lead his own band at Uptown Altamonte near Orlando, Florida on June 15th sharing the bill with guitarist Nils and will open for guitarist
Peter White on July 21st at Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee, New York.
A clip of MacArthur discussing "
Feels Like Home" can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LmHusgBHR4. Highlights from some of the album reviews appear below:
"One of the best for 2013 no matter what flavor jazz you may be into. That nice fat tenor sound with chops to match, if 'Feels Like Home' doesn't move you then you must be waiting on your autopsy report." - Critical Jazz
"This album has no safety zone. It is entertaining, listenable, and catchy but it is not safe. Some of these guys have made a name for themselves in smooth but this is a jazz album. It is not an academic, archival, or intimidating jazz album. It's a jazz album because there is a lot of improvisation and about half of the songs on here are benchmark songs in the history of contemporary jazz, and beyond…This is an album that will lead even the most skeptical pop/smooth listener deeper into the world of jazz." - SmoothViews
"He (MacArthur) has surrounded himself with some pretty fine players and has made an album which is simply terrific…Of the album's ten tracks, three are MacArthur originals and it's a testament to his skills that you can't differentiate them from the standards…this is a warm and enjoyable album that is a treat for the ears." - Bass
Players United
"'Feels Like Home' is superior jazz made among friends. From the first track 'Filthy McNasty' by Horace
Silver to the 10th and final cut 'Mo Better Blues', music enthusiasts will know that this one belongs on the top shelf." - The Entertainment Bank
"Rolling through a set of tracks as diverse as any jazz enthusiast could hope for, MacArthur puts both feet into this project, offering appealing sax runs while his pals mix up a batch of riveting acoustic bass runs, soul-wrenching guitar riffs, tantalizing piano/keys action, and solid drums and percussions." - The Smooth Jazz Ride
"He (MacArthur) comes out firing - surrounding himself with some of the very best players on the circuit and wisely mixing the repertoire between tried and tested jazz standards and quality originals." - Soul and Jazz and Funk
"The result is a predictably eclectic and jazzy mix with which jazz lovers of all persuasions will find favor." - Smooth Jazz Therapy
Additional information about MacArthur is available at www.mikemacarthur.com.
