Boston, MA (Top40 Charts/ Great Scott Productions) Sensual saxplay - expressive and passionate - pilots alluringly romantic melodies that levitate over slinky, seductive grooves on Love and Sax, the second contemporary jazz album from saxophonist Elan Trotman, which will be released on the artist's own label on March 8th. The Boston-based native of
Barbados wrote or co-wrote eleven of the disc's dozen ballads in addition to producing or co-producing five tracks. A pair of singles, the title cut and "Midnight Serenade," the latter of which spotlights R&B crooner Tony Terry, were recently serviced to smooth jazz and urban adult contemporary radio stations respectively, with "Love and Sax" being the No 1 most added single on the Billboard and Groove Jazz
Music charts this week.
With love and romance on his mind, Trotman decided to write only ballads for Love and Sax. Although still a young artist, it's his fifth album overall, and his skills as a composer have been carefully honed and matured. Whether wielding a tenor or soprano sax, or a flute as he does on "Can I Play 4 U?," Trotman has blossomed as a frontman, soloist and musician, agilely following in the iconic footsteps of his role models, Grover Washington Jr. and Kirk Whalum. Aside from covering the evergreen "When I Fall In Love," featuring extended soprano sax improvisational soloing, Trotman tapped into an array of influences to create his originals including soulful R&B, modern jazz, vibrant pop, and even exotic calypso and Latin nuances. Of special note were the performances by keyboardist Brian Simpson ("Heaven In Your Eyes"), Flugelhorn player Cindy Bradley ("Oasis"), late bassist Webster Roach ("Can I Play 4 U?"), guitarist Jeremiah McConico ("Cancion De Amor"), and the sultry bedroom vocals on "Midnight Serenade" from Terry, who used to perform with Trotman in Roberta Flack's band.
"Love and Sax is a compilation of songs that I wrote with one goal in mind: to create a relaxing, yet sensual and romantic atmosphere," Trotman explained. "Trying to launch a career in the U.S. after coming from a tiny island can be a very humbling experience, but it can also inspire you to be different and push you to find ways to make your voice distinct. To that end, I try to use young producers that don't typically work with smooth jazz artists. Then I write catchy, sing-able hooks, bringing in my influences and experiences. I see myself as part of the new generation of contemporary jazz artists, and hope to be a part of the new movement that will help to preserve the art-form."
Expect Trotman to perform music from Love and Sax this Sunday at Jazz'N Barbados at Naniki Resort, February 13th with Terry at The Hi-Hat in Providence, Rhode Island, and March 1st at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston. A veteran performer, he's shared the concert stage or recorded with Flack, Whalum, Terry, Brian McKnight, Najee, Don Grusin, Johnny Gill, Nathan East and Walter Beasley, and has played the National Anthem for the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cincinnati Reds.
While growing up in the tropical island paradise of Barbados, Trotman learned to play the piano at age seven and picked up the sax five years later. The Barbadian government granted him a full scholarship for the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a degree in music education. In turn, Trotman, who was mentored in high school by Barbadian sax great Arturo Tappin, also serves as a music educator in the Boston public elementary school district.
Trotman's first foray in contemporary jazz was 2009's This Time Around. His funky version of Bill Withers' joyous "Lovely Day" hit No 6 on the charts. Other releases include his debut Memories, an eclectic disc of Caribbean music, gospel and funk tunes; Let's Have A Good Old Time, a gospel jazz album highlighted by a tenor sax duet with Whalum; and The Reggae Christmas, a perennial collection of holiday classics originally recorded for family and friends. Trotman was named Best Male Jazz Performer by the New England Urban Music Awards, and was nominated in the jazz category at the Boston Music Awards. Additional information is available at www.elantrotman.com.
Trotman's Love and Sax is comprised of the following songs:
"Intro (Love and Sax)"
"Last Dance"
"When I Fall In Love"
"Rain"
"Love and Sax"
"Midnight Serenade"
"Turn Down The Lights"
"Cancion De Amor"
"Heaven In Your Eyes"
"Can I Play 4 U?"
"Oasis"
"Under The Stars"
"Can I Play 4 U? (Reprise)"
