Marina Del Rey, CA (Top40 Charts/ Great Scott P.R.oductions) - Guitarist Les Sabler elevates his art to the next level on the Brian Bromberg-produced Sweet Drive, a collection of contemporary jazz, R&B and adult pop released today by The
Music Force record label. The album possesses the pivotal ingredients to lead Sabler to the forefront of the genre: masterful performances by Sabler and a stellar supporting cast that includes some of the finest musicians in contemporary jazz, well-crafted songs that were thoughtfully selected, and skillful production that favors a live sound dusted with just the right amount of sheen.
Sabler is focused, committed and highly motivated to take his music to the masses. To support the album release, the Montreal, Quebec native will play concerts in his adopted hometown of Tampa, Florida and nearby Longboat Key on October 11th and 13th respectively. He's also scheduled to perform the National Anthem at the Tampa Bay Lightning's opening night NHL hockey game October 4th.
Sweet Drive is diverse and soulful. It has an air of familiarity commingled with a freshness that invigorates. Sabler derived inspiration from vintage contemporary jazz records from the 1970's that initially inspired him to become a musician. He sagely selected Bromberg to produce and tapped accomplished musicians Jeff Lorber, Eric Marienthal, Ricky Peterson, Vinnie Colaiuta, Alex Acuna, Gary Meek and a few gifted R&B vocalists including Rahsaan Patterson to help bring his vision to fruition. Jerry Hey orchestrated the horn section that added warmth, fullness and explosive energy to the tracks.
Eight original compositions and four covers comprise Sweet Drive, which opens with Sabler playing electric guitar while accompanied by a feisty flute on 'You've Got It Bad Girl.' The title cut is a buoyant pop escapade on which Marienthal's sax shares the wheel with Sabler's guitar. 'Daydreaming' receives a classy duet rendering led by a pair of soulful voices. The first radio single now garnering airplay is 'Club Street,' a driving, dual-speed electric guitar and sax trek with gentle verses that simmer before accelerating to spirited, pedal-to-the-metal choruses. Sabler's nylon-string guitar delivers an impassioned plea on 'Can You Stop The Rain.' A cool-toned guitar shares the spotlight on the ballad 'I'm Not The Same' with a sax and an angelic vocal chorus. With Lorber aboard and Hey's acrobatic horn section getting their groove on, 'Struttin' borders on fusion. Sabler's nylon guitar takes on lyrical qualities on the gorgeous 'Who Am I',' a dreamy track graced by celestial vocals. 'Twenty-Two' is an aggressive fusion jam featuring Sabler equitably trading in-your-face solos with the other musicians.
Ambrosia's pop hit never sounded as soulful as when Sabler & Company tackle 'Biggest Part Of Me.' Sabler wrote 'Food Chain,' a fun, rousing contemporary jazz throwback powered by the high-octane horn section. Bringing the album to a close, Sabler wields an acoustic guitar on 'Could You Be,' an otherworldly song that casts an air of mystery.
Sabler's last album, the 2003 debut for The Music Force/Sin-Drome, Bridge The Gap, spawned a No 1 hit in Canada along with significant radio spins in the U.S. Soft-spoken and chill, Sabler is a completely different person whenever he has a guitar in his hands. He truly animates when on stage performing. Sabler has headlined and opened concerts for artists such as Lorber, Spyro Gyra, Richard Elliot, Michael Lington, Diane Schurr and Fattburger. Additional information is available at www.lessabler.com.
