NEW YORK (Richard Elliot Official Website) - Like a booming metropolis, saxman
Richard Elliot is a rhythmic force of funk and fire, diverse and distinctive, passionate and powerful, soulful and seductive. A consistent chart-topper, Elliot will release the Metro Blue album on June 28th. It's his fourteenth solo collection, yet his debut for the newly launched ARTizen
Music Group record label, of which he is a partner. Elliot's emotive sax and Rick Braun's muted trumpet and flugelhorn help set the tone on the first track being serviced to smooth jazz radio, a cover of The Stylistics' moody classic, "People Make The World Go Round."
Metro Blue was produced by Braun and Elliot, who collaborated on nine original songs. Joining them in the studio were Jeff Lorber,
Peter White, Brian Culbertson, Dwight Sills, Gregg Karukas, Lenny Castro, Rex Rideout, Ronnie Garret, Nate Philips and Phil Davis. The record sounds slick and contemporary yet recalls dusty vintage funk records from the 1970s when hot horn sections and cool keyboards helped create the vibe. On tracks like "Inside Out," "Say It's So," "Mystique," and "Maxi's," Elliot's sax is muscular and robust, blowing big hooky choruses over R&B beats and dance grooves. When the tempo slows, as on "Camella" (named for Elliot's wife), "People Make The World Go Round," and the title track, Elliot chills, backing off the intensity in favor of romance and gentle melodies.
"This album release really represents a turning point for me," said Elliot. "The creative experience of working with Rick (Braun) coupled with the freedom of controlling our own destiny with the new label is pushing me into new directions creatively. I feel so lucky to be working with such inventive and creative people."
To help launch and support the album release, Elliot is teaming with Braun, White and
Jonathan Butler for the luminous Jazz Attack U.S. concert tour, with dates now through summer. Although his career began in a recording studio backing Motown legends such as
Smokey Robinson and The Temptations, the stage has always been a big part of Elliot's repertoire ever since he was a teenager when he toured with Melissa Manchester. He went on to spend five formative years performing with Tower Of Power. While his highly successful solo recording career has made him an icon in the contemporary jazz radio world, Elliot has always devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to his live performance schedule, one that helped him connect with fans across the country, forging an enduring relationship.
Off stage, the Scotland-born, Los Angeles-reared Elliot has demonstrated his astute entrepreneurial skills as a co-founder of innovative
Internet multimedia company PacificNet. He's now partnered with Braun, their long-time manager Steve Chapman, and industry veteran Al Evers to create the ARTizen
Music Group. Although the initial releases will be new product from Elliot and Braun, other artists will be signed to the label for new releases and ARTizen will release catalogue pieces from veteran artists. The Sherman Oaks, California-based record company is distributed in the United States by Ryko Distribution.
* April 28 West Palm Beach, FL SunFest
May 13 Henderson, NV Sunset Station Hotel & Casino
May 14 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre
May 15 Newport Beach, CA Newport Beach Jazz Festival
May 28 San Diego, CA KIFM-FM Anniversary Party
May 29 Fresno, CA Tower Theatre
May 30 Half Moon Bay, CA Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Resort
May 31 Harrisburg, PA Whitaker Center
June 2 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
June 3 Richmond, VA Kanawha Plaza
June 4 Westbury, NY North Fork Theatre at Westbury
June 5 Washington, DC Capital Jazz Festival
June 6 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre of Durham
June 9 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 16 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi
Bingo Casino
June 17-18 Chicago, IL Skyline Stage/Navy Pier
June 19 Dublin, OH Wendy's Corporate Headquarters
June 21 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square/Palace Theatre
June 22 St. Louis, MO Orpheum Theatre
June 23 Kettering, OH Fraze Pavilion
June 24 Southfield, MI WVMV-FM Smooth Jazz Festival
June 25 Saratoga, NY JVC Fest/Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 26 Hampton, VA Hampton Jazz Festival
July 2 Healdsburg, CA Rodney Strong Vineyards
July 16 Pasadena, CA Pasadena Jazz Festival/Brookside Park
* July 22 Carlsbad, CA Four Seasons Resort Aviara
August 5 Sacramento, CA Radisson Hotel Outdoor Grove
August 6 Woodinville, WA Chateau St. Michelle
* August 12 Newport Beach, CA Hyatt Newporter
* August 14 Temecula, CA Thornton Winery
* August 27 Akron, OH Lock 3 Live Amphitheatre
* Not a Jazz Attack concert date - only
Richard Elliot with his band
