Introducing: Bop City
BOP CITY, the first release from my own label, CBJrecords, was conceived to showcase some of my lesser known instrumental voices - Soprano & Tenor Saxes, and Flute, and also feature some phenomenal musicians I have been working with over the last few years. It was recorded in March by the great German engineer, Manfred Knoop, at his studio in River Edge, New Jersey. The title, Bop City, is a little misleading, as this is not strictly speaking a Bop record. It is rather an eclectic collection of originals and standards, a celebration of the kind of music you get to hear in any of the world’s great Jazz Cities - New York, Tokyo, London, Paris: Bop City.
I think the very first transcribed jazz solo I ever played as a saxophone student was “There’s a Small Hotel,” by Stan Getz. I was forever after a huge fan of his, so it’s a great treat to be playing with two of his long time band members: Alex Blake and Victor Jones. More...