Every tune on Wonderbread comes from a different direction. The recipe calls for jazz, funk, R&B, soul and afro-cuban flavors all slathered in a gospel gravy.
On his first CD as a leader, Brian Wards compositions and playing show the breadth of his collective musical experience. Brian plays piano, electric piano, Hammond B3 and various synths. At the core of this album is the ensemble approach of his trio consisting of Willy Barber on bass and Reinhardt Melz on drums.
Brian honed his jazz skills among Portland masters such as Leroy Vinnegar, Stu Cook, John Jensen, Ron Steen, Mel Brown, Eddie Wied and Janice Scroggins. Brian began playing gospel music in African-American churches where he learned the gospel tradition via trial by fire. Using these skills, Brian found his niche accompanying jazz vocalists the likes of Marilyn Keller, Shirley Nanette, Victoria Corrigan and Johnny Martin.
Always striving to learn music from different cultures, Brian played with Ghanaian Master Drummer Obo Addy and his band Kukrudu. Brian also delved deep into the blues tradition with legendary bluesman Curtis Salgado with whom he toured the United States and Canada extensively. Most recently Brian has been exploring the afro-cuban tradition with the Bobby Torres Ensemble and has been touring with Native-American performing artist Karen Therese as well as playing out locally with the popular R&B/ funk band Ocean 503.
Included with the CD is a DVD of one of the sessions produced by jazz singer Johnny Martin who, impressed by seeing the group perform live, wanted to portray the visual experience of the trio playing together.
What Can I Do? is a soul tune originally written to a lyric that wound up an instrumental and as these things go is really a gospel tune. It sounds like something Richard Tee or Joe Sample would do.
She Aint is the only real jazz tune on the record and is probably my most successful composition to date, featured on this track is an incredible drum solo by Reinhardt.
Baby Girl was inspired by the style of George Duke and features lots of keyboard layers and ensemble playing. Willy plays a phenomenal bass solo on this one.
Move On is a fun tune that starts out groovin like old school R&B and winds up jammin in church.
If Only You Knew is a song made popular by Patti LaBelle. In this treatment we take it to the chitlin circuit. Vocalist Priscilla came out to play for this one.
Ngiculela is a Stevie Wonder tune that Al made sound like a charanga orchestra.
Pound Cake is a fusion tune closer to the style of Weather Report or Steve Coleman. It features funky ensemble playing and lots of odd meters.
Stellar Optics is a fusion tune from the other, smooth side, but still funky.
Wonderbread was given a mambo treatment. Reinhardt showed me how to put it to clave and his playing is the highlight of this track.
Morning Walk was written a long time ago as an interlude for church. Ive always loved this melody and I needed a ballad to put on the project. Willy plays the head beautifully on fretless bass.
The album is book ended by two versions of an interlude Al and I wrote together called Brothers I and Brothers II. They pay homage to our African brothers across the ocean from whom ALL of this music comes from.
thanks for the friendship. A warm WELCOME to my circle of friends.
COOL STUFF !!
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Hey Brian, Thank you for the friendship. Great music. I enjoyed the songs! Cool bass solo on "Baby Girl". Who's the bass player? VW signature bass solo. Makes me listen to it again and again!! Love your tone and sounds too. Cheers, -Jasper
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BECOME YOUR FRIEND... WE WANT TO ALLOW YOU AN OPPROTUNITY TO PLACE A GREAT NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN, ON YOUR CALANDER...
WE WILL BE PLAYING AT:
THE ROSE GARDEN "LEXUS LOUNGE"
NEW YEARS EVE - BRINGING IN 2009
8:30PM UNTIL 1:30AM
$35 INDIVIDUALS AND $60 COUPLES PARTY FAVORS EARLY ARRIVAL BUFFET FOOD (Provided by, CHRISTOPHERS RESTAURANT MLK BLVD) NON-HOSTED BAR
LIVE CONCERT IN THE "LEXUS LOUNGE"
OCEAN503 (SOUL, FUNK, DANCE, R&B AND TOP40 BILLBOARD MUSIC)
FEATURING: "IN THE ROSE ROOM" DJ GEORGE THA MIXOLOGIST (25YR'S OF RETRO, SOUL & OLD SKOOL MUSIC AND 15YR'S HIP/HOP CLUBS PERFORMANCES WITH OUT A FLAWS)
INFORM YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS EVENT NOW AND GET YOUR OUTFITS READY - THIS WILL BE A CLASSY EVENT! EMAIL US FOR YOUR RESERVATION(S) AND/OR DISCOUNT ADVANCED TICKET(S)...
since I dont have a phone at least until tomorrow eve...I wanted to be sure we were on for Thurs...p.s. I totally forgot to give you that voucher for the telly...Ill find out where it is exactly...you can have it for Thurs.!!!
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