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Michael McEvoy
The Long Way Home

Album UK 2014 on Rezzonator Music Ltd label
Jazz, Latin and R&B/Soul (Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Contemporary Jazz)

"Michael J McEvoy is a pianist, composer and producer who's worked with Jazzie B of Soul 2 Soul, UK funk originators Push, legendary Ghanaian percussionist Reebop Keaku Bah. In the 1990s Michael wrote songs with Teena Marie (Since Day One), The James Taylor Quartet (Sunshine of Your Smile), Patrice Rushen (Caravan) and DJ Wookie (Back Up, Back Up). His credits as a producer include the ‘rare groove’ club classic Try My Love by Lalomie Washburn,and co-producer of the JTQ album Supernatural Feeling. Now he's come home to his first love, soul jazz, with a great album featuring some of the finest London jazz players including Jason Rebello, Gerald Presencer and Nigel Hitchcock."  (LP back cover liner notes) These eight compositions grew out of sketches done during the last few years, musical ideas I felt had something special about them. By March 2013 I felt ready to record the material and everything came together quickly. I ran a successful crowd funding campaign to finance the project and feel immensely grateful to those people who have made this album possible. From the start I knew I wanted to record the tunes live, capturing band performances with minimal overdubbing. I also wanted to feature some of my favourite musicians, many of whom I’ve worked with at one time or another over the years. Gerard Precenser is a trumpet player I’ve always loved. When I write a trumpet melody I always hear him in my head. Nigel Hitchcock is on alto sax. He’s such a soulful funky player, an extremely gifted musician and improviser. On tenor sax I called on Ben Castle who I had heard a couple of times playing with Marlena Shaw at Ronnie Scott’s and loved his vibe. We all gathered together over two days of recording at Air-Edel Studios in May 2013. We cut four tunes a day with two different rhythm sections: day 1 with Dave Hamblett (drums) and Calum Gourlay (bass) and day 2 with James Maddren (drums) and Tom Farmer (bass). All four of these guys are phenomenal musicians. Jason Rebello, an old friend (and in my opinion one of the best jazz pianists in the world), agreed to record a couple of piano solos on the album, which he recorded at his home studio. The amazing trombonist Mark Nightingale joined us in the afternoon of day 2 to cut a few tunes, adding to the horn section and blowing a great solo. Recording at Air-Edel was a joy. They have an incredible collection of vintage microphones and a beautiful Steinway grand piano. Nick Taylor recorded and mixed the album through a vintage Cadec studio console. I’m grateful to all the talented and generous people who have helped make this album project a reality. Michael J McEvoy, September 2013 All tracks written by Michael J McEvoy Produced by Michael J McEvoy and Nick Taylor Recording and Mix Engineer : Nick Taylor Recorded and mixed at Air-Edel Studios, London, UK Mastered at Gearbox Records, London, UK by Jeremy Cooper Cover and back photo by Mark McEvoy B/W Studio photos by Emily Kate McEvoy and Deborah Ripley Album Artwork by Gil Plante

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