Chris West Releases Surprise Trilogy 3

Join Chris West in celebrating the release of the third and final album of The Surprise Trilogy on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2011.

The Surprise Trilogy is a project that West has been working on since mid 2008. The initial idea was a more organic, straight ahead follow-up album to his funky/acid jazz first release, Jazzmanic.

As he was slowly recording the songs for consideration (recording 2-3 songs at a time, once a month), West realized that he had written a lot of songs over the years, and wanted to record them all, if for nothing else, to archive. Eventually, he decided to record and release them all as The Surprise Trilogy.

This show will be held at the WO Smith Music School, located at 1125 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN. It is on the corner of 8th Ave. and Edgehill. The show starts at 7pm.

In addition to special guests, the band will include:

Jon Paul Frappier – Trumpet
Chris Dunn – Trombone
Mason Embry – Keys
Pat Bergeson – Guitar
Jerry Navarro – Bass
Bob Harsen – Drums

$10 gets you in the door AND a copy of the CD!

Suprise Trilogy 3 will be available in both CD and digital download format shortly after the release party date from Chris West’s website.

Chris West CD Release Party
Surprise Trilogy 3
W.O. Smith Music School
1125 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN
(615) 255-8355
Get Directions

Chris West Featured in Nashville Scene

Chris West’s new CD, Surprise Trilogy 2, reviewed by Jack Silverman for Nashville Scene, July 2011.

Read the original article HERE.

One of the more compelling story lines in the excellent HBO series Treme follows Delmond Lambreaux, a jazz trumpeter raised in New Orleans and living in New York City. Delmond’s cerebral hard-bop style seems to turn its back on the more visceral jazz tradition of his hometown, but he eventually becomes disillusioned with modern jazz’s insular world. One day, while visiting his father in the Big Easy, he watches some Mardi Gras Indians perform “Shallow Water, Oh Mama” while the jazz classic “Killer Joe” plays on a nearby boombox. As Delmond takes in the odd synergism of the unintentional mash-up, he has an epiphany, and embarks on a new project, fusing modern jazz with the slinky, visceral Mardi Gras music of his youth.

Though born and raised in Nashville, saxophonist Chris West might have had a similar revelation at some point. Listening to his new album, Surprise Trilogy 2 (the second installment of a three-part series), you get the impression he’s come to the same conclusion: Screw the jazz police. This shit’s supposed to be fun, not a museum piece. If you keep your eye on the idiom’s populist roots, embrace the forefathers’ trailblazing spirit — and most importantly, ignore any arbitrary boundaries imposed by purists — the results can be exhilarating.

Nowhere is West’s free-spirited attitude more evident than on the opening and closing tracks, “Surprise 2″ and “Surprise 3,” which are radically different versions of the same song. “Surprise 2″ features members of Half Brass — a Nashville group in the spirit of second-line torchbearers like Dirty Dozen and Rebirth — and would sound right at home in a Mardi Gras parade. (West is a member of Half Brass, in addition to being an in-demand sideman who’s worked with everyone from Brenda Lee and Deana Carter to Mike Farris and The Dynamites.)

Meanwhile, “Surprise 3″ employs a completely different backing band, and has more in common with avant-jazz pranksters Sex Mob than with a French Quarter throwdown. Essentially a deconstruction of the former track, it includes some terrific interplay between West and saxophonist Jeff Coffin (a mentor to West over the years), weaving back and forth between harmony and cacophony while exploiting the, er, hell out of the devil’s interval.

Varied approaches aside, though, both tracks have the same unabashed, life-affirming energy that is at the heart of jazz’s New Orleans roots. And that’s not to mention the other two versions of “Surprise” from the first album in the trilogy. In fact, of the 18 tracks on the first two discs, four of them are variations of the same song. And there are guaranteed to be more “Surprises” on ST3. It’s an engaging conceit, kind of like the big reprise at the end of a Broadway musical, and it gives the project some thematic continuity, in addition to providing some of the most explosive moments.

That’s not to dismiss the songs that aren’t titled “Surprise,” nor is it to suggest that this is an exclusively New Orleans affair. Far from it. The second track, “Maybe,” feels like a contemporary spin on Impressions-era Coltrane, and the three songs that follow — “New Insight,” “Pawn Shop Junkie” and “Perception of Perfection” — are complex and cerebral enough to pass muster with the most uptight jazz purists. (And that’s not a dis — “Pawn Shop Junkie,” with its obtuse, Monk-ish melody, is one of the strongest cuts.)

Other standouts include the Latin-tinged “Time’s Up” as well as “Rude Awakening,” an all-sax workout with West playing every instrument: Imagine the World Saxophone Quartet performing All Things Considered segue music. (Also not a dis — who doesn’t love those segues?)

This may all sound like a stylistic mishmosh, but it works, partly because West has honed his compositional skills, but more so because he’s grown into his voice, a sound that’s identifiable whether he’s blowing over hard-bop changes or putting the hot sauce on some greasy musical gumbo. With his Trilogy series, West is establishing himself as one of the area’s top jazz artists, on par with heavyweights such as Coffin, Don Aliquo and Rod McGaha. And like post-epiphany Delmond Lambreaux, he’s not going to be boxed in.

- Jack Silverman

Chris West Releases Surprise Trilogy 2

Chris West is releasing Surprise Trilogy 2. This is the second album of three in the Surprise Trilogy series.

Notable guests on Surprise Trilogy 2 include trumpeter Rod McGaha and saxophonist Jeff Coffin. One song of special note is Chris’ saxophone quartet, Rude Awakening (track 8), which will be performed at the upcoming release party.

Surprise Trilogy 2 will officially be released at an upcoming CD release party scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2011 at The Basement. There is a $10 cover charge which gets you in the door and a free CD copy of Surprise Trilogy 2. More details are available on Chris’ Calendar HERE.

The album will also be available for purchase in CD and Digital Download formats through Chris’ store HERE after the CD release party date.

Jeff Arrandale records debut album

Hi all!

As you may be aware, I was in Nashville in the middle of April to record my first solo project. I’ll tell you about that incredible experience in detail including the tentative name for the release in an upcoming blog, but wanted to quickly share what will be happening over the next several weeks.

I went to Nashville and tracked the music and my vocals. We are currently in the process of tracking background vocals and editing. Once that is complete, it’s time for final mix and mastering. I’m looking to release the album later this summer or early fall. You can sign up for my newsletter for updates about the album release and other news.

Once released, it will be available on my website as well as other select distributors. Those of you who have signed up for the newsletter will be sent one of the cuts as my way of saying thank you for your interest in what God is doing through the music He has given me.

Look for more updates in the coming weeks.

Thanks for checking in.

In service of the Cross – JT

Chris West featured in Nashville Scene

Chris West’s new CD, Surprise Trilogy 1, featured as Critic’s Pick by Jack Silverman for Nashville Scene, February 2011.

Read the original article HERE.

If you’ve heard the lanky, goateed saxophonist blow his horn around town with funketeers The Dynamites, soul man Mike Farris, gospel goddesses The McCrary Sisters or second-line strutters Halfbrass, you know the boy is bad. But just how bad will become evident if you pick up West’s new album — the first in a three-disc set called The Surprise Trilogy, to be released in installments over the next year.

In addition to showcasing West’s formidable straight-ahead chops and compositions, the album is a showcase for some of the city’s best jazz talent, including Derrek Phillips, Jerry Navarro, Paul Horton, Pat Bergeson, Don Aliquo, Rod McGaha, Jeff Coffin and too many more to list here. (Guitarist Adam Agati, recently relocated to New York City, is particularly outstanding.)

According to West, the remaining two discs in the set will gradually push the envelope further from the straight jazz world, but don’t let that fool you: From the 45-second opening bop salvo to the slow-burn funk of “Bits & Pieces” to the Big Easy greasefest “Where I Got My Groove” to the romantic ballad “My Reward,” disc one is pretty boundary-shattering on its own, and it establishes West in the upper echelon of Nashville’s jazz world, alongside heavyweights like Coffin, McGaha and Aliquo. In other words, West could easily hang in NYC or LA — but we’re glad he’s here instead.
— Jack Silverman

Chris West Releases New Album

Nashville based saxophonist/woodwindist, Chris West, releases his new album, Surprise Trilogy 1.

This is the first album of three in the Surprise Trilogy series. Most of the nine original tracks are in the style of traditional jazz and pull from Chris’ straight ahead jazz genre influences, as opposed to the modern/funky jazz style of Jazzmanic, Chris’ debut album.

Notable guests on Surprise Trilogy 1 include trumpeter Rod McGaha (Surprise 1), saxophonist Don Aliquo (Kenny), saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Mr. Grossman), and New Orleans style group Halfbrass (Where I Got My Groove Back).

The album is available for pre-release purchase in CD and Digital Download formats through Chris’ website Jazzmanic.com HERE.

Surprise Trilogy 1 will officially be released at an upcoming CD release party scheduled for Feb 10, 2011 at The Basement. There is a $10 cover charge which gets you in the door and a free CD copy of Surprise Trilogy 1. More details are available on Chris’ Calendar HERE.

Lee Gibson wins Ourstage.com Finals

Congratulations to Lee Gibson, who has won the Ourstage.com Country Finals Grand Prize for January 2011 with his song, She Don’t Give a Damn Cafe. Over 1500 established and aspiring Country artists entered the contest which is judged by fans and artists alike. Gibson co-wrote with Corey Lee Barker and Alfons Kettner (cuts with Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, & Michael Bolton).

Over the past 2 years, two of Lee’s songs have taken the top spot in the Country Charts there and another two songs have made their way into the Top 10 earning him a spot on AOL Music between Rascal Flatts & Taylor Swift just last year.

The cash prize will be used toward recording costs for Lee’s sophomore release, due out later this year. You can find Lee’s debut CD, Somewhere Other Than Here, HERE.

Lee Gibson CD review from Lovin’ Lyrics

Lee Gibson’s CD, Somewhere Other Than Here, reviewed by Lovin’ Lyrics Music Promotions.

Read the original article HERE.

Lee Gibson is charismatic, charming and one of the best natural country voices I’ve heard come across my speakers in awhile. Signed with Century Music Group, Lee has a proven track record of a successful songwriter with major label cuts as notches on his songwriting belt. His cd, “Somewhere Other Than Here” proves that Lee Gibson has what it takes to also make it as a performer. His vocals are well blended, effortless and polished.

The first track on the cd, “Tennessee Rain”, is an upbeat tune with great backing harmonies that immediately brings to mind a style of early Alan Jackson. Remember, back when country was good? The contents of this cd are perfect, not too much twang, not too much boot stompin’ and unlike alot of today’s music, not one shred of musical arrogance. This is just good sing-along-able, wanna dance, chicken neckin’ country music. Y’all know what I mean by chicken neckin’, right? Think of a chicken sticking his neck out and strutting around the yard. That’s what this makes me do. LOL! There are so many songs on this cd that make it worth the purchase but the tracks that convinced me of that are of course, “Tennessee Rain”, “Does She Know”, the title track “Somewhere Other Than Here” and “Fever”.

You can hear Lee’s music on Nixa Country, Nashville’s hottest internet country radio station, and on XM Satellite’s Nashville 11 channel. Call them and request! You can find Lee’s cd at Lee Gibson Music. It’s a good find, a shimmering fleck of true country music in a mine loaded with fool’s gold.

Valerie Borman performing at benefit for ACS

Holiday Cheer Christmas Party/Dance to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Schnecksville Area

Christmas is just around the corner. That means it’s time to PARTY!!! And there is no better way to celebrate the giving season than by giving to a great cause!

Valerie Borman will be hosting a benefit dance/party for the Relay For Life of Schnecksville Area on Friday, December 10th at the Schnecksville Fire Co. Social Hall. Join her in the festivities from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The evening features live music, including Valerie Borman, the members of The Lehigh Valley’s Ultimate Party Band, The Starlites, their good friend from Nashville, Tom Williamson, and possibly some surprise guests! (You will have to be there to find out who they are!) There will also be fun for the whole family with the world-famous Nasty Christmas Shopping Game hosted by ACS Staff Partner, Wendy Stickler. The Relay For Life teams will be offering additional food and fundraisers.

Tickets are available in advance at discount rates online HERE. Tickets will also be available at the door during the event at regular price. The ticket price includes soda/mixers, snacks and the aforementioned FUN!! This is a family event, so bring your kids, friends, neighbors and anyone who wants to have a great time and help out the American Cancer Society! This is also a BYOB event – the PLCB won’t allow the serving of any alcohol – so please BRING YOUR OWN!

A note from Valerie: I began volunteering for the ACS because I have watched many friends and family members battle this disease. I want to be on the front-line to help find a cure. Cancer is a disease that affects EVERYONE. We all know someone – a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a neighbor – who is a Cancer Survivor. (If you have lived ONE DAY with cancer – you are a SURVIVOR!!) Please help me to celebrate our Survivors and the holiday season this year. -Valerie

Join Valerie Borman and support the American Cancer Society at Holiday Cheer 2010!!!

CMG signs Johnny Austin

We are pleased to announce the signing of Johnny Austin.

Johnny Austin, based out of Austin, Texas, is a well seasoned band with their sights set on moving forward with the assistance of Century Music Group. We are working closely with the members of Johnny Austin in developing their new website here at CMG and offering a more insightful experience to their fans and followers.

Be sure to sign up for Johnny Austin’s e-mail Newsletter to find out the latest on Johnny Austin, their website updates, live performance schedule, and the release of new music.

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