Eric Cohen's Featured CD's of the Week

If you missed Eric Cohen's featured CD releases this week, here is a recap of what we played; consider it your "Best of New Music" cheat sheet!

1. Pianist and Vocalist Ray Brown Jr.

Born in New York City and raised in a family of musical royalty (the son of singer Ella Fitzgerald and legendary jazz bass player Ray Brown), Ray Brown, Jr. learned early to appreciate the beauty and artistry of music.

Although the primary emphasis was jazz, Ray's heart was in rock and roll and rhythm and blues. The family migrated to California where Ray studied piano at the age of 10. At 14, drums became an extended musical passion, so dad arranged for young Ray to study with Bill Douglas and later with Chuck Flores in Los Angeles.

"Because of my roots," says Ray, "people always assume I sing jazz or play jazz. That's what they ask when they meet me for the first time. People are surprised when I sing country or rock and roll.

To hear some of Ray's music, especially the tracks from his new album, Friends and Family, check out: His Web Site.

2. Saxophonist David Sanborn

David recorded his first album in 1975 ( Taking Off ) and since then he's rarely gone more then two years between releases. So far, David has released an amazing 22 solo albums.

The latest of his works, Here and Gone, came out on August 12.
Produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, the nine-track CD features a number of special guests, including Eric Clapton, Sam Moore and Joss Stone. For more information on the new album, please visit the official website of Decca Records.

For more information about David Sanborn, visit his Web site by clicking Here.

3. Guitarist Greg Chako

In 2003, after finishing a successful, steady jazz gig in China with singer Dee Dee McNeil, pianist Jack Holland, and bassist Donald Jackson, American guitarist Greg Chako moved to Japan with his Japanese wife (of 3 years) to start a new life. However, shortly after arriving in Japan, he discovered his beloved wife had terminal cancer. The shocking, all-consuming experience that followed caused a 2-3 year playing and recording hiatus. However, after the death of his wife in 2004 at age 37, he began slowly to get back into his music.

In 2005/2006 he released 2 new CDs, the first double CD containing all-original compositions called "Where We Find Ourselves", dedicated to his late wife. Played by a tight, swinging horn ensemble, the fresh, varied arrangements are mostly mainstream, with splashes of Latin and World music, and even a couple vocal tracks showing off Chakos` own lyrics, which are as thoughtful and supremely lyrical as his improvising. Shortly thereafter, he released his 7th CD, "Two`s Company, Three`s a Crowd", a series of swinging duets of guitar/piano and guitar/vocal covers, some live. Seeming content to stay and develop his performance contacts in and around the Tokyo area, Chako is now focused on promoting and extending his prolific composing and recording career.

His newest album, Everybody's Got a Name, is not only available in a traditional CD format, but also in a downloadable MP3 version which you can buy Here. For more info. on Greg Chako, please Click Here.