Benni Chawes (Vocal Jazz)

Benni Chawes' HumanBass is a modern interpretation of the most ancient of instruments -- the human voice. Chawes pushes the boundaries of musician-as-instrument in his solo effort, as he demonstrates his virtuosity with vocal instrumental sounds. Chawes sings the bass, drums, percussion, synth, guitar, tuba etc. -- all produced with his voice. In performance as HumanBass, Chawes rouses his audiences, mixing different instrumental sounds into the course of a tune, and performs thrilling vocal bass and percussion combinations. Chawes plays with funk grooves and percussive "slap bass" solos and fill-ins; smooth and complex walking bass lines; fretless, electric solos; and "playes" instrumental-like be-bob solos with sounds like synth, guitar- and horn-synth -- all with the voice. HumanBass is backed up by traditional instruments, performing in duo or combo settings, which throws an exhilarating twist to traditional orchestration. Performing in a solo setting as well illustrates Chawes' capacity of being up to four instruments a the same time.
Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Chawes studied piano there, and at Berklee College of Music, Boston, where he graduated with a degree in piano performance. Formerly the bass singer of the acclaimed American a cappella jazz group, Vox One, Chawes is featured on their fourth, award winning release, Chameleon (PAC Records.) The album won three recording awards:
"Artist of the Year; Best Jazz Album; Best Jazz Song" - 1998
Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, Contemporary A Cappella Society of America.
Vox One has performed throughout the US, Canada and Japan, and has opened for Ray Charles, Chicago, Count Basie Orchestra among others.
"You made my night." - Ray Charles.

Chawes vocal bass singing has been compared to the playing of Larry Graham, Jaco Pastorius, and the bass players of Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind and Fire. He has appeared on a number of radio and television shows in Europe, Canada and the US, with US nation wide spots, including NPR, WCVB-TV, CHANNEL 4, and the Arthel and Fred Show.
Chawes holds an award for Outstanding Musicianship (bass singer) in 1993 (International Association of Jazz Educators - IAJE.) and won "Band of the year" in Denmark in 1991.
Benni Chawes has performed/recorded with Boston Symphany Orchestra (POPS), Aaron Neville, Vox One, Bob Moses, Laszlo Gardony, Al Agami, Jan Glaesel, Thomas Blackman, Erann D. Drori, Richard Evans (Grammy Award winning producer for Natalie Cole), Five O'Clock Shadow, Peter Calo (Carley Simon's lead-guitarist), Thomas Clausen, Sankt Annae Gymnasium Choir (175 singers), Jorgen Emborg, Carsten Sonderskov, Jacob Karlson etc.
Benni Chawes is a great Danish jazz singer; seductive and masculine, as velvety soft as Barry White spiked with dashes of Tony Bennett, Al Jarreau and Bill Withers. He has an impressive voice, and he is capable of seducing any audience, especially those of the female gender. Anyone who has heard him in person knows this is true. Finally the album is here to show off this sublime Danish vocal talent. UP CLOSE documents Benni Chawes close behind a microphone backed by an outstanding trio. Chris Minh Doky (who once visited Thailand in celebrating 50th Anniversary of His King Majesty’s Accession to the throne at Suan Amporn in 1996) produced the CD, but luckily he also plays bass. Vocalist Malene Mortensen pays a guest visit for a couple of inspired duets.

UP CLOSE shows a more subdued side of Benni Chawes. He no longer needs to display his enormous virtuosity - to the contrary. These days the song, the story and the emotional content is most important to him.
UP CLOSE is acoustic music delivered by a crooner with presence and intensity and set in a universe of smooth jazz. Benni Chawes spreads a warm feel-good mood with catchy tunes and lyrics that send his audience on their way with a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts.Check out www.chawes.net

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jacob christoffersen trio FACING THE SUN

The 39 year old pianist Jacob Christoffersen is no newcomer. He has always, as the diverse and reliable musician he is, been soughtafter as a side-man. On the other hand he has never promoted himself and his own music. 6 years have passed since he had his debut as a bandleader with the funky and hardswinging quartet-recording ”JazzXperience”. Finally the follow-up cd is here with one of the bright shining talents of Danish jazz, ”Facing the sun”, a trio recording, showing that Jacob Christoffersen belongs to the elite of Scandinavian piano-players.

Jacob Christoffersen has never actually seen himself as a bandleader, until now. He has always considered himself as someone supporting others, but now the time was right to try out leadership. Jacob Christoffersen has a story to tell.

It is the classical American tradition of jazztrios that is the inspiration for Jacob Christoffersen and his trio. Most of the tracks on the record are original compositions by Jacob Christoffersen. As a composer he has tried to combine catchy tunes with complex harmonic structures. Geniuses as Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett with there rhythmic and melodical approach to the music, has helped as an inspiration in his career, but the main inspiration for playing and composing comes from his everyday life. Melancholy and romance live side by side with the more outgoing and hard-swinging inputs in his music.

Jacob Christoffersen praises his co-musicians on this record, the bass-player Jesper Bodilsen and the drummer Jonas Johansen. ” Words and instructions are hardly necessary, they give so much to the music, they are truly great players”.
The trio plays well together with a mixture of nice swinging up-tempo tunes and beautiful and sensitive ballads. And Jacob Christoffersen is flying at the moment, this is a recording you can?t ignore. Jacob Christoffersen trio FACING THE SUN is out now.

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Anders Bergcrantz

46-year old Swedish trumpeter Anders Bergcrantz has often appeared as sideman during a 25-year long career. However, releases in his own name are somewhat scarce: Two LP’s from the mid-80s and four CD’s with his American group. Not much for a musician considered one of the great trumpeters in jazz today. His brassy tone and virile musicianship is not only in demand all over Sweden and Denmark, but far beyond Scandinavia as well.

It certainly is ABOUT TIME! On this recording for Stunt Records we are once again reminded of his full, precise sound, his willpower and uncanny sense of timing, his logically feel for building a solo – it is pure enjoyment. This is jazz, genuine jazz with no frills. If we were to compare him with likeminded musicians (which in this case is possible without exaggeration) it would be people like Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. They are technical and precise musicians with a unique attack and at times an aggressive edge to their playing. They are also ideals which are unreachable to most musicians.

Bergcrantz attended Berklee in 1980-81, and upon returning to Sweden, he spent the following three years at Malmoe’s Conservatory.

However, he soon began receiving frequent offers from more seasoned players, i.e. Dave Liebman. Before long he was also touring most of Europe with his “American” quintet which included tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza, pianist Richie Beirach and drummer Adam Nussbaum. And there is also his group with tenor-player Billy Harper and drummer Billy Hart, unfortunately as yet unrecorded.

In Denmark he is often heard as a member of pianist Jan Kaspersen’s group and as part of drum legend Ed Thigpen’s Scantet – always playing alongside a tenor sax. For his own group he has chosen all brass with trombonist Vincent Nilsson. This recording provides Nilsson with ample opportunity to show off his soloing qualities, his total control of his difficult instrument, and his wealth of ideas.

Drummer Lennart Gruvstedt’s deep swing and presence are a great asset to the group - he and pianist Jacob Karlzon and bassist

Lasse Lundstr?m constitute a formidable trio in its own right.

But first and foremost, ABOUT TIME is about a tight, super-energetic quintet featuring a lot of great soloing – not least from the masterful trumpeter and bandleader himself.

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