Review
Smooth jazz guitarist Blake Aaron is back with his third CD, Desire, and for anyone familiar with his music it was well worth the wait. This collection of mostly original music captivates the senses from the first note and never lets go, as Aaron s love for jazz is apparent in everything he does. Aaron, who got his start as a kid playing rock music on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, has toured with groups such as The Drifters, The Coasters and Little Anthony. He has also been the guitarist for television shows including Mad TV, The Ben Stiller Show, Sunday Night Comics and The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. Desire heats things up with the first memorable note as Aaron lets loose on Bumpin On The Wes Side, dedicated to the genius of Wes Montgomery. One of thirteen original compositions on this fifteen-track CD, Aaron s engaging riffs waft through the air, light as a summer breeze. It s soft in its easy-to-listen-to quality, yet exhilarating in its passion and fine musicianship. Aaron pours his heart into another masterfully composed melody dedicated, this time, to the genius of Thelonious Monk and Grover Washington Jr., aptly titled Harmonious Funk. Will It Go Round In Circles, by Billy Preston, is one of two tracks not written by Aaron, though he makes it his own with his impeccable guitar playing. Pianist/organist Mike Whittaker is superb, as is Jeff Coffin s sassy saxophone. Aaron s take on the haunting Sting classic Fragile is truly inspired. There s a definite Latin flair to Aaron s playing and the backing horns section saxophonist Will Donato, trumpeter Sal Cracchiolo and trombonist Eric Jorgensen who punch up this famous ballad, still clearly done so as not to take away from its original beauty. Not an easy thing to do while keeping the integrity of the original. The title track highlights Aaron s skill with his instrument as it mingles sensually with Guerrero s hauntingly beautiful muted trumpet. TJ Gibson provides soulful vocals on Forever, a timeless love song with Alan Hewitt on keyboards and programming. Switching it up is the hip and bluesy Baby Likes the Blues, which starts off rocking and keeps doing so right through to the last magnificent note. Aaron downright rocks as does saxophonist Mike Todd. Spin Zone closes out this extraordinary collection of music with a bang. It s upbeat, edgy and full of life, with Aaron s exuberance leading the way and a horn section that really knows how to set the groove. Three years in the making, Desire is unquestionably one of the standout smooth jazz CDs of 2007. --All About Jazz
Blake Aaron's music is no secret. Guitar fans will love his albums With Every Touch (2001) and Bringin' It Back (2003). Now he is back with his new album Desire (2007). All albums are published at Aaron's own label Innervison Records and Entertainment. Further artists of this roster are Will Donato, Jack Prybylski, Rupert Leighton and Richard Hart Quartet. With more than 70 minutes Blake Aaron's new album offers a great assortment of different styles. Wes Montgomery is a guitar legend. Legions of guitarists are influenced by his style. Ask Norman Brown, Thom Rotella, Nick Colionne or Steve Laury who is their hero. All will answer Wes. Bumbin' On The Wes Side is Blake Aaron's special homage to Wes. The track also contains an excellent piano solo of Steve Weingart. Paul Brown initiated the uptempo Come On Over. He plays percussion, keyboards and rhythm guitar. A hot and funky burner. The first cover on this album is Billy Preston's Will It Go 'Round In Circles. Preston had self-produced the song for his album Music Is My Life (1973), selling millions of copies. Blake comments: Mike and I heard it over a sound system and thought it would be a really good song to cover because it was funky and it hadn't been overdone. Shine is a hooking tune featuring Jesse J. on flute. It has certainly the typical Paul Brown flavor but Blake writes his own guitar signature. Blake has originally written this tune for Paul Brown's album one year ago. If You Were Mine is a moody romantic melody. Featured artist on this track is Tony Guerrero on flugelhorn. Aside from his work in the contemporary and classic jazz fields he has produced albums in a variety of arenas, from jazz to rock to country. Tony Guerrero has just recorded a new solo album which will soon be released, hopefully. A waltz is certainly unusual on a smooth jazz album, isn't it? In Her Sweet Way breaks this rule. Very balladic. Tony Guerrero takes this time his muted trumpet to perform on the title track Desire in a duet with Blake Aaron. Blake has reveals a baroque style in his guitar performance. The last tones fade away on Tony's trumpet. Aaron also offers a vocal song on his album, Forever featuring singer TJ Gibson. An awesome R&B singer with a great future. There Will Come A Day shows Aaron Blake on a faithful attitude treating his guitar on the bluesy way. The Blues goes on with Baby Likes The Blues. Fragile is the title of the following Bossa Nova tune. Blake Aaron had performed this tune live for years. Now he serves a Salsa version with a hot rhythm part (Hussain Jiffy and Walter Rodriguez), Otmaro Ruiz on keys (that's pure Salsa!) and of course Blake on guitar in a top notch quality. Venezuela born Otmaro Ruiz was introduced into the circle of Los Angeles jazz musicians by Alex Acuna. Run Away With You is Blake's breathtaking guitar stampede. Jimmy Branley is an expert in Afro-Cuban drumming. The best drummer Blake could choice for this smooth jazz tune with Salsa elements. Harmonious Funk is dedicated to the genius of Thelonious Monk and Grover Washington Jr.. Starting as a smooth jazz tune with bluesy elements the track slowly changes its style into bebop. A real chameleon. Short, Sweet And Sexy are the attributes of a lush radio-like song. May be it's Aaron Blake's lure for smooth jazz radio stations. Spin Zone was supposed to be the first single from the album Shine on 215 Records. The plan was to follow up with the full CD Shine. Spin Zone survived and that are the good news. Blake Aaron's new album Desire is exactly that what listeners want: Finest guitar entertainement over more than 70 minutes. --First View
Product Description
...a genius on the guitar The Los Angeles Times Amazingly Talented.... Dave Koz Truly Gifted... Jimmy Sommers ...outstanding guitar virtuoso and composer... Riveting Riffs.com Blake (Aaron) is the next top contemporary jazz guitarist O s Place Jazz News Desire was one of the genre's best releases of 2007 Jonathan Widran (AMG) Desire is unquestionably one of the standout smooth jazz CD s of the year... Jazz Review.com (Desire) captivates the senses from the first note and never lets go... AllAboutJazz.com Desire is exactly what listeners want: The finest guitar entertainment and more than 70 minutes Smooth and Soul ...Blake Aaron is a musician who has paid his dues and is now on the road to fame and fortune as a smooth-jazz guitarist. The Jazz Times Blake Aaron has come a long way from the kid who played rock shows on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood and toured with R&B acts like Bobby Womack, Lakeside, Dynasty, The Drifters, The Coasters, Little Anthony, Joe Houston, Mary Wells, and later, the Gap Band, Billy Bass, Bernie Worrell, Fish (Fishbone), and producer Bill Laswell. Aaron, who, even from the beginning and through it all, always loved, played and studied jazz, is a guitarist who is known best for his passionate musical style, his memorable compositions, his soul and technical expression on the instrument, and his ability to connect with an audience. Since those early days, Aaron has been a staple on the national music scene for many years both as a live performer and in the studio. A composer and musician with an edge, Aaron has been the guitarist/ and or composed for such television shows and films as Steven Seagal's Half Past Dead 2, MAD TV (FOX), The Next Best Thing (ABC),The Starlet (w/Faye Dunaway) (UPN), 10-8 (ABC), The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (WB), Gary and Mike (UPN), The Ben Stiller Show (FOX), Sunday Night Comics (FOX), and has more recently recorded and/or performed with such artists as Steve Reid's Bamboo Forest, Eric Marienthal, Bobby Womack and Carlos Santana (Womack-Save the Children), Kuh LaDesma, Gloria Trevi, and The Gap Band. Blake's debut Innervision release, With Every Touch (2001), included special guest appearances by Eric Marienthal and David Benoit. Three singles from this CD would remain in the Top 50 on the Gavin/SmoothJazz.com charts for at least 8 weeks each. The single She's So Fine from his second album, Bringin' It Back (2004), propelled Blake into the forefront of contemporary jazz by remaining in the Top 30 on the Radio and Records charts for 8 straight weeks. Two singles would reach the top 100 of the year on the R&R charts. Blake took a brief sabbatical from solo recording to focus on his studio career. Additionally, with the assistance of All Star Music Lessons, Blake would produce three instructional videos for the guitar. Meanwhile, he continued his studio work with several television shows, which included regular recording sessions and an appearance on Mad TV. In June 2007, Blake released the hot new CD, DESIRE. Packed with 15 songs of sexy grooves and beautiful, unforgettable melodies, produced by the legendary Paul Brown and Hussain Jiffry, and mastered by the renowned Bernie Grundman (Michael Jackson, Norah Jones, Kenny G and more), DESIRE has been on the tip of the tongue of reviewers for some time and is sure to catapult Blake to the next level of contemporary jazz stardom. Desire has remained in the R&R top 30 for 8 weeks and #1 on the Indie charts for 6 weeks!!!
