The Sam Crain Quintet - Spring Into Swing
ARTIST.....: The Sam Crain Quintet
TITLE......: Spring Into Swing
LABEL......: Self-Released
URL........: www.samcrain.com
RIP DATE...: May-31-2006
STORE DATE.: 000-00-1999
GENRE......: Jazz
QUALITY....: VBR / 44.1Hz / Joint-Stereo
SIZE.......: 85,4 MB
Track Listing:
01 - Kimber Lee 07:32
02 - Lester Sleeps In 07:54
03 - Floundering In Suburbia 08:23
04 - Judy's Song 06:59
05 - Maxine 04:17
06 - Solo Guitar 1 01:20
07 - Solo Guitar 2 01:46
08 - Heat And Serve 07:37
09 - One For Dad 04:34
10 - Lester Sleeps In (Alternate Take) 07:39
11 - Kimber Lee (Alternate Take) 06:08
─────
64:09 min
Release Notes:
SAM CRAIN is a jazz guitarist and composer from Springfield,
Illinois, with 15 other CDs to his credit (all available on
cdbaby.com). His playing has a strong bebop streak, but also
contains elements of R & B and other styles, with a lyrical edge
all his own - imagine perhaps George-Benson-meets-Robert-Cray, or
along that line..
SPRING INTO SWING is Sam's 2nd CD effort. At this juncture, he'd
made 2 trips to Manhattan and was much influenced by the energy of
the place as well as the high quality of jazz players there. The
title bears on the fact that it was recorded on the first day of
Spring, and by the cover photo taken in bustling midtown
Manhattan, at the corner of 53rd st(aka Swing St, especially
hopping back in the '40s)and 6th Avenue.
All the material is original, written by Sam, though some of it
derives from jazz tunes -"Kimber Lee" being taken from "Donna Lee"
and "There will Never be another You". Featured, as on many jazz
albums, are a few alternate takes which had a spark to them Sam
felt shouldn't be wasted.
The overall form of the CD is designed as an arch form, a sort of
loose ABCBA kind of structure. As a model, Sam used "The Bill
Evans Album", in which the first 2 tunes were the last 2 tunes, so
the album ends as it begins. It is hoped that this will be a
pleasing listening experience. Some of central Illinois' finest
were on hand for this recording, particularly saxophonist Doug
Stone, though pianist Tom Becker, drummer Steve Adleman and
bassist Gordon Jackson certainly contributed well.
This CD has enjoyed some online sales, not only throughout the US,
but in France, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Germany as well.
Sam is currently playing with his own group, The Sam Crain
Quartet, and freelancing with various folks.
Educated various places, Sam holds a Bachelor's in music
composition from Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore MD. He
has written a variety of classical works, including a String
Quartet, 2 Piano Sonatas, and orchestral, chamber, solo and
electronic music.
Teaching experience includes "Artist-in-Residence"for Sangamon
State University's 'Blues-in-the-Schools' program 1980 Springfield
IL; The Music School (guitar & music theory) Springfield IL 1981;
Lincoln College, Lincoln IL (guitar) 1984; plus much private
instruction.
Performing experience includes Cicero Slim & WWIII in 1980-81 as
bassist, playing all over Illinois and into Missouri & Indiana;
guitarist with Gina, Dean & Scoundrel, LA-based 'showband',
playing all over U.S., into Canada & Mexico; guitarist w/ Frank
Trompeter Quintet 1993-96, with whom he played in Japan at the
Ashikaga Jazz Festival in 1995; The Sam Crain Quartet 1996-2005.
For 2006, Sam has a working trio: guitar, bass and drums - with
the occasional horn player or piano player(or possibly singer)
FUN FACTS ABOUT THIS RECORDING:
Produced by Sam Crain
Recorded and mastered by Michael Taylor
Duplication by Eastern Standard Productions,Inc
All Compositions by Sam Crain
Recorded March 21, 1999 at Jazz Central Station, Springfield, IL;
and March 25, 1999 at Taylor Music, Pawnee, IL
Sam Crain - electric and acoustic guitar
Doug Stone - tenor saxophone
Tom Becker - piano
Gordon Jackson - bass/electric bass
Steve Adleman - drums
DOUG STONE had at that time just graduated high school, en route
to Northern Il Univ in Dekalb IL, and was already off and running.
He'd already been featured in Down Beat's "Jazz on Campus", a
longtime student of David Baker, and had a discography going:
besides my recording, Doug is featured on David Hoffman's
"Groovin". And with all that going, a very nice, down-to-earth
guy, with none of the attitude that often accompanies
"wunderkinden". He adds a lot to this recording.
TOM BECKER was 'house musician' at Jazz Central Station atop the
Springfield Hilton, where he played solo and led a trio which
backed up various singers. He's had a long career in music, which
started in the 60's playing with Wayne Cochran - and sharing the
stage with such legends as Otis Redding and James Brown. Tom adds
a lot here, particularly on "One for Dad". Sounds a bit like Max
Middleton (with the Jeff Beck Group). Tom's composition "Nital
Leef" is featured on my CD "Rose of Loami and other Selections",
recorded in April of 2001.
GORDON JACKSON was a grad student at Eastern Illinois Univ, known
for their terrific jazz program, and played a fair amount of gigs
with me at that time. He's now up in Chicago, working and
hopefully playing. His best work on here is I think the loping
lines which help to characterize "Lester Sleeps In".
STEVE ADLEMAN was in Central Jazz Station's house band at the time
of this recording. He's from Champaign-Urbana, and has played many
gigs with me, as well as other recording projects. Steve has also
worked with Jeff Newell, Rachael Lee and the late bluesman Eddie
Snow, for whom he also did a lot of the administrative stuff. His
best moments on here is the brushwork in "Lester Sleeps In".