Page 8 June 14, 2000
Music
Focus
•*-
(Elje Fortiani» ffibeeruer
Shake It Up with Boney James and Rick Braun
CONTRIBUTED STORV
tOK l i l t P u RIIANILQ b SERVEK
An exciting collaboration from two o f the world’s top instrumentalists,
Shake It Up pairs saxophone sensation Boney James with trumpet wonder
Rick Braun for an outing that more than lives up to its title.
Infused with dynamic energy. Shake It Up features ten tracks that span an
array o f moods, emotions and musical genres. Shake It Up mixes the
perfect blend o f pop, soul, latin, funk and jazz.
After a chance meeting as session players about eight years ago, Boney and
Rick cemented their musical connection with a few guest appearances on
each other’s solo records, racking up three No. 1 hits in the process:
"Boneyizm ’ (from Body Language), “Grooves” (from Beat Street) and
“Notorious” (from Body And Soul). Boney states, “We always had so
much tun playing together that we began to consider the idea o f a whole
record. Braun concurs, “We have some sort o f chemistry like Jerry Rice
and Joe M ontana.. whatever it is, it works.”
The appeal o f Shake It Up undoubtedly stems from the two players’
musical connection. Braun reflects, “The spontaneity and interaction was
there on every song because Boney and I cut our horns together. Nothing
can compare with that element o f excitement when you don’t know w hat’s
going to happen. Boney elaborates, “When w e’re facing each other in a
room and we re playing - I don't know if it’s healthy competition or
inspiration - we really do tend to reach new heights. I guess we feed off
o f each other... we respond to each other’s thoughts and finish musical
sentences and it takes the whole thing somewhere exciting. Braun agrees,
"It s amazing, there are moments on the record where we actually sound
like there’s one person playing. We really click like that.”
That unique energy is apparent on the opener, “R.S.V.P.” “ It’s a party
song,” Boney says, adding, “R.S.V.P.” says, ‘ Will you come to our party?’
It’s the invitation to come into this whole fun thing w e’re doing.”
Love s Like That, featuring Fourplay, was another highpoint for both
artists. Bob James, Nathan East, Larry Carlton and Harvey Mason, these
guys are legends, Boney asserts, “and to be able to hang out with them,
playing live with Fourplay, was one o f the great moments.”
There is also a strikingly fresh take on pianist Horace Silver’s “Song For
My Father. “This is one o f those great songs that features the trumpet and
sax out front,” comments Boney, “and so it was natural for us. I think this
is one o f the most interesting arrangements that we came up with. We took
the song and really twisted it.”
Shake It Up is a bit of a play on words,” continues Boney, “because aside
from the energy o f the music, it was sort o f a left turn for us to do a
collaboration CD.” And it is amazing that in the midst o f their packed
schedules and individually flourishing careers, they found time to produce
and record Shake It Up (Boney James shares production credit with Paul
Brown, while Braun co-produced three tracks). The motivation to make it
happen is clear. “It’s an extremely fun record,” says Braun. “I think when
people listen they’re going to feel the electricity that was in the room when
we were playing.”
The two are planning a worldwide summer tour in support o f Shake It Up
so fans can experience these m usicians’ astounding energy in live
performance. Both artists also have solo projects in the works. Rick
Braun’s solo debut on W arner Bros, is projected for late 2000 and Boney
anticipates a new solo album out the beginning o f 2001.
The Ray Rom Octet
I
contr i but ed . STOR
FOR
T he P ortland O r s h u t r
The Ray Rom Octet, formed in 1998
to “play some o f the West Coast
jazz that was being played in Los
Angeles in the 1950s and 1960s,” is
dedicated to keepingjazz alive, both
old an d new . Rom le a rn e d
saxophone in elementary school and
graduated from the University of
Montana in 1953 with a music
degree, centering on theory and
c o m p o sitio n . H e p la y s te n o r
saxophone with the Art Abrams
Swing
Swing Machine
Machine and
and his
his “M
“My Owi
Little Big Band” in addition to th
O ctet, using many o f his owi
arrangements and compositions.
The other seven members o f this
gorup are Stan Bock (trombone).
Bob Bork (baritone saxophone),
Dan Donahue (piano), Ralph Patt
(guitar), Pete Lampe (bass), Dave
Clausnitzer (trum pet), and Lou
Chavez (drums).
The concert will be held in the
Willamette Valley Vineyards’Great
Room For more information, call
503/588-9463 or 503/399-5184.
Braun (on trumpet) and Boney James (right). Saxophone sensation. Bonev James will be plaving at
this year s JazzFest on July 8 at the Portland Meadows.
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