Richard Elliot
The reigning merchant of Soul Jazz, Richard
Elliot invites loyal fans and newcomers alike to celebrate 25 years since the
release of his debut album Trolltown. Where‟s the party? Where else—In the Zone,
a grooving, funked up, horn-splashed collection that finds the energized-as-ever
tenor saxophonist paying homage to the pioneering instrumental artists of his
formative years („70s-early „80s) whose brilliance and musical innovations
inspired his own.
Drawing on the influences of legends like Grover Washington, Jr., Bob James and
David Sanborn, Elliot fashions the perfect contemporary jazz complement to Rock
Steady, his 2009 recording that was inspired by the great R&B artists he grew up
listening to; that collection debuted at #5 on the Billboard jazz album chart
and remained on the list for over 40 weeks.
In The Zone includes a simmering, hypnotic retro-soul cover of “Inner City Blues
(Makes Me Wanna Holler),” a Marvin Gaye staple whose original instrumental
version marked Washington's first session as a leader. Beyond that, the
collection is driven by nine powerful retro-flavored original songs penned by
Elliot and co-producer Jeff Lorber, who share a colorful collaborative history
over the past 10 years. The two played numerous shows in the early 2000s as part
of the all-star Groovin’ For Grover tour (with Gerald Albright and Paul Taylor)
and have worked together on various tracks on Elliot's recordings Crush (2001),
Ricochet (2003), Metro Blue (2005), RnR (Elliot's 2007 hit recording with
trumpet great Rick Braun) and Rock Steady.
Lorber, who began recording as leader of The Jeff Lorber Fusion in the late
„70s, brings his unique dual history as a Jazz Fusion pioneer and R&B
producer/re-mixer to the session. In addition to his array of keyboards,
including the Fender Rhodes, In The Zone features the input of longtime Elliot
associates Nate Phillips (bass), Tony Moore and Lil’ John Roberts (drums),
Dwight Sills and Michael Thompson (guitar), and percussionist Lenny Castro. The
same way that Bob James' horn arrangements created a powerful sonic magic behind
Washington's early recordings like “Mister Magic,” arranger David Mann creates
dreamy retro-atmospheres with a subtle mix of muted trumpets, flute and bass
clarinet that transport Elliot deeper In The Zone.
“The interesting thing about my desire to pay
homage to the wonderful array of R&B and jazz I grew up with on these last two
recordings is that I actually wanted to do it as far back as Metro Blue,” said
Elliot of the album whose key single, a cover of The Stylistics' “People Make
The World Go Round,” spent an unprecedented 11 weeks at #1 on the Radio &
Records airplay chart. “The music of the „70s carved out a lot of where I wanted
to go musically, and I felt this need to express some musical gratitude, not by
doing a cover record, but by incorporating a few familiar songs among originals
that had references to my influences. Compared to Rock Steady, the vibe is
definitely subtler on In The Zone, especially with David‟s wonderfully
sophisticated low-key horn arrangements, but the same love of that time is there.
The vibe is the „70s forerunner to the contemporary instrumental music that
became popular in my own era as an artist.”
The first single, “Boom Town” has an exuberant and aggressive, in-the-pocket
tenor hook that does Sanborn proud—it‟s intense yet has a smooth, poppy finish.
Elliot launches the set with the playful and lilting tropical chill vacation
“Island Style,” then gets back to the city on the moody and atmospheric
mid-tempo ballad “Metropolis,” which as it evolves includes Elliot‟s rich sense
of improvisation and emotional power. The same type of sensuous atmospheres
caressing that track play behind the lighthearted funk of the drive time tune
“The Lower Road.” With Lorber providing the percussive synth blasts and Fender
Rhodes harmonies, Elliot gets down to bluesy business with his muscular playing
on the horn-drenched funk of “Bring It!”
“Just a Taste” takes the groove down a notch into romantic chill territory,
while the vibrant, in-the-pocket title track lives up to its name with a swirl
of percussive synth accents, brassy vamps and bubbling-over retro keyboard
flavors. Elliot saves some of his most expressive, in your face tenor playing
for another horn-fired jam “Panamera” before wrapping In The Zone on the wistful,
candlelit ballad “Golden Triangle.”
Taking the concept of In The Zone to another metaphoric place, Elliot has been
on one of the most incredible rolls of his career since Metro Blue, which
debuted at #2 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart. In addition to the
incredible chart success of “People Make The World Go Round,” “RnR” (the title
track from the album Elliot recorded with Braun) stayed at #1 on the chart for
over two months. Elliot and Braun crisscrossed the U.S. as part of Jazz Attack (with
Peter White and Jonathan Butler) in 2005, 2007 and 2009; and spent 2008 touring
as RnR.
The saxman also did media appearances and performed in South Africa for the
first time, and played his first ever shows in Russia and St. Petersburg in
January 2009. Elliot is currently headlining on tour with Grammy® award-winning
guitarist Norman Brown.
The Scotland-born, L.A.-raised saxman was still on the road with Tower of Power
when he released his debut album Trolltown in 1986. Embarking upon one of
instrumental music's most dynamic and multifaceted careers, he has scored four
#1 albums (On The Town, Soul Embrace, After Dark and Jumpin’ Off) and a growing
number of #1 airplay singles.
In addition to his participation in all-star
tours like Groovin’ For Grover and Jazz Attack, in the mid-„90s he helped launch
another of the genre‟s annual franchises, the Guitars & Saxes tours, which he
has participated in on and off ever since. At his peak, Elliot was doing over
100 tour dates a year, but he has scaled it back as his family has grown to
include five children over the years.
“My original motivation for doing an album like In The Zone was the opportunity
to reconnect with my earlier self, the musician I was when I first started out,”
Elliot explained. “The songs remind me of listening to my heroes in those days
and seeing them perform live, feeling incredible joy and enthusiasm about the
possibility of following in their footsteps. The wonderful thing is, so many
years after I began performing professionally, I still feel that excitement. I
love to play live more than anything. Under certain circumstances, the recording
process can be arduous, but when you can tap into the kind on inspiration I draw
from here, it's a whole different, joyous experience. It's all about feeling the
same way I did back when I was 18 and dreaming that this could someday be my
life.”
