Aftertouch

 
"Aftertouch with their infections grooves and memorable melodies put a new spin on the smooth jazz genre. Keeping one foot in tradition, yet with a sound that is entirely their own, they are a band I know, that will take on a new role as one of the leaders in Contemporary Jazz".

 

- Jeff Bova, Grammy award winner Producer/Album of the Year 1997 Celine Dion's "Falling Into You".

 

Aftertouch, with their debut disc ""Where You Belong" established
themselves as one of the strong new voices in Contemporary Jazz.
With stellar reviews in top trade magazines such as JazzTimes , Jazziz, Blues and Soul (UK), and Strictly Jazz. The critics agreed "Future releases from Aftertouch could easily find themselves where they belong at the top of the charts"(JazzTimes). With support from major market radio, college Jazz radio, Sound Scapes and the internet, the CD ""Where You Belong 's radio single "Your Place or Mine" has become a fixture on Smooth Jazz radio playlists across the country.

Aftertouch was seen on national television Thanksgiving eve on channel 4 (NBC). The music special "World Jazz Tribute" ' which featured Aftertouch and included guest performances by Dave Valentin, Marion Meadows, Chuck Loeb, Paul Taylor, Chelli Manucci (Special EFX). This television show also appeared on BET in January. In live performance, Aftertouch has thrilled audiences at various New York City clubs. In past summers, they were featured with such artist's as Ricardo Silvera, Dave Valentin, Ray Barretto, Larry Coryell and the late Noel Pointer on WQCD (CD 101.9New York's #1 Contemporary/Smooth Jazz
station) Jazz cruises and World Trade center concerts. Aftertouch was the first and only unsigned act at that time to be promoted on this station.

Currently, Aftertouch is finishing up production on their next CD in New York. Co-producing is Jeff Bova, winner of the 1997 Grammy for Producer/Record ofthe Year (Celene Dion-Failing into you).

The members

Danny Obadia

was born in Casablanca, Morocco and lived in Versailles, France until the age of 7. Growing up in household filled with French, Spanish and Arabic music has greatly enhanced his musical experiences. At the age of 15 Danny was introduced to the world of fusion (RTF, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Weather Report, etc.), by his older cousin Steven. As a piano student, Danny was naturally drawn to the music of Chick Corea, who was to become one of his major influences as well as Jeff Lorber and Pat Metheny.

Danny got the song writing bug while performing in various pop and jazz bands throughout high school and college. During his years as a music major at Queens College, Danny was recognized by Billboard magazine as an up and coming songwriter, released two dance singles and headed various pop and fusion bands. In addition to composing the music for Aftertouch, Danny is currently principal composer for the Songs of Love Foundation, a non-profit organization that provided original music for chronically or terminally ill children.

After piling up instrumental pieces that were "just sitting on the shelf", Danny's friends pushed him into putting a little jam session together. This is how Danny became acquainted with Andy Korn: "We had a lot of mutual respect for each others musicality and wanted to continue this project". Five years later, having gone through various personnel and musical directions and re-directions, Aftertouch came into being. With his pop/jazz background, Danny has always been interested in appealing to fans of both styles of music. This resulted in their first effort, "Where You Belong". Not only the result of combined musical styles, but the culmination of 36 years of rich and varied musical experience.

Danny is currently writing new music for Aftertouch that he believes will appeal to fans of both jazz and pop (Pazz, ,as he calls it) fans. Stay tuned!

Andy Korn

was born in New York City and grew up in Queens and Scarsdale, NY. He attended both Hunter College and SUNY at Purchase for undergraduate studies in art and music. Andy decided to take a more personal one to one learning experience by studying with top New York, tri-state area drummers/teachers such as Sonny Igoe, Gary Chester, Frankie Malabe, Frank Morino and Rod Morgenstern.

Through his older brother Mitch, (formerly a trumpet player), Andy discovered all types of musical styles and artists that influenced him, such as Frank Zappa, The Beatles, Miles Davis, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Steely Dan.

Andy began playing professionally in 1991. Through a mutual friend, he was introduced to Keyboardist Danny Obadia. They went on to form the group Aftertouch. Six years later their first CD was released nationally on the Denon/Savoy/WEA label. Andy has performed and recorded, (see discography) with Ronnie Spector, Tera Masahino, Rex Rideout, Angela Boffill, Bobby Lyle, Evelyn "Champaign" King, Melba Moore, Will Downing, John Waite, Joey Ramone, and many others. Andy can be heard on all television spots for the NBA, (Reading is Fundamental Campaign). Andy looks forward to Aftertouch's next release.

 

A first glimpse at their new project "Aftertouch".