Welcome to PRESENT
TENSE Jazz!!
So what is OUR jazz? It is original, adult contemporary instrumental
jazz with unique compositions written to be memorable, musical,
accessible and exciting to listen to. The tunes are also "organic"
& "theatrical," and are highly improvisational especially
in live performances where our trio (often with special guests) can
"stretch out" and experiment "on the fly."
PRESENT TENSE Jazz gets you groovin' and keeps "bringing you back
home!"
All of the composition are penned by Richard Frank (acoustic bass)and
Ronnie Kaufman (drums/percussion). On this debut CD "Night Shadows,"
we are proud to be accompanied by pianists John Enrico Douglas (tracks 1
- 5) and Chad Edwards (tracks 6 - 12).
All of the main tracks were recorded LIVE in the studio - damn few over
dubs. So what you hear is a tight sound that's polished but also a live
interaction - not layered to a drum machine! For texture, we added a few
layers of percussion and just a tad of synth patches to fill it in hear
and there.
Having a notable career with the GAP Band, Ronnie has established
himself as one of today's most accomplished and talented drummers. With
a strong background in jazz in combination with his solid R&B roots,
his grooves and feel is always present. Richard's background of
classical, jazz, 70's rock, and world musics give the group a solid
bottom both rhythmically and harmonically. Seeing the acoustic bass as
having a much "bigger bottom," the instrument is that added
difference in achieving a unique contemporary & accessible sound the
band sought to achieve.
