Professor Walter Beasley started his career on
the trace of Grover Washington. Grover's music inspired Walter to
choose the saxophone as his favorite instrument. Furthermore he was
influenced by Donny Hathaway and Earth, Wind and Fire. "All I wanted
to do was figure out how I could move people the way I was moved by
those records.”
Graduated from Berklee College of Music in the
early ‘80s, Walter took a teaching position on this college a year
later. In 1987 he released his self-titled debut album on Polydor,
followed by Just Kickin' It (1989), Intimacy (1992) and
Private Time (1995) on Mercury. After Walter Beasley
Live and More (1996) on Affable Records and Life and More
(1996) on Ignition he signed at Shanachie, where he released
Tonight We Love (1997), For Your Pleasure (1998), Won't
You Let Me Love You (2000) and Rendezvous (2002). Go
With The Flow (2003) was his interplay on N-Coded Music before he
joined Heads Up International releasing For
Her (2005), Ready For Love
(2007) and in 2009 Free Your Mind. On his website he also
offers Sax Meditations (2008) as downloadable music.
“All I wanted to do with this record was
accurately reflect the times and how I felt about them,” explains
Walter the title of his new album. “I had been working so much in the
past few years, and living this musical life so intensely, that I
hadn’t taken the time to recognize the emotional impact of some things
that had been happening in my life and in the world. With the times
being what they are, I think this is a record that can help people let
go of their concerns for a while and just lose themselves in the
moment.”
On the starting Steady As She Goes Walter
Beasley combines his contemporary sax with classic rhythms of the
80's. The song was penned by James K. Lloyd, the keyboardist of Pieces
of A Dreams who is a high-talented producer, writer and musician.
Walter is not only a gifted sax player but also a
blessed singer. He reveals his extremely affective vocals on Love
Calls featuring the siren vocals of Lyne Fiddmont. Kem has written
the song for his debut album Kemistry pegged by USA Today early
on as a "Motown classic."
Get a fresh air with Oh Yeah, the definite
groove by hit maker James K. Lloyd. This captivating and
crowd-pleasing tune is suitable as next single and would be the right
chart topper.
Message To Mark is Walter's tribute to
Mark Ledford who died of a heart attack in late 2004 at age 44. “Mark
was an extremely talented musician who played with Pat Metheny,” says
Beasley, who is godfather to Ledford’s children. “We were like
brothers, two people whose musical careers were very similar in that
we both played, sang and wrote music. But we had lost touch because of
some things that were happening in our personal lives, so I wasn’t
able to talk to him toward the end of his life. But since music was
the thing that brought us together and made us so close, I said what I
needed to say in my music.” Mark Ledford has often performed with Pat
Metheny. So bass player Craig Shaw and trumpet player Derek Cannon evoke
together with Walter Beasley memories through association to Pat's
music.
Urban influenced Shirlitta brings a fresh sound into your
loudspeakers. The title song Free Your Mind comprises the
message, forget your sorrows. Keep cool and be happy. That's just a
pipe dream but worth a try.
The Latin-flavored DukeZillia is a song
Walter Beasley composed George Duke's music in mind. “I was at the
keyboard, and I was playing these chord changes,” Beasley recalls,
“and I realized the music that was coming together was very much in
the style of Duke. I saw this as my opportunity to write something
that was indicative of the kind of lessons I had learned in my early
childhood from his music.” This sound is an agreeable turning away
from the usual smooth jazz formula. John Roberts did a fantastic job
on drums, percussion and background vocals.
Just Breathe is a good opportunity for
James K. Lloyd to show more of his grateful piano technique.
Barack's Groove is a tribute to next president Barack Obama. "Win
or lose, says Beasley, Obama has changed history for every child of
any color in this country. “Barack and Michelle Obama have
demonstrated to people of color and families of color that you can be
born into a traditional African-American family – or a Latino family
or an Asian family – and actually become president of the United
States,” says Beasley. “If I have a son, and he says, ‘Dad, I want to
be president someday,’ I can now show him a picture of a black man and
say, ‘Son, that is possible in this country.’”
She Can't Help It is composed by Phil Davis, an accomplished
producer, keyboardist and songwriter. He worked with many smooth jazz
artists like Alex Bugnon, Boney James, Rick Braun and also on Walter's
previous album Ready For Love. The song is in the state of
flux. Beside the sax Walter Beasley also performs some flute elements.
The finishing tune Miss Minnie is dedicated to
Minnie Dangerfield, a close friend of Walter's family and an important
influence on his life while he was growing up in California. “I would
call her religiously every couple weeks, even after I went off to
college and became an adult,” Beasley recalls. “She always gave me
good advice. When I was making big decisions in my life, she would
always tell me what I needed to know – not just what I wanted to
hear.” A respectful and contemplative tune.
Free Your Mind is Walter Beasley's
masterpiece. Although with strong elements of smooth jazz he offers
more sites of his musical life. That makes his new album so vivid and
multifaceted.
