My first contact to Chris Geith and his group was
during the golden age of mp3.com. It was that period when thousands of
artists were offering their music for a low budget to the interested
music world. His sophomore album Prime Time was one of the best
selling albums on mp3.com holding the Nr.1 position in the charts
smooth jazz, jazz fusion and contemporary urban/R&B over months. The
album was downloaded more than 1,400,000 times.
At the moment members of the Chris Geith Group are Chris Geith (piano,
keyboards, programming), Matt Marshak (guitars), Fred Scerbo
(saxophone), Mark Mullers (bass), Donny D (drums, percussion), Dean
Kosh (drums on Restless Heart) and Al Davis (trumpet,
trombone). With the exception of one song all others are composed by
Chris Geith, partly in co-work with sax player Fred Scerbo.
The secret of Chris Geith's tremendous success on
mp3.com immediately reveals by listening to Groove Detective.
Chris Geith has inhaled the groove with all notes. He has a feeling
for seductive melodies and his piano performance shows elegance and
ease. The horn background delivered by Scerbo and Davis is tight.
The title tune takes the same line. Geith's piano
play is echoed by Scerbo's sax and Marshak's guitar. Geith's piano
performance has a breathtaking brilliance. One can compare him without
no doubt with masters like Joe Sample or Alex Bugnon.
Waves Of Life is featuring Matt Marshak's
awesome guitar lines. That is smooth jazz at its best. Influences of
Ken Navarro and Pat Metheny are audible. This song will be the first
radio single.
Enjoy a carefree life listening to the swinging
Morning Starlight. This is piano music for the best hours of
the day.
When Restless Heart sounds familiar to
you, that's no wonder. This song was a runner from Chris Geith's cool
time at mp3.com. On this album you find a remixed version. Comparisons
to The Rippingtons are allowed and justified.
The heartfelt love song Have I Told You Lately?
was originally released by Van Morrison on his LP Avalon Sunset
(1987), a huge success and certainly the best through-ball for Geith's
piano ballade. Zero Gravity picks up the motifs of the first
tracks in rhythm and melody.
Nice To Meet You reveals Geith's fantastic
talent for smooth and catching songs with a high appeal. Perfectly
composed and performed the melody warms up everybody's mind. Slowing
down the tempo with I Will Remember You the listener finds nice
stuff for contemplation.
Turning back the wheel on Sweet Sensation
Chris Geith showcases more of his piano talent. Effortless Chris
tinkles the piano keys on the epic Nature Of Instinct sparkled
with some synth injections. The up-tempo Every Moment Everyday
makes evident that a simple rhythm sometimes overcasts the sound
experience of a perfect piano performance.
Luna and So Many Nights are
balanced master pieces confirming Geith's leading position in smooth
jazz.
Chris Geith's new album embraces a variety of
themes and styles. While the first part of his album is hooking and
underlines Geith's hit potential, reveals the second part the moderate
contemplative piano player. In any case an album which deserves a
second spin.
