Nate Harasim
Rush
Welcome to the final column for the year, which regretfully records the death of a jazz legend.
Dave Brubeck died at age 91, on December 5, a day before his 92nd birthday.
Thank you for all the correspondence and competition entries. If you have not won a jazz CD this year, don’t give up, 2013 may be your lucky year. But, to win you must do a few simple things: include your name, postal address and the answer. More than half of entries do not have these basic requirements – all I get is “sent from my BlackBerry”. That entry won’t win anything.
An album that is just right for parties is Nate Harasim’s Rush. When I saw that all the tracks were composed or co-written by him, I didn’t expect much.
An unknown artist (to me) playing his own compositions can be a challenge, but not this album. Harasim on piano and keyboards leads a bouncy, smooth jazz band that expands or contracts from three to seven members. This CD provides toe-tapping jazz and is distributed locally by Sheer Sound.
Fourplay
Espirit De Four
Fourplay have a big following on the southern tip of this continent. Their latest album, Esprit De Four, will be snatched off the shelves, or increasingly, purchased online. The album is from Sheer Sound and they have made five copies of the CD available for our final competition for the year.
The membership of Fourplay has changed over the years. At present, the band comprises Bob James (keyboards), Nathan East (bass, vocals), Chuck Loeb (guitars, synth) and Harvey Mason (drums, percussion, vibes, synth).
Fans will get exactly what they expect from these musos: a swinging, smooth jazz album that will be returned to regularly.
Before sending in your competition entry, please read the first paragraph and then the competition rules. Good luck and the season’s compliments to you.
For a free subscription to The Jassman, send your request to [email protected]
• WIN! WIN! wIN!
There are five CDs on offer today thanks to Sheer Sound. Answer this question: What instrument does Fourplay’s Bob James play?
Please submit your entries by |e-mail only. Submit only one entry to: [email protected] and include your name, postal address and contact numbers as I call the winners to confirm the delivery address and the answers. Competition closes at noon on Saturday.