ZEN FOOD (CD) | Mint (M) Mint (M)

Personnel: Kevin Eubanks (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Bill Pierce (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Gerry Etkins (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums, percussion). Audio Mixers: Robert Biles; Kevin Eubanks. Liner Note Authors: Gretchen Valade; Kevin Eubanks. Recording information: Spirit Studio. Photographer: Raj Naik. Kevin Eubanks didn't do much recording as a leader during his 18 years as Jay Leno's music director on The Tonight Show, though Zen Food was taped shortly before the guitarist announced his departure from his long-running gig. Eubanks is accompanied by veteran saxophonist Bill Pierce (heard on both tenor and soprano), drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, keyboardist Gerry Etkins, and bassist Rene Camacho. Eubanks' opener, "The Dancing Sea," signals the diversity of his long-awaited CD, leading off with an intricate, infectious theme over a contemporary Latin rhythm, though the guitarist ends up playing a very heated solo, buoyed by Etkins' electric piano and Smith's powerful drumming, while showcasing Pierce's lyrical soprano sax. He switches to acoustic guitar for "Adoration" (which is derived in part from the centuries-old hymn "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"), creating an intimate yet lively duet with Etkins' Fender Rhodes. Eubanks' breezy bop vehicle "6/8" is launched with the guitarist's hot riff accompanied solely by Pierce's equally hot tenor sax, with the intensity building as Etkins' funky organ enters with the rhythm section. Eubanks also proves himself as a ballad master with the whispering ballad "I Remember Loving You." Kevin Eubanks will satisfy jazz fans with his delicious Zen Food. ~ Ken Dryden

 

BRAND NEW

Label: Mack Avenue – MAC 1054

Format: CD, Album

Country: US

Released: 2010

Genre: Jazz

Style: Contemporary Jazz

1                           The Dancing Sea         5:34

2                           Spider Monkey Café  6:26

3                           The Dirty Monk             8:29

4                           Adoration         7:32

5                           Los Angeles    7:21

6                           I Remember Loving You          3:50

7                           6/8        7:59

8                           G.G.     4:12

9                           Offering            6:29

10                         Das It   1:13

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Mack Avenue Records

Copyright © – Mack Avenue Records

Recorded At – Spirit Studio (4)

Mixed At – Spirit Studio (4)

Mastered At – Gastwirt Mastering

Bass – René Camacho

Booking – Craig Newman (2)

Creative Director – Randall Kennedy (3)

Drums, Percussion – Marvin "Smitty" Smith

Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mixed By – Kevin Eubanks

Mastered By – Joe Gastwirt

Mixed By – Robert Biles

Photography By [Assistant] – John Peace

Photography By, Art Direction, Design – Raj Naik

Piano, Organ – Gerry Etkins

Producer – Kevin Eubanks

Producer [Creative Services] – Maria Ehrenreich

Public Relations [Publicity] – Traci Harper

Recorded By – Robert Biles

Stylist [Styling], Make-Up [Makeup] – Inbal Neer

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bill Pierce*

Written-By – Gerald Etkins (tracks: 8), Kevin Eubanks (tracks: 1 to 7, 9, 10)

8-Page leaflet booklet

Barcode (Text): 6 73203 10542 3

• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Format Detail: CD
• Format: CD
• Genre: JAZZ
• Released: 11/22/2010