| "Summer 01" features cover of Sly and
the Family Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime"
Seattle-based Tony Gable & 206 - named for Seattle's
area code - offers this new EP CD titled "summer 01",
containing three songs that reflect the boundless energy
and enthusiasm found in this contemporary jazz group.
A follow-up to the band's first two albums, "Tony Gable
& 206" and "Seven Hills", "summer 01" features the band's
funky and jazzy cover of Sly's "Hot Fun", featuring
guest vocals by Seattle's Pat Wright and the Total Experience
Choir.
"Alki Sol" (track 2) is a follow-up to the popular
"Catina" from the group's second album "Seven Hills"
and features premier (and former Santana) percussionist
Pete Escovedo as guest artist.
Track 3, "Grovin'" is a soulful dedication to the late
Grover Washington, Jr. that perfectly captures the groove
that inspired every member of 206. This musical tribute
features former Rippingtons saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa
with a spirited performance.
Former Kenny G percussionist Tony Gable explains the
EP CD concept: "We all felt good about our arrangement
and performance of "Hot Fun", and wanted to make the
most of its summer connection and put it out before
our next full CD-Just Add Water is released. These three
songs sparked the notion that an independently released
EP would be a perfect soundtrack to the summer."
"We also felt that if audiences had an opportunity
to hear this great song in our 206 style they would
enjoy it. When someone recognizes it, you see a smile
appear on their face and they start snapping their fingers
to the groove".
With their third release, Tony Gable & 206 offers
smooth jazz on the funky side - what Gable calls "the
other sound of Seattle" - featuring the consistent core
of players from their first two CDs, augmented by some
very special guests.
This sound of Seattle stems from one single musical
element - the groove. This comes as no surprise when
you consider Tony's musical heritage.
From the moment he saw and heard Santana's classic
"Soul Sacrifice in the movie "Woodstock" Tony
knew this musical inspiration was finding the groove
as a conga player. In a short time, Tony (a self-taught
percussionist) became a key member of Cold, Bold and
Together, a near legendary Seattle R&B band from the
70's. This talented aggregation jammed wit' da funk,
released several original records and opened for "groovemasters"-
Earth Wind & Fire, The Ohio Players, and Kool & the
Gang.
When the band augmented its horn section by adding
a young saxophonist named Kenny Gorelick, Tony and Kenny
clicked immediately, and a foundation for a friendship
was formed.
When Kenny G exploded to fame in the mid-80s, he called
on his old bandmate for percussion. For four years,
Tony toured the world with Kenny G, appeared on the
multi-platinum albums Gravity, Duotones and Silhouette,
and on music videos and countless television appearances.
After many years on the road, and with the smooth jazz
genre exploding in popularity, Tony began assembling
the players who would make up 206. TG was assisted by
"Fusion manager" Jeff Ross and G band member/guitarist
John Raymond who would become a key developer of the
206 sound.
With the strength of a CD made for a Japanese label,
206 secured a record contract with InterMix Records
and Heads Up. By 1993, Tony Gable & 206 was released
and quickly drew airplay on smooth jazz stations. This
album was produced by John Raymond and Kenny G (who
also performed on "Island Lady", a track which
also features Tony on vocals). The CD reached number
5 on the national radio contemporary jazz charts.
Two years later, the follow-up CD Seven Hills came
out, featuring Jeff Lorber, among others. Like the first
CD, Seven Hills charted in both domestic and international
markets. Other Northwest jazz icons that performed on
206 projects include Michael Powers, Darren Motamedy
(original 206 saxman), Deems Tsutakawa, Patrick Lamb,
Jay Thomas, Robert Damper, Andre Montague, Vail Johnson,
Richard Cole, Charles Jones and Jon Goforth.
Tony Gable & 206 is regularly featured on smooth jazz
stations around the country. Their song, "Catina" remains
a staple on many station playlists. Jazz Flavors, the
premiere jazz program on the BBC, showcased 206 in a
featured radio special, and 206 is the only American
jazz band included on the 1999 BBC compilation CD, titled
The Soul of Smooth Jazz vol. 2.
Ask Tony the key to the band's success and he quickly
(and proudly) exclaims, "It's because we share a real
camaraderie and really enjoy creating and performing
music together."
206 features-Gable, keyboardist Manuel Carrillo, drummer
Ben Smith, reedman Dean Mochizuki, guitarist Glenn Lorbiecki,
keyboardist Sandy Harvey, bassist Emmanuel DelCasal
and fingerpopper Bobby Nesbitt.
The National Jazz press notes:
"With their self-titled debut, Tony Gable & 206 created
an infectious, soulful yet lighthearted "alternative
to alternative," reaching out from the Pacific Northwest
and into the Top 5 of all New Adult Contemporary airplay
charts nationwide. He gathers together some of the city's
brightest jazz players for the spirited and eclectic
Seven Hills, which captures the positive aspects of
the West Coast cool in a vibe that gives new meaning
to the term "ensemble action."... Jazziz
"On their sophomore outing, Seven Hills. Seattle's
Tony Gable and 206 set out to prove there's more to
the Pacific Northwest scene than post-Cobain. Percussionist
Gable, a longtime associate of Kenny G, begins to establish
his own voice where, with an electronic sound that is
modern and breezy, but doesn't fall into "contemporary
jazz" clichˇs. Gable's ear is tuned to the groove,
proven on the brisk "Jet City," which parties
like a pre-Pete Cetera era Chicago tune, and the clever
"Luna Park," . ...the majority of Seven Hills
is appealing listening"... JazzTimes |
