A LITTLE SPACE: Box Of Love

A little space

Box Of Love

© 2005 Alan Gruskoff (643157367987)

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Recording Artists "A little space" present tuneful, intelligently written songs with heart. It's jazzy, it's funky, it grooves, male vocals and instrumentals. Call it "Rhythm & Jazz".

tracks

1 Box Of Love
2 Reason To Call You
3 Any Day
4 One More Day With Me
5 Place I Like To Be
6 Best That I Am
7 Know I'm Alive
8 Talk To Me
9 Find It
10 P.B.
11 Days Just Begun
12 Dreams So Real

notes

The third album from "A little space" is a collection of 12 songs with great stylistic variety. The first 7 Vocal songs feature fabulous vocalist Regi Perry presenting sophisticated song oriented Jazzy Soul with style. Composer Big Al adds vocals on two of his songs in his Jazzy, Funky Pop style. Three of the songs venture into the "Pop / Classical" genre, as adding Strings and Orchestra instruments to superb compositions.

The 9 Vocal songs can be considered in the "Pop" category as being tuneful, with strong melodies. The album's 3 Instrumental tracks present grooving horn section Soul/Funk, a Symphonic/Rock String Quartet and a dreamy Jazz/Fusion epic. Nine of L.A.s best players contributed performances to this album.

Nine Men contributed performances to this CD. Regi Perry - Vocals. Patrick Charles - Drums, Khalil Hebert - Drums. Ricardo Estrada - Congas, Daniel Coffeng - Guitar, Kevin Coston - Guitar, Brian Bogle - Tenor Sax, Doug Koerber - Trumpet

Big Al played everything else: MPG Level 5 Fretless Bass, Alembic Essence Bass, Fender Stratocaster, Garrison G30CE Acoustic Guitar, YAMAHA Apx-4A Acoustic Guitar, MIDI Keys, Synths & Drums.

The third album from "A little space" is a collection of 12 songs with great stylistic variety. Released May 2005 on Independent Records IR36798. All songs music and lyrics ©Alan Gruskoff 2005, a NARAS and ASCAP member. Published by Performant Systems ASCAP. Web site http://alittlespace.biz

Vocal Songs

1) Box Of Love (4:42)
This imaginary device will make the people happy. A Neo-Soul, Jazzy groove. Regi Perry - Vocals, Patrick Charles - Drums, Ricardo Estrada- Congas, Daniel Coffeng - Guitar Solo, Big Al - Alembic Bass, Fender Stratocaster, MIDI Keys.

2) Reason To Call You (4:36)
About not needing an event or excuse. A modernized version
of the Soul Horn band.
Regi Perry - Vocals, Patrick Charles - Drums, Brian Bogle -
Tenor Sax, Doug Koeber - Trumpet, Big Al - Alembic Bass,
Fender Stratocaster, MIDI Keys.

3) Any Day (4:04)
About being on your side consistently. An Afro-Cuban beat
driven by the Congas, Ricardo calls it "Tumbao".
Regi Perry - Vocals, Ricardo Estrada - Congas, Brian Bogle -
Tenor Sax, Doug Koeber - Trumpet, Khalil Hebert - Cymbals,
Big Al - MPG Level 5 Fretless Bass, Garrison G30CE Acoustic
Guitar, MIDI strings & Percussion.

4) One More Day With Me (4:57)
Some anticipation mixed with a little self-consiousness. The
classic "Slow Song" Soul Ballad.
Regi Perry - Vocals, Patrick Charles - Drums, Brian Bogle -
Tenor Sax, Big Al - MPG Level 5 Fretless Bass, Garrison
G30CE Acoustic Guitar. MIDI Strings.

5) Place I Like To Be (4:01)
Our consistent desination - Home. It started as a nice little
Samba, then Regi added his Gospel flavor - "Gospel/Samba"?
Regi Perry - Vocals, Khalil Hebert - Drums, Ricardo Estrada -
Congas, Big Al - MPG Level 5 Fretless Bass, Yamaha APX-4A
Acoustic Guitar, MIDI Synth.

6) Best That I Am (4:33)
About personal character, striving for virtue. Pop / Classical.
Regi Perry - Vocals, Khalil Hebert - Drums, Big Al - MPG Level 5
Fretless Bass, Garrison G30CE Acoustic Guitar, MIDI Piano,
French Horn & Strings.

7) Know I'm Alive (3:59)
A sad and moving tribute to victims of the 2004 Tsunami tragedy from a parent's point of view. Pop / Classical. Regi Perry - Vocals, Big Al - Alembic Bass Guitar, MIDI Cello & Drums.

8) Talk To Me (2:48)
Ever wish you could just have a conversation with a human sometime? Jazzy / Pop. Big Al - Vocals, MPG Level 5 Fretless Bass, Garrison G30CE Acoustic Guitar, MIDI Congas & Shaker.

9) Find It (3:37)
What we generally agree on as "normal" can be elusive. Funky, Jazzy / Pop. Patrick Charles - Drums, Daniel Coffeng - Guitar Solo, Big Al - Vocals, Alembic Bass, Fender Stratocaster, MIDI Keys.


Instrumental Songs

10) P.B. (3:17)
Well, what does P.B. stand for exactly? A Funky Soul Horn Band Instrumental feature, great theme song for something. Brian Bogle - Tenor Sax, Doug Koeber - Trumpet, Khalil Hebert - Drums, Kevin Coston - Guitar Solo, Big Al - Alembic Bass, Fender Stratocaster, MIDI Keys.

11) Days Just Begun (3:40)
A String Quartet on steroids, a high energy Pop / Classical Instrumental. Patrick Charles - Drums, Big Al - Alembic Bass, MIDI Violins, Viola & Cello.

12) Dreams So Real (5:37)
Ever wake up and really have to think if something you dreamed is real? A Jazz / Fusion Instrumental epic. Daniel Coffeng - Guitar, Ending Solo, Khalil Hebert - Intro Cymbals, Big Al - Alembic Bass, Intro Guitar Solos, Fender Stratocaster, MIDI Keys, Synths & Drums.

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  • ENJOYING THE MUSICAL FREEDOM OF A LITTLE SPACE
    author: Jonathan Widran

    For Immediate Release Los Angeles May 2005 -by Jonathan Widran ENJOYING THE MUSICAL FREEDOM OF A LITTLE SPACE Composer, Producer and Bassist Big Al Gruskoff, Prize Winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Jazz), Teams With R&B/Gospel Vocalist Regi Perry For Coolly Eclectic Rhythm & Jazz Venture titled "Box of Love", Released in May, 2005 on Independent Records, IR36798. A Little Space’s Self-Titled 2002 Debut Spawned #1 Tunes at MP3.Com in An Unprecedented Four Categories: Jazz-Fusion, Jazz-Vocal, Jazz-Latin and Soul In an industry that all too often demands conformity to ultra-specific radio playlists and marketing schemes, jazz/funk bassist and multi-instrumentalist Big Al; composer, producer and creative mastermind behind the eclectic and dynamic rhythm and jazz outfit A Little Space -- beautifully captures the free spirit of today’s musically ambitious indie artist. On Box of Love, the onetime John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner’s second project featuring popular Los Angeles-based R&B/Gospel singer Regi Perry, Big Al offers nine emotionally compelling vocals and three in the pocket instrumentals that tap into a wide variety of styles that venture to places both within and just beyond the urban contemporary and smooth jazz landscape. The collection features the jazzy neo-soul of the title track, classic Memphis horn band R&B ("Reason To Call You," "P.B."), Afro-Cuban ("Any Day"), gospel and samba on the cool hybrid tune "Place I Like To Be"), anthemic jazz/fusion ("Dreams So Real") and a fiery pop/classical tune "Days Just Begun," which "Big Al" playfully describes as "A String Quartet on Steroids". Box of Love reaches an emotional high point on "Know I’m Alive", a poignant tribute to the victims of last December’s tragic Tsunami featuring Perry on vocals and "Big Al" on Alembic (fretted) bass, MIDI Cello and drums. Released as a single shortly after it was written on Martin Luther King Day, 2005, and three months before the official release of the album--the song has been downloaded hundreds of times by fans all over the world (from Britain to Australia) and has received significant airplay on numerous stations in the Midwest, including WCH in St. Louis. A Little Space (http://alittlespace.biz) is freely offering "Know I’m Alive" to any charitable organizations supporting this relief cause. "This was a very difficult song for Regi and I to do, but we hope it inspires people and ultimately offers a feeling of hope," Big Al says. "As with all the songs I write, the music was floating around in my head for a while, and the lyrics came to me after reading a story about a mother losing all her children. It’s written from the parent’s perspective. It’s a very simple arrangement compared to the other songs on the album." Featuring Perry on seven vocals and nine of L.A.’s best session musicians, Box of Love is the third release by A Little Space, a collective launched with a self-titled 2002 debut featuring Big Al and vocalist Terrell Moran. Released in the days when MP3.com was the internet’s top musical tastemaker, A Little Space received a big promotional push on the site, alongside classic artists like Herbie Hancock and Norah Jones. For the first time in the MP3’s history, a single album spawned #1 tunes in four categories Jazz-Fusion ("Pictures of You"), Jazz-Vocal ("Hanging Around"), Jazz-Latin ("Yes I Would") and Soul ("Story of My Life"). "Yes I Would" also earned Big Al a prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the Jazz Category. Big Al says that his sense of musical adventure stems from growing up amidst the vast cultural riches of Detroit, where he discovered an early love for Mozart and Motown, played bass in straight ahead jazz ensembles at age 13 and later spent three years playing in a Cuban salsa band. "I like to equate it with my love for a lot of different kinds of food," he says. "I love spaghetti, but don’t want to eat it three meals a day. Similarly, while I’m grounded in a jazzy flavored soul sound and enjoy the Steely Dan approach of jazz chords and melodies over a funky beat, I’m always exploring new territories. Box of Love starts out with a lot of soul and R&B, but soon moves into Latin Jazz and some thoughtful, introspective pieces before hard blowing, rockin’ out jams. It’s less about a theme or story than creating a flow that’s interesting for the listener." On Box of Love, Big Al plays a multitude of instruments and creates numerous MIDI sounds, from the Alembic bass and the MPG Level 5 Fretless Bass, to the Garrison G30CE and Yamaha APX-4A Acoustic Guitars, Fender Stratocaster and MIDI Synth, horns and percussion. "I begin by making music that makes me happy," he says. "I start writing when I hear melodies and chords that move me. My music is all about being original; every chord progression, bassline and melody is unique and expresses who I am. Lyrically, there are a number of songs that are introspective, how people deal with each other. My goal is to get people to think about human character and relationships, while drawing from the many different colors on my musical palette." As for the title concept, Box of Love stems from the original lyrics that popped into Big Al’s head, which referred to a mythical dating machine that gathered superartificial intelligence with the idea of helping people hook up romantically. The compelling cover art was created by a graphic design company in Ukraine. "My intention was to intrigue people, to foster the question, what is the Box of Love, what will it do for me?" he says. " I want listeners to wonder what this imaginary device is, as a hook that draws them in. Musically, the groups' name "A Little Space" refers to a Miles Davis quote that always fascinated me. He said, ‘Less is More.’ The notes you don’t play are often as evocative as those you play. Playing the spaces, musicians can always find something of great value. In turn, I’m really excited about adding new music to the global culture." Box of Love is currently available on A Little Space’s website (http://alittlespace.biz) and at (http://CDBaby.com/alittlespace3).

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