Album Notes

CATRO’s sound comes from the heart and the heart is where it is felt. It’s not merely a demonstration of technical facility, but more of an expression of life’s joys, passions, tensions and releases where great skills lead to subtlety and a more nuanced performance. These fine players bring to this project experiences gained from touring, recording, and performing in World-beat, Jazz, Rock, Latin, Classical and Educational contexts all over the world. This recording captures their love of pure music as they deftly combine elements of many genres into one flowing album with each musician adding his or her own color, tone and soul to the project, resulting in inspiration to the whole.

Pianist, composer of seven of the album’s songs, and leader of CATRO for over 20 years, Mark DeWalt is the creative force behind the band. Veteran of the road in all styles Patrick Crossley joins him playing his beautiful 60-yr. old Italian acoustic bass built by Giovanni Bandiermonte. Carlos Cintron adds his Puerto Rican passion on congas and percussion, seamlessly dovetailing with the rhythms of super versatile drummer, recording artist, and teacher Steve McMurray. Completing the rhythm section with inspirational solos on electric and acoustic guitar is studio engineer, TV performer, and recording artist in Rock, Jazz, and Alternative styles, Dave Brown.

The horn section is led by Eastern Ohio’s jazz legend tenor sax-man Dave Kana. His high energy and commitment to the whole sound is well matched with Pittsburgh’s young trombone all-star Clayton DeWalt. These guys know how to stretch and how to support equally well. Renowned Pittsburgh soloist, sideman, educator and composer Terry Steele contributes his alto sax artistry on two tracks including Track #5 “Sambalento” which is his own composition.

One of Western Pennsylvania’s busiest and most dynamic vocalists Tammi Dahl adds her mesmerizing vocals to 4 of DeWalt’s original songs. Listeners may be reminded of Nancy Wilson or Eva Cassidy as Tammi delivers each lyric with style, phrasing, and emotions that add to the fullest expression of the mood of the song.

Dave Brown of Grove City PA recorded the album at db Studio in two live sessions. Slippery Rock University Art professor Katherine Mickle coordinated the artwork and photography. The cover image is from a larger painting by David Hahn of Franklin, PA.