Album Notes

1.Blue Skies / On a Clear Day - Sue Raney /Alan Broadbent
2. Sweet and Lovely - Alan Broadbent
3. Strike UP the Band - Johnny Holiday / Sam Most
4. Skylark - Leslie Lewis - Gerard Hagen
5. Here's to Life - Kurt Reichenbach - Jim Cox
6. Sweet Happy Life (Samba de Orfeu) - Diane Hubka -/ Dan Sawyer
7. Ue Wo Muite Arukou (Sukiyaki)- Christian Jacob
8. Beautiful Love - Tierney Sutton / Christian Jacob
9. We Can Work it Out - Jim Cox
10. Dream - Dick Noel
11. I Feel a Song Coming On - Chris Connor
12. The Wave - Frankie Randall
13. You'll Never Walk Alone - Pinky Winters

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE-TSUNAMI RELIEF

On March 11, 2011, Northeast Japan was hit by the most powerful recorded earthquake (9.0) in that country’s history, which, in turn, unleashed a tsunami of equally epic proportions. As of this writing (June 12), the estimated human toll has reached more than 20,721 dead or missing, with37,672 people now living in relocation facilities such as gyms and public facilities. To further complicate matters, the catastrophe also unleashed an ongoing series of dangerous radioactive events at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This is expected to cause untold health issues and economic hardship to the region far into the foreseeable future. In short, this combination natural/man-made disaster is without precedent in human history. In response, governments as well as individuals worldwide have jumped into the fray to offer economic and other sustenance to the Japanese people.

Our own particular response to this catastrophe is a new jazz CD for Japanese earthquake/tsunami relief that will go on sale as both a download and as a hard copy CD on SSJ-USA Records. CDs in the U.S. will be mostly sold on cyber sites, CDBaby, etc., but it will also be made available in "better" brick and mortar stores throughout the states. All profits will go to Japanese earthquake/tsunami relief.

With the exception of the late Chris Connor, all the participants have had music released by SSJ and all reside in California, thus the title "From California With Love." Most of the artists on this recording have also performed in Japan.

SSJ Records has been in existence for five years and during that time, its catalog has grown to nearly 100 titles. Sales of its releases are not exclusive to Japanese jazz fans but are popular with collectors of jazz imports worldwide.

As should be apparent from the titles, the songs in the collection speak of hope and positivity in keeping with the overall post-tragedy outlook of the Japanese people. All tracks are previously unissued.