Album Notes

Produced, Arranged, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Maurice Gainen

What the critics said about the 2004 release “Jazz World Colors”:

“Gainen pushes hard with his personal appeal…explores widely different aspects of jazz, from Latin Jazz, smooth jazz, hip-hop…
…proves he can live in the best of all worlds.”
Jim Santella (L.A. Jazz Scene)

“Both a multi-instrumentalist and producer/engineer, Gainen has an impressive project. Anyone looking for soothing, evocative underscore cannot lose.” Music Connection Magazine

Maurice completed studies at Boston's Berklee College of Music in Composition and Performance. He also received a National Endowment For The Arts scholarship to study under Jazz legend Lew Tabackin. In 1988 he opened his recording studio Maurice Gainen Productions in Los Angeles. Since then, he has produced, recorded, mixed and mastered too many CDs to count in all genres including Jazz, Alternative, Rap, R&B, Rock, Broadway and World Music. He has also played flute and/or sax on many of these CDs. The people recording at his studio and his session players include many well-known stars, such as Darek Oles w/Brad Mehldau and Bennie Maupin, Jim Hershman w/Lee Konitz and Scott Colley, Larry Koonse, Jim Hershman and Eric Von Essen, L.A. Jazz Quartet (3 CDs), Angela Carole Brown, Rafael Moreira (Pink, Rockstar INXS), Royal Crown Revue and The Hues Corporation (“Rock The Boat”). Maurice also did sound design for Patty Austin. He does CD mastering for all of the 5 major record labels and his recent credits include over 100 CDs for Starbucks/Hear Music.

THE SONGS:

LITTLE LINDA is a firey version of the Spyro Gyra song, with a hot percussion break by Emiliano Almeida.

FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE is the Roberta Flack classic with Maurice's flute framed by sultry background vocals.

LA CITA (THE QUOTE) is an original by Marcelo Berestovoy, one of the most respected guitarists in Los Angeles. Flamenco spoken here! It features percussionist Paul Alexander Gonzalez. Paul and Marcelo can be seen world-wide touring with Latina superstar Paulina Rubio.

MEDITATION is the Jobim classic with June Angela singing the lead vocal.

EUROPA- There are two great versions of this song. One is the original by Santana and the other by Gato Barbieri - which was the theme to the Brando film, “Last Tango In Paris.” This version pays tribute to both, with it’s own spin.

COMIN’ HOME BABY was a huge hit for flautist Herbie Mann in the early ‘60’s. It was one of the first “funkajazz” tunes.

The next 2 songs are from the classic 1959 movie "Black Orpheus" that catapulted the music of South America to the north.
BLACK ORPHEUS
SAMBA DE ORPHEUS

MERCY, MERCY, MERCY was written by Joe Zawinul, and recorded by many people including Cannonball Adderly, The Buckinghams and Queen Latifa.

BLUE BOSSA- Every Jazz musician has played this one!

JUST FRIENDS features Darek Oles on Acoustic Bass. Maurice mastered and/or mixed all 3 of Darek’s “L.A. Jazz Quartet” CD’s. He also mixed his solo CD featuring Brad Mehldau. He currently tours with Janis Segal of the Manhattan Transfer.

MEDITATION (Acid Jazz Remix) Lead Vocal: June Angela
This is Track 4 sped up, chopped, reversed, delayed, morphed, mangled and otherwise altered, with added new parts created by Platinum songwriter Craig Owens and Maurice

FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE- Featuring Rap by DRange
Maurice wanted had to have some tasty Rap on the CD. DRange and General brought it to the table.
Background vocals- June Angela and General
Produced by General and Maurice

LA PORTENA (Maurice Gainen)
This original song is a tribute to the Argentinian restaurant that was the catalyst for this band playing together. Hearing the ambience and voices of Maurice’s group of friends from around the world warms his heart, and he hopes it does yours as well.
Vocals: "The MG International Choir” - June Angela, Marcelo Berestovoy, Herman Brooks, Angela Carole Brown, Maurice Gainen, Erez Ginat, George Jiri Grosman, Preetysha and Sameer

Musicians

Maurice Gainen – Flute
Marcelo Berestovoy - Guitars
Jamieson Trotter - Piano
Tom Lerner - Bass
Joe Dougherty – Drums
Emiliano Almeida - Percussion
Darek Oles - Bass
June Angela- Lead Vocals
DRange-Rap
General- Vocals & Beats
Tom Hartman- Strings
Paul Alexander Gonzalez- Percussion
Angela Carole Brown-Vocals
Craig Owens-Keyboards