Album Notes

“The Free Project” is critically-acclaimed jazz artist and educator Keith Javors’ fourth release as a small group leader and his first on the newly-celebrated ArtistShare label. The Philadelphia pianist/composer joined artists such as Maria Schneider, Jim Hall, and Danilo Perez in the launch of an original project through ArtistShare in 2005 and the culmination is this powerful and imaginative 2007 release.

A strong stylistic departure from “Mo City Jungle”, his 2004 straight-ahead album on Zoho, “The Free Project” combines reflective solo piano performances with fiery rap, R & B, jazz, and world music vignettes from the A.M.P (acronym for the Detroit-based American Music Project). Sparing chops in favor of mood and melody, Keith’s latest outing is an emotional set defying category. Its sounds range from the hard-edged spoken word rewrite of Rodgers and Hart’s Spring Is Here to a sultry vocal tribute ala Brian McKnight (A Question of When) to the explosive fusion of piano, horns, and African percussion on The Philosophy of Bill Brown.

Described by legendary alto saxophonist Bunky Green as a “creative force with an urgent message that cannot be denied”, Keith is highly respected by his peers for his talents as a producer and artist as well as an award-winning music educator. He has worked with numerous groups and performed or recorded with George Coleman, Bunky Green, Eddie Henderson, Gerry Mulligan, Chris Potter, Ira Sullivan, Brad Turner, Bill Watrous, and many others.

ArtistShare, created by Brian Camelio, is a cutting edge platform for artists, its exclusive projects offering ways for participants to experience the creative process. ArtistShare was recently nominated as a finalist for Jazz Label of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and has enabled several Grammy-winning albums.

Recorded August 1-2, 2005 in Marquette, MI.
For more information, visit www.keithjavorsmusic.com.

Street/Release Date:
September 4, 2007 (ArtistShare 0011)

Personnel:
Keith Javors, piano/leader
DeJuan “D Priest” Everett, rap/spoken word
Curtis Isom, vocals
Dane Bays, alto saxophone
Dave Ziegner, bass
Alex Brooks, drums
with:
Dave Braun, trumpet/flugelhorn
Luke Brimhall, trombone
Brian Menendez, aux. percussion
Jason Miller, aux. percussion

Label Contact:
ArtistShare
12 W. 67th St., 4C
New York, NY, 10024
www.artistshare.com
info@artistshare.com

Available 9/4/07 through www.keithjavorsmusic.com, artistshare.com, and major internet and retail outlets (ITunes, CDBaby.com, etc.).