Album Notes

Multi-Grammy nominated writer/producer Brandon Barnes teams up with Nashville based smooth jazz trumpet/flugelhorn artist Michael Fair for their second offering " How Close Are We?". This eagerly anticipated collaboration arrives two years after this duos highly successful first release "Love Me Like That". " How Close Are We?", picks up where "Love Me Like That" left off, dishing up more fire and more groove while still offering a warm dose of Michael Fair's super-smooth flugelhorn on such tunes as "Midnight Groove" and the Brian McKnight/ Brandon Barnes/Melanie Barnes mega hit "One Last Cry".
Both Brandon and Michael's resumes read like a "Who's Who" in the music business. Brandon has written and produced with such artists as Brian McKnight, Helen Reddy, Claude McKnight of Take 6, Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Tyrese, Phillip Bailey, Brenda Russell, Robbie Nevil, Stephen Bishop, Siedah Garrett, BB Winans, Phil Collins and Boyz to Men, to name a few.
Michael Fair has shared the stage with such notables as Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton, Amy Grant, Oliva Newton-John, Christopher Cross, Claude McKnight, John Wyatt, Sam Moore, Victor Wooten, Donna Summer, T. Graham Brown, Carman and Delbert McClinton.
Michael has parlayed his flugelhorn talents into numerous artistic endeavors. He has most recently been featured as the solo horn in the Latin Jazz ballet "Arriving in Indigo City", a Carolina Ballet Theatre production written and arranged by Russ Corvey and choreographed by Herman Justo. As a tribute to Michael's flugelhorn playing forte the "How Close Are We?" cut "Brazilian Sunrise" was showcased as a ballet musical feature. He has also contributed to major motion picture soundtracks like "The Apostle".
Despite Michael's distinctive resume, his focus is on flugelhorn smooth jazz. " I love the warm sound of the horn because it lends itself well to the smooth jazz genre"-Michael Fair.
Whereas Michael's debut CD " Love Me Like That" features smooth grooves and dark tambers, "How Close Are We?" is a dynamic composition with a variety of radio ready tunes ranging from ballads and R & B grooves to Latin Jazz accents.
"How Close Are We ?" has already received heavy radio rotation in Nashville. All songs were written and produced by Brandon and Michael with the exception of the aforementioned " One Last Cry" which was a huge hit for Brian McKnight on his debut album. There are high energy cuts such as the title cut" How Close Are We?", "New Shooz New Attitude" and "Running Scared". Those who enjoy slow tempo melodic ballads will find " A Fool Again" and
"Midnight Groove" appealing. Two vibrant Latin Jazz cuts
"Nylon Samba" and "Brazilian Sunrise" complete this cross-sectional mix of music. There is certainly something for music lovers of all tastes on "How Close Are We?". Nashville is known for Country and Contemporary Christian music, yet the smooth jazz genre is surging with remarkable players like flugelhorn artist Michael Fair blazing the way.