June 9, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: LISA WOSKE,
(805) 756-7110
Sax Master David Sanborn To Play at Cal Poly's Spanos Theatre June 24
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Launching the popular Cal Poly Arts
celebrity Center Stage Summer series, smooth alto jazz saxophonist David
Sanborn brings his five-member band to the Alex and Faye Spanos Theatre
(formerly Cal Poly Theatre) on Thursday, June 24 at 8 p.m.
The Grammy nominated Sanborn is known for being a highly respected,
versatile improviser who has credibility in the jazz world as well as
the R&B/rock/pop world.
“I’m a product of my influences and my influences are jazz…as
well as
blues and R&B,” says the 57-year-old Sanborn, who now lives
in New York.
Raised in St. Louis, Sanborn was exposed to a wide variety of music
during his mid-western upbringing, including jazz, R&B, blues, and
rock.
Early on, Sanborn was attracted to soul-jazz saxophonists like Gene
Ammons and Arnett Cobb, improvisers who brought some intellect to their
work but were still quite accessible.
One of Sanborn’s strongest influences was alto saxophone great
Hank
Crawford. Like Crawford, Sanborn immersed himself in jazz but also
embraced elements of popular culture.
That outlook ultimately resulted in a variety of engagements for
Sanborn, who has backed a myriad of artists, from blues great Albert
King to the "Godfather of Soul," James Brown.
In the 1970s, Sanborn earned a reputation for being both an improvising
jazz instrumentalist and a busy R&B/pop/rock session player. Jazz
heavyweights like Gil Evans, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Joe
Beck and Mark Murphy featured Sanborn on their albums in the 1970s.
That decade also found him backing David Bowie, the Eagles, Donny
Hathaway, Bruce Springsteen, Carly Simon and other major non-jazz stars.
Sanborn started recording as a leader in 1975 and made his debut album,
“Taking Off.” He went on to record at least ten more albums
for Warner
before signing with Elektra in 1990, where he recorded several
critically acclaimed CDs, including 1991’s "Another Hand,"
1992’s
"Upfront," 1993’s "Hearsay," 1995’s "Pearls"
(a collaboration with
arranger Johnny Mandel), 1996’s "Songs from the Night Before,"
and
1999’s "Inside."
In early 2000, Sanborn signed with Verve and is now touring in support
of his latest Verve CD, “timeagain,” released last month.
Like many of
Sanborn’s previous efforts, “timeagain” combines the
freedom and
spontaneity of jazz with the groove-oriented accessibility of soul and
funk.
Sanborn’s album all-star cast includes bassist Christian McBride,
drummer Steve Gadd, guitarist Russell Malone, vibist Mike Mainieri,
trumpeter/flugelhornist Randy Brecker, percussionist Don Alias, and Gil
Goldstein, who handles the horn and string arrangements.
He explains: “I came up with the title ‘timeagain’
because much of this
album is re-examining things from my past. On ‘timeagain,’
I’m
re-addressing songs that have meant a lot to me over the years.”
A master at bringing something fresh and personal to familiar melodies,
Sanborn's interpretation of “Tequila” is moodier than the
Champs’
original version and his version of “Isn’t She Lovely”
is more relaxed
and contemplative than Stevie Wonder’s original 1976 hit. Earl Hagen’s
evocative “Harlem Nocturne” is taken at a livelier pace than
usual and
features Sanborn on the acoustic piano.
“timeagain” also includes three original Sanborn pieces and
an
interpretation of Joni Mitchell’s “Man from Mars.”
Seating will be general admission within Preferred and Premium sections
of the theatre. Tickets for the Center Stage performance are $38 &
$44
and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office, 10 a.m. to
5
p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call
805/756-2787; to order by fax: 805/756-6088. Order on-line at
www.pacslo.org.
Center Stage Sponsoring Partner is the Hock Family Foundation.
Program Partners: KCBX 90.1 FM and Coast 101.3 FM.
For audio and video samples of Cal Poly Arts events, visit
www.calpolyarts.org.
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