Jazz and Blues

11 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Bossa Nova, BLUES: Jazzy Blues



Details:
Allan Harrington (Music/Lyrics, Electric/Accoustic guitars and sometimes guitar synth)

Welcome to the NEW Free Rein,
I've made some changes,
Before I go any further, The "Old" Free Rein still gets together play whenever we can. This incarnation happened because the other guys were to busy to stay active in the band . Meanwhile I had written a whole bunch of new tunes, and I needed an outlet for this new outpouring of creative juices. This endeavor is a little more jazz/bluesy than the first Free Rein. mainly a function of the new material I've written. but first.... a little history...
I grew up listening to folk and classical music. and pretty much everything in between. I studied music at one point in my life, and took some private guitar lessons from Tony Lombardozi (New Haven, CT.), and Dennis Turechek (Oneonta, NY). Both of the men are great and unique players, and I still work on the stuff they gave me so many years ago.
I've done folk bands, solos, duos, trios and of course the "Smokey String Quatet" . We played all over the east coast in college coffee houses and wine and cheese cellars (remember them?) and places like Cafe Lena . That was with the late, great Joe Compito, and the whereaboutsunknown, Matt Carlin. We played pretty much where ever they would have us.. great fun!!! Years later, I played in a really fun 3 piece country band called 'Sunrise', we played 2-5 times a week for years. Then, due to my work situation, i couldn't play much music... (10 years or so...) In the late 90's I decided I would put together a group and that we would do just originals... and that was the birth of Free Rein.
This Cd has a more of a Jazz/Blues feel to it, than the two previous ones had. It contains mostly new material and showcases those new tunes that fit that focus. I am pleased to have such a talented group of musicians helping me out on this cd, they "made" the sound i was looking for.
Sorry I don't have any info for the gifted Todd Ledbetter, he plays the soprano sax on several cuts. Here is a bit about the very talented Rich Durbin (Tenor sax and Flute).
Rich Durbin was born in the late 50s in the Washington, D.C. area and started developing an interest in jazz from an early age. His brother, who was a trumpet player and Miles Davis fanatic, encouraged him to start studying saxophone at the age of 12. Rich studied privately with the late great John Crouch for several years, learning both classical and jazz styles, composition and theory, and the art of doubling on several instruments including the flute, clarinet and oboe.

Rich played in the symphonic band and jazz group in high school and started playing with local musicians, including some immensely gifted students from his high school including the bassist Jimmy Earl, currently GRP recording artist, who has played and recorded with some of the jazz greats including Chick Corea and the Crusaders. Another wonderfully gifted musical collaborator was the guitarist Danny Hovey, currently a sought-after musician in New York City.

Selected from high school to join the Air Force Blues, a R&B group located in San Antonio, Rich honed is playing chops and got an opportunity to play around the world representing the United States Air Force. After his stint in the military, he went to college to eventually earn an MBA. Rich has however remained active in the music scene for the last 20 years and has played with numerous local groups including the Scott Mattern Quartet, the BackStreet Blues Band, Tropical Breeze and has performed as a session musician in local recording studios.

An avid fan of Bossa Nova and Latin Jazz, Rich has had a desire to share his love with other musicians and to provide this wonderful art form to those who appreciate it as well - this is why he started the group hes calls the Bossa Nova Project.

I'll add more bio information for Tom Wetmore (acoustic bass) and Owen Rockwell (drums/percusion), as well as for the regular members of the group.
I did include, "Can't Stop", from the 1st CD, as Hong really wanted me to sing it. It took awhile to find the right mix of musicians that had the skills, and the vision to do my special brand of music. They all put up with my numerous "scratch" versions, and tried to figure out what the heck I REALLY wanted! Many thanks to all of them for their patience and their own sense of vision! We hope you enjoy the music! Support your local music scene, and of course, you local musicians!
Thanks,
Allan