Jazz with a melody and a lyric

12 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Mainstream Jazz, JAZZ: Bossa Nova

Details:
Known around Detroit for his vintage style, Colton Weatherston delivers a classic with this eponymous debut release, revealing the singer/guitarist in a blend of emotive ballads, bossa nova, and swing.

Weatherston began playing guitar and singing during childhood. While spending time in his father's home recording home studio, Colton experienced great performances by Earl Klugh, Gene Dunlap, Buddy Budson, and Ursula Walker. These artists inspired him to study the wellspring of jazz history in Detroit, a connection that grew deeper with the mentoring of Marcus Belgrave, Odessa Harris, Matt Michaels, Bess Bonnior and Rodney Whitaker.  

As a sideman, Weatherston performed on the 2006 release Hot Club of Detroit, a "gypsy jazz" homage to Django Reinhardt, for Mack Avenue Records. Along the way, he earned rave reviews for his solo performances, often being compared to the jazz icons, Chet Baker and Wes Montgomery. Metrotimes said of a recent Detroit show, "He's a guitarist who can shine in variety of jazz settings. As adept at standards and historic jazz styles as he is at post-bop modernity, Weatherston has great technique and a voice ideally suited to ballads and bossa novas". 

For Weatherston, the comparison to Chet Baker is the highest of compliments. "I love the way Chet could connect emotionally with the lyric and create beautiful melodies all within that magic combination of truth and melancholy." Guided by these influences, Weatherston is part of a new generation interpreting the standard repertoire, bringing his subtle voice and dynamic guitar playing to classic songwriters such as George Gershwin and Jimmy Van Heusen.

In addition, Weatherston has made a name for himself as an arranger and bandleader. His concerts often feature a seven-piece jazz orchestra performing repertoire by such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and Fletcher Henderson. Drawing inspiration from the past, Weatherston creates a spirited setting for his vocal style with swinging band arrangements from the '20s and '30s.

Audio engineer, Eric Wojahn, captured the moment at Solid Sound with an exquisite blend of vocals, guitar, piano, bass, and drums. In the following months, Colton developed the finished "soundscape" at Ozone Music and Sound. Collaborating with studio owners, Marty Peters and Chris Hugan, the Ozone team perfected these mixes with additional recordings of percussion, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, trombones, violins and violas. Finally, Steve Thomas sweetened the sound with his vintage 1977 MCI 2-track mastering tape machine, enhancing the smooth top end and bass bump with analog warmth and natural compression.

The final result is a sonic gem! Here's to many more.....

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