At World’s Edge (C.A.R.E. Music Group)
Philippe Saisse
Released March 24, 2009
Grammy Nominee for Best ContemporaryJazz Instrumental Album 2010
YouTube:
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About:
Songwriter/arranger/producer, keyboard wiz,
and, E1 Entertainment recording artist, Philippe Saisse, scored a personal
triumph and first when NARAS voters opted to honor and acknowledge his
progressive and daring solo album, “AT WORLD’S EDGE,” with a 2009 Grammy
nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Saisse has enjoyed a distinguished
career over the past 30 years, but finally attaining the milestone achievement
on his ninth solo effort has even more special significance, because he
dedicated the album in loving memory to his late father Maurice Saisse.
“Hearing the news that “At World’s Edge” was nominated elated me beyond words,”
revealed a delighted Saisse. “I felt particularly grateful for the validation
of the incomparable contributions all the musicians, singers and engineers made
to the record. I just wish my father would have lived long enough to share this
special honor with me.”
“At World’s Edge,” represents one of Saisse’s most ambitious and adventurous solo projects to date. While Saisse produced the lion’s share of the project in Los Angeles, he enlisted an All-Star cast of musicians/engineers/singers from New York, London, Paris, and Japan, who sent him tracks from around the world. Musicians featured on the CD include Simon Phillips and Skooter Warner on drums, bass players Pino Palladino, David Finck, and Ron Jenkins, guitarist’s Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, and Annas Allaf, horn players, Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone), Jason Golley (trumpet and flugelhorn), Jeff Beal, (trumpet and flugelhorn), Rick Braun (trumpet), and Michael Davis (trombone and bass trombone), Lenny Castro on percussion, and singers Angelique Kidjo, Jasmine Roy and David Rice. Saisse used noted Japanese engineer Goh Hotoda, who has collaborated with him on his most recent projects to engineer the CD.
While “At World’s Edge,” did not attain the comparable level of commercial and radio success of several of Saisse’s previous solo endeavors, it reunited Saisse with long-time friends Simon Phillips and Pino Palladino, who have since joined forces to launch a new rock/jazz fusion trio ensemble, PSP (Phillips, Saisse, Palladino). PSP’s debut CD, PSP LIVE (recorded in Tokyo Japan, Feb/2009) was just released in Europe by C.A.R.E Music Group, Munich, Germany (10/14), which was followed by a highly successful European tour of 20 cities, (Oct 30 – Nov 27). PSP LIVE is also being released in Japan by And Forest Music, (2/10/10), followed by a 9-city PSP club tour that will start 2/18/10.
“I could not be happier with this record, and just getting it made exceeded my wildest imagination,” added Saisse. “Hopefully, this accolade earns it another life.”
Track Listing:
1. From Nowhere to Now Here (Intro) (Philippe Saisse) 1:16
2. From Nowhere to Now Here (Saisse) 4:11
3. The Rover (Saisse) 3:59
4. Billy’s Blues (Saisse) 4:21
5. At World’s Edge (Saisse) 4:12
6. Monday Afternoon (Saisse) 5:31
7. Assante Sana (Angélique Kidjo, Saisse) 3:45
8. Roppongi Blues (Saisse) 6:29
9. Through Tainted Glass (Saisse) 3:41
10. Topanga Moon Dance (Saisse) 6:25
11. Junto (Saisse) 2:40
12. At World’s Edge [Vocal Version] (David Rice, Saisse) 4:12
Personnel:
Philippe Saisse: piano, keyboards and programming
Simon Philips: drums (1, 2, 5, 6, 12)
David Finck: acoustic bass (1, 2, 8)
Lenny Castro: percussion (1, 2, 4, 8)
Scooter Warner: drums (3, 4, 7, 8, 10),
Jeff Golub: guitar (3, 4, 6)
Jasmine Roy: vocals (3)
Ron Jenkins: bass (4, 10)
Jason Golley: trumpet and flugelhorn (4)
Pino Palladino: bass (5, 6, 12),
Annas Allaf: acoustic guitar and oud
Angelique Kidjo: vocals (7)
Kirk Whalum: tenor sax (8)
Rick Braun: trumpet (8)
Michael Davis: trombone and bass trombone (8)
Diane Hsu: flute (8)
David Rice: vocals (10)
Marc Antoine: acoustic guitars (10)
Jeff Beal: trumpet and flugelhorn (10)
Recorded at Phantom Recordings by Simon Phillips
Produced by Philippe Saisse and Goh Hotoda
Mixed by Goh Hotoda (tracks 1-11) and Simon Phillips (track 12)
Mastered by Doug Schwartz
Executive Producers: Chuck Mitchell and Ramon Harvey II
Photography by Sunny Bak
Art Direction: Alice V. Butts
Review:
The French born keyboardist, whose recording career stretched back to the ’80s, had been out of the contemporary jazz mainstream — and recording mostly in Japan — for several years when he scored an unexpected hit in 2006 with his trio rendition of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again.” Rather than stick to the vibe that broke him through to popular acclaim, on his Koch Records debut the multi-talented artist returns to his trademark global grooving. Celebrating a recent move from New York to Los Angeles, Philippe Saisse reconnected with two old musical mates, drummer Simon Phillips and bassist Pino Palladino, and hooked up with an impressive guest list: hornmen Jeff Beal and Michael Davis; popular urban jazz cats Jeff Golub, Marc Antoine, and Kirk Whalum; percussionist Lenny Castro, and Beninese vocalist Angélique Kidjo, winner of the 2008 Best Contemporary World Music Album Grammy, who co-wrote and performed on Saisse’s 1999 African flavored worldbeat/electronic dance hit “La Vie.” Kidjo and Saisse pick up where they left off on one of the disc’s most explosive tracks, the wild, hypnotic African world jam “Assante Sana,” which also features acoustic guitarist and oud player Annas Allaf. Whalum, Braun, and Davis form a powerhouse horn section behind the keyboardist on the exotic, intensely percussive swinging free jazz jam “Roppongi Blues,” while Antoine and Beal help create the dreamy and sensuous late night vibe of “Topanga Moon Dance,” which was inspired by the location of the friend’s house Saisse stayed at before moving his family West. That home belongs to Bill Howell, the grooving inspiration behind the old-school, easy swinging “Billy’s Blues” featuring Jason Golley on trumpets and flugelhorn. Saisse balances his pop, rock and funk-infused tracks like the classic rock edged “The Rover,” “Monday Afternoon” and the cleverly titled, autobiographical trio jazz opener “From Nowhere to Now Here” with the film score lush “Through Tainted Glass,” a piece reminiscent of some of Saisse’s early new age-jazz efforts. At World’s Edge was one of the most exciting and explosive contemporary jazz sets of 2009.
Jonathan Widran (AllMusic)
