More Than This

PRODUKTBESCHREIBUNGEN
Fully embodying the title of his new independently released full length album More Than This, popular emerging Bay Area singer and recording artist Bill Kwan joyfully expands beyond the confines of the Great American Songbook standards that drove his acclaimed 2010 debut Pentimento. Vibing at Sear Sound in New York City with renowned pop and contemporary jazz producer Matt Pierson and a batch of some of the Big Apple's top tier session players, the multi-talented Kwan fashions a beautiful hybrid vibe, lending his intimate vocal approach to soulful, easy swinging jazz and adult contemporary pop arrangements of 11 songs from across a rich multi-generational swath of the pop/rock landscape. From a foundation of two Songbook classics ("All Or Nothing At All" and Rodgers & Hart's "You're Nearer"), Kwan gathers a fascinating and eclectic repertoire of romantic exuberance and heartbreak that includes classics and obscure pieces from Joni Mitchell ("Night Ride Home"), Suzanne Vega ("Caramel"), Astrud Gilberto ("The Gentle Rain"), Nick Drake ("Saturday Sun"), Coldplay ("Clocks"), Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music (the title track "More Than This"), Neil Young ("Harvest Moon"), Glen Hansard ("Love Don't Leave Me Waiting") and Radiohead ("15 Step"). The singer knew that the key to making his ambitious choice of material work was finding a veteran producer who could connect with his vision and help him develop it. He found that in Pierson, whose vast studio resume includes instrumental jazz greats like Joshua Redman and Kirk Whalum as well as star vocalists Sophie Millman, Jane Monheit, Kevin Mahogany, Vanessa Williams and Michael Franks. Pierson brought in a powerful ensemble that took the arrangements and Kwan's vocal artistry to the next level. The band included pianist and electric organist Kevin Hays (Joshua Redman, Sophie Millman, Bob Belden), who adds his retro soul-jazz flair throughout; guitarist Steve Cardenas (Charlie Haden, Paul Motian); bassist Vicente Archer (Freddie Hubbard, Terence Blanchard, Janis Siegel); drummer Kevin Kanner (John Pizzarelli, Michael Buble); and saxophonist Steve Wilson (Chick Corea, Dianne Reeves). Other key contributors over the course of the two day session were percussionist Bashiri Johnson (Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Mariah Carey) and Hammond Organist Oli Rockberger (John Mayer, Jamie Cullum), with string arrangements crafted by John Stoddart (Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Celine Dion). Beyond introducing listeners to this side of his vocal artistry, Kwan and his musical cohorts infuse More Than This with an exciting sonic diversity - ranging from the sparse, elegant jazz of "Night Ride Home" and "You're Nearer" to the string accented samba flow of "All Or Nothing At All," the sly, strutting funk of "Caramel" and the powerful, hypnotic jazz fusion of "Clocks." Kwan adds a touch of the sensuous and exotic by recalling the heyday of bossa nova on "Gentle Rain," while digging into an old school electric blues-soul realm on the mournful "Saturday Sun." Other highlights are a lush, acoustic take on "More Than This," the shimmering soul-jazz cool of "Love Don't Leave Me Waiting" and - saving the most intense and improvisational track for last - a frenetic, trippy psychedelic romp, complete with distorted lead vocal, on "15 Step."

Number of Discs: 1

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