August 16, 2005 email: greatscottpr@pacificnet.net

Modern Times call for modern measures

for guitarist Marc Antoine

Single receives the remix treatment while the artist works the road extensively

With today’s release of the Modern Times album, guitarist Marc Antoine is prepared to take modern jazz to the next level. “There comes a time in the life of an artist when you feel in a certain space and you just have to do it. No thinking, just do it. This is that time for me,” said the Rendezvous Entertainment recording artist about his seventh solo album, which he produced with dance music producer-club DJ David Ferraro in his home studio in Madrid, Spain. Although Antoine has created a distinctive musical identity that has earned him four number one singles, he’s boldly taking his music in progressive new directions on this new collection.

If the advancement of an art form is based upon abolishing creative boundaries and blending the best elements of technology, culture, and philosophy, Modern Times will be viewed as a defining recording in the evolution of contemporary jazz. Clubby dance grooves, funky hip hop beats, and pulsating electronic rhythms envelop or enhance the jazz, classical and blues influenced tracks. Antoine collaborated with the writing of nine new compositions in addition to covering the samba romancer, “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets,” originally recorded by Sting and the first vocal number by Antoine, who croons sensually in French. The Paris-born Antoine seasons his recordings with the cultures he encounters in his world travels. Latin and African percussion, flamenco guitar riffs, European nuances, and devotional Indian chants lend color, texture, spirit and sophistication to the tracks. Antoine has fluently expanded his dialect on the album. Known for his flamenco acoustic guitar bravura, Antoine often communicates through a cool-toned electric jazz guitar.

The festive first single, “Bella Via,” energetically powered by shuffling Latin percussion and Antoine’s emotive acoustic guitar, was recently serviced to smooth jazz radio stations. The track has just been remixed by Dave Rideau, a three-time Grammy nominee who is known for his work on recordings by Janet Jackson, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Sting, Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin, and TLC. It will soon be shipped to radio stations as well as to club DJs.

Since mid-June, Antoine has constantly been on the road to lay the foundation for this different and pivotal album release. He’s toured the concert trail in major U.S. cities with sax star Dave Koz, R&B vocalist Jeffrey Osborne and cutting-edge saxophonist Praful as part of the “Dave Koz & Friends” summer trek, which concludes this Sunday night (August 21) at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. Between tour dates, Antoine has made extensive visits to key commercial and non-commercial radio stations and retail outlets in other major markets. At album listening events, Antoine has played acoustic solo mini-concerts that have left the audiences enraptured. The efforts are already paying off as Modern Times went #1 on Amazon’s “Top Sellers” jazz list.

Antoine’s four number one singles are “Sunland,” “Mas Que Nada,” “Mediterraneo” and “Funky Picante.” He has deployed his guitar finesse to recordings and concert performances by some of the most distinguished and diverse artists in music, including Sting, Cher, Queen Latifah, George Benson, Basia, Soul II Soul, Selena, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Will Downing, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Peter White and David Benoit. Koz is co-founder of Rendezvous Entertainment, for which Antoine records.

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Modern times call for modern measures. After creating a distinctive classical, Latin jazz, flamenco sound that has repeatedly lead him to the top of the charts, guitarist Marc Antoine adventurously stretches his creative muse in new directions on Modern Times, his seventh solo album, scheduled for release on August 16th from the Rendezvous Entertainment record label. The festive “Bella Via,” on which Antoine drives his signature acoustic guitar along a shuffling Latin percussion groove, will be the first cut going for adds at contemporary jazz radio on July 11th.

It’s rare for a successful artist in peak form to audaciously step outside of the proven to push the creative envelope, reinventing himself as a new musical persona, but that’s exactly what Antoine is doing with panache. Recording the album in his studio in Madrid,

Spain

, Antoine produced Modern Times with European dance music producer-club DJ David Ferrero and collaborated on nine new compositions. The album reflects a confident step into foreign terrain for Antoine. Known for his acoustic guitar bravura, he plays electric guitar on several cuts and even croons a cool lead vocal on the romantic samba cover, “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets,” a song originally recorded by Sting. The Paris-born musician has affection for incorporating his world travels and various cultures into his music. Antoine continues his affair with Spanish, Latin and European rhythms and riffs, but he expands his itinerary on the new record to include musical excursions into

South Africa

(“Umbele”) and

India

(“Cantar al Amor”), the latter of which features sacred chanting. Throughout the album, the production boasts plenty of vocal samples, sometimes dreamy or sometimes haunting female backing vocals, and hip club beats and grooves that set an array of vibes upon which Antoine’s moody and melodic guitar meanders.

“Years ago, I read a quote from Miles Davis about when he ventured into entirely new creative directions. He said that he found someone from outside of his (jazz) world to collaborate with. That’s exactly what I did on Modern Times. David (Ferrero) is very well known in the club world and he brought an entirely fresh sensibility to my music,” explained Antoine. “Although people primarily know me for my acoustic flamenco guitar sound, for years I’ve also done sessions on electric (guitar) for Celine Dion, Queen Latifah and others. I wanted to explore a different musical palate by using an electric guitar on some tracks. I think some might be caught off guard by this album, but I’m pleased with the way it came out and I hope people will listen to it with an open mind.”

To support Modern Times, Antoine will spend the summer on a major

U.S.

concert tour with sax star Dave Koz, R&B vocalist Jeffrey Osborne and Praful, a cutting-edge sax player who incorporates ambient vibes and electronic dance beats to his music. Koz is co-founder of Rendezvous Entertainment, for which Antoine records.

To date, Antoine has scored four number one singles – “Sunland,” “Mas Que Nada,” “Mediterraneo” and “Funky Picante.” He has deployed his guitar finesse to recordings and concert performances by some of the most distinguished and diverse artists in music, including Sting, Cher, George Benson, Basia, Soul II Soul, Selena, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Will Downing, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Peter White and Richard Elliot.

Catch Marc Antoine performing with Dave Koz, Jeffrey Osborne and Praful on the following dates: