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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375

8 March 2007                                                    email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

 

 

Guitarist Jeff Golub’s Grand Central opens with a strong buzz

 

Jazz-blues-rock homage to New York City critically-praised

 

Celebrating the diversity and bustling energy of the city he’s called home for more than twenty years, guitarist Jeff Golub’s Grand Central album was released in record stores Tuesday (March 6th) by Narada Jazz/Blue Note Label Group.  The vibe he captured is “live,” as if he grabbed his guitar, headed down to a dimly lit, gritty blues or jazz club in New York City, plugged in and started jamming with a talented group of friends.  That’s pretty much how the album was recorded, although it was tracked in several recording studios.  However, Golub, who produced most of this, his seventh solo album in addition to writing or co-writing eight songs, kept things loose and casual, allowing the musicians the freedom to improvise and freely explore the jazz, blues, rock, R&B and pop melodies and rhythms.  There’s nothing particularly smooth about this edgy musician who brings blues and rock to contemporary jazz.  

 

Taking its title from an old Dentyne commercial, “Hello Betty” prefaced the album release at radio where the signature Golub track is swiftly moving up the chart.  The funky horn section and a bumpin’ groove on the Rick Braun-produced cut get scorched by Golub’s cool-toned, incendiary guitar lead.  Special guest appearances and contributions to Grand Central were made by Braun, Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum, Philippe Saisse and Paul Brown, with Braun and Brown producing a few tracks.  But the NYC cats Golub was primarily chillin’ with were drummers Steve Ferrone and Shawn Pelton, Chris Palmero (keyboards, Hammond B3, rhythm guitar), Mitchel Forman (piano, organ & string synth, Fender Rhodes & clavinet), bassist Lincoln Goines, percussionist Luis Conte, saxophonist Dave Woodford, and trombonist Nick Lane while Steven Miller co-produced, recorded and mixed the record.              

 

Golub, who begins co-headlining the national Guitars & Saxes Tour with Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum and Tim Bowman at the Nokia Theatre in New York City on March 24th with concert dates that run through the end of the summer, is getting some love from the media.  He’s scheduled to appear on an episode of Smooth Jazz Television, record an intimate performance for Sirius Satellite Radio, and grace the cover of next month’s annual guitar special issue of West Coast trade Music Connection magazine. 

 

The album reviews have also been quite favorable.  Jazz USA stated, “Jeff Golub's new release (his seventh solo album) is full of fire and energy.  It has a distinct New York City vibe and manages to capture the artist in his own unique element.”  All Music Guide wrote, “At his best, as on this exciting collection, he's raw and just a bit dirty, wailing with his buddies and having some loose, energetic fun…He plays it mostly fast and funky, but shows a unique emotional depth…”  ABYSSJazz Magazine enthused, “The result is vintage Golub – funky, fresh and infused with the spontaneous feel that live sessions engender.  It's a diverse set of originals and covers with highlights galore…You can tell the musicians are having a grand time creating this music.  It's a New York vibe with universal appeal!”  Smooth Jazz Therapy concurred, “…this natural flare he has for delivering raw and honest recordings spills out into every one of the eleven choice tracks.  Although a delicious mix of rock, pop and electric plus acoustic blues, excellent examples of R&B tinged contemporary jazz also abound…”  SmoothViews declared, “Sometimes you hear guys like Jeff Golub, who used to back rockers like Rod Stewart, referred to as ‘former rockers.’  I’ve seen Jeff play live.  There’s no ‘former’ about him.  He’s still a rocker!  And with his latest release, Grand Central, Golub brings on the feel and flavor of New York City with tracks that cover everything from jazz to blues to rock.”

 

Additional information can be found at www.jeffgolub.com. 

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           Contact: Rick Scott 310.398.0260

3 January 2007                               email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

 

 

Guitarist Jeff Golub embraces New York City on Grand Central

 

March 6th album release previewed by “Hello Betty,” spring/summer tour planned

 

 

With a spirit, energy and diversity that are uniquely New York City, guitarist Jeff Golub will open the doors to Grand Central, his seventh solo album, on March 6th.  Golub produced most of the Narada Jazz/Blue Note Label Group collection of electric and acoustic blues, contemporary jazz, rock and pop with Steven Miller, with a few tracks produced by Rick Braun and Paul Brown.  Roaring out of the station first is “Hello Betty,” which is engineered by Golub’s cool-toned electric riffing and powered by an incendiary horn section.  Conductors will begin punching tickets for the track at smooth jazz radio on February 5th.              

 

Golub has a natural flare for delivering raw and honest recordings.  Grand Central was primarily recorded with a live band in a New York studio by musicians Golub jams and improvises with at small, informal club gigs around the city that they do for the love of playing when they’re off the road.  Golub deftly deployed a clean blues sound to his guitar that took on more of a lyrical, vocal-like quality on the new record.  The New York City dweller wrote or co-wrote nine new songs for the disc in addition to selecting a few classics to record, including Sly Stone’s “If You Want Me To Stay,” George Harrison’s “Something,” and the soulful “Ain’t No Woman,” on which saxophonist Richard Elliot shines.  Other luminaries contributing were Braun (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kirk Whalum (sax), Philippe Saisse (piano), Stephen Ferrone (drums), Mitchell Foreman (keyboards) and Luis Conte (percussion).             

 

“Part of being a New Yorker is that you’re in a state of constant communication with people.  Sometimes words are spoken.  Sometimes the communication is just a glance or an unspoken acknowledgement on a subway train, while in line at a newsstand or as you brush past someone in a corner grocer.  I wanted this album to capture the constant communication between musicians: the sometimes overt dialogue as well as the subtle exchanges.  I embrace living in New York City and I think Grand Central has got a real New York vibe to it,” explained Golub.      

 

To support the release, Golub will again be co-headlining the perennial fan-favorite “Guitars & Saxes” tour with concert dates starting in the spring that will run through summer.  On the national trek, he’ll be sharing the stage with Whalum, Gerald Albright and Tim Bowman.  Dates and cities will soon be announced. 

 

A native of Akron, Ohio, Golub initially made his name as an in-demand sideman during long-term gigs backing rock stars Rod Stewart and Billy Squire.  He released his solo debut in 1988, but then recorded several successful albums in the mid-1990s under his band name, Avenue Blue, which established him as a core artist in contemporary jazz.  Golub returned to recording under is own name in 1999 and he has continued to consistently deliver bluesy jazz albums and radio hits ever since.  Additional information can be found at www.jeffgolub.com. 

 

Golub’s Grand Central contains the following songs:

 

“Hello Betty”                      “Slinky”

“Lulu’s Back”                      “Grand Central”

“If You Want Me To Stay”      “Ain’t No Woman”

“Mojito”                            “The Way I Feel Tonight”

“Something”                       “Stuffin’ It”

“Shockwave”                       Bonus Tracks: “Brooklyn Dreams” and “Let’s Stay Together”

 

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