FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375

9 November 2009                                                          greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

Guitarist Lawson Rollins to release the exquisite and expansive Espirito on January 19^th

World Music opus prefaced at radio with the dreamy “Moonlight Samba”

Many believe that the arts mirror what is happening in the world and if that is the case, perhaps Lawson Rollins’ Espirito serves as a monumental soundtrack to the unification of our disparate cultures.  The guitarist’s epic thirteen-song collection, to be released January 19^th by Infinita Records, which is distributed by Baja/TSR Records, serves as the very definition of World Music with its seamless multicultural mélange of sound, style, composition and performance by musicians reflecting such culturally rich locales as Spain, Brazil, Cuba, Persia, Afghanistan, India and the U.S.  Rollins wrote the compositions for the album, his second solo release, which he produced with Shahin Shahida (of the Persian-American World Music group Shahin & Sepehr) and Dominic Camardella (3^rd Force, Ottmar Liebert).  Preceding the album release at radio will be “Moonlight Samba,” a sensual groove with an enchanting melody along with dexterous guitar soloing by Rollins, classy muted trumpet swatches, and dreamy vocals from Brazilian icon Flora Purim and her husband, master percussionist Airto Moreira. 

Espirito evolved from Rollins’ critically-acclaimed debut disc, Infinita (2008), made by the same production trio and the same core ensemble consisting of Purim, Moreira, Grammy-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat (Shadowfax), Afghan vocalist Humayun Khan (harmonium), Jeff Elliot (trumpet), Randy Tico (bass), and Dave Bryant (drums, percussion).  As grandiose as Infinita was, Rollins was determined to elevate every aspect of the 66 minutes of music on Espirito by stretching his wanderlust further outside his comfort zone, weaving a greater unifying theme throughout the compositions, assembling an even more diverse cast of players from all over the world, and utilizing a larger spectrum of sound captured in maximum fidelity.  Three of Infinita’s tracks - “Café Jobim,” “In Motion,” and the title track - scored major radioplay, and Espirito is primed with radio playlist possibilities.  Songs like “Rumba del Sol” and the title track are festive, fun and celebratory.  “Return to Rio” is whimsical while “Blue Mountain Bolero” is an exotic romancer.  “Cape Town Sky” is constantly changing tempo while a gorgeous contemplative melody hovers radiantly above the horizon.  The album concludes with “The Caravan Trilogy” – “Migration,” “Shadowland” and “Into the Light” – a poetic passage through time and geography spanning music’s migration from east to west starting in India and passing through Persia, the Middle East, Spain and onto the New World.

“I love the hybrid quality of World Music and how it allows for cross-cultural communication and exchange.  The Spanish guitar is a true manifestation of the commingling of cultures with its ties to the Arabic oud, the Persian tar, even the Indian sitar, so drawing on those connections seems natural to me,” Rollins explained.  “We took a far-ranging musical journey with the players on Espirito.  Near the end (of the record), we slide into the ether.  The notes slow down and evaporate into silence, a prayerful conclusion to the album, a moment of thankfulness for the alchemy that took place between the musicians.”

Originally from North Carolina, the San Francisco Bay Area resident was 15 when inspired to study classical guitar after discovering Andres Segovia.  Rollins was drawn to Latin jazz, Bossa Nova and Spanish guitar while listening to recordings by jazz legends Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, and Duke Ellington.  Rollins developed his own definitive style that incorporated flamenco, Bossa Nova, samba, salsa, Latin jazz, blues and classical nuances while honing a prodigious technical proficiency.  In 1998, he partnered with Daniel Young to form Young & Rollins, which released four critically-acclaimed World Music albums, propelling the duo to become an internationally renowned touring act.  In 2007, Rollins decided to focus on a solo career in which he would blend music from all over the globe in a panoramic setting containing an unlikely mix of instruments and provide the players an abundance of freedom in which to improvise.  Infinita was the first creation.  During the Espirito recording process, Rollins took a break to shoot a short solo guitar video clip, “The Fire Cadenza,” which spread virally through YouTube.  The clip showcasing Rollins’ incendiary technique swiftly received over two million viewings, which spawned a second clip, “Santa Ana Wind.”  Rollins has already begun composing songs for his third solo collection.  Additional information is available at www.lawsonrollins.com and www.infinitarecords.com. 

Rollins’ Espirito contains the following songs:

“Rumba del Sol”

“Moonlight Samba”

“Havana Heat”

“Café La Martinique”

“Return to Rio”

“Blue Mountain Bolero”

“Santa Lucia Waltz”

“Espirito”

“Cape Town Sky”

“Footprints”

“The Caravan Trilogy”: “Migration,” “Shadowland” and “Into the Light”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375

28 May 2008                                                     email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

Guitarist Lawson Rollins’ jazz-World Music

solo debut album is off to a great start

The title track to Infinita growing at radio, album garnering praise

The soundtrack to an alluring world voyage, a festive exaltation of music, art and life, guitarist Lawson Rollins’ solo debut album, Infinita, was released last week (May 20) via the artist’s Infinita Records, distributed by Baja/TSR Records.  The collection of eleven original compositions, guided by Rollins’ classical Spanish guitar, explores diverse cultures and unveils intriguing and tantalizing mysteries with the spirit of romance.  Rollins wrote the album and produced with Shahin Shahida (of the Persian-American group Shahin & Sepehr) and Dominic Camardella (Ottmar Liebert, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira).  Virtuoso musicianship, soulfully inspired songs and meticulous production values create infinitely exciting possibilities, free in form and spontaneity yet cohesive and focused. 

The title track, blessed with divine vocals from Brazilian chanteuse Purim, was the first single serviced to smooth jazz and college radio stations.  It was the #1 most-added single in its first week at smooth jazz radio and has been the #1 most-added single at college radio in three consecutive weeks.  “Infinita” is receiving national radio spins from outlets including XM Satellite Radio, DMX and Music Choice.  YouTube honored a brief yet astounding Rollins performance clip as a “Music Spotlight” selection and placed the clip on its home page over the weekend, which generated over 500,000 views in one day and almost 700,000 views to date   (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ9PRzIyzFA).  iTunes selected Infinita’s cover art to be featured at the top of their World Music page.  The album will be featured in listening station programs at major retail chains across the country throughout the summer.

Rollins is a prodigious professional committed to using music to celebrate cultural uniqueness while making the world seem just a little smaller.  With his dexterous fretwork serving as the luminous golden thread thoughtfully laced throughout Infinita’s opulent musical tapestries, Latin, Indian, Persian, Arabic, Middle Eastern and European percussion and rhythms beat the path for lilting guitar and graceful piano melodies to roam unimpeded through expansive fields of World Music and jazz.  Authenticity was important to the San Francisco-based Rollins, thus he surrounded himself with a masterful ensemble capable of bringing his vision to fruition. 

Early reviews are praising Infinita.  In the All Music Guide, veteran critic Jonathan Widran called the album a “…masterful genre-busting collection of Latin, Indian, Persian, Arabic, South American and European sounds…” and described it as a “…provocative and seductive project…”  SmoothJazz.com enthused, “It’s impossible to resist the ethnically diverse grooves that drive Lawson Rollins’ new multi-cultural solo debut.  From the loungey, ‘Café Jobim’ featuring Purim, to the rich groove of ‘In Motion,’ to the cinematic, Middle Eastern-influenced ‘New World Raga,’ Lawson Rollins carves out his solo place in the eclectic world of nu music.”  Midwest Record stated, “Totally tasty adult world beat stuff that’ll really get your ears tingling.”  Music Graffiti wrote, “There’s an unmistakable Mediterranean aesthetic in Lawson Rollins’ music.  But the collection exhibits reservoirs of Latin and African rhythm and texture.  The roster of artists is stellar, almost like the Yankees of old – not a single light spot in the batting order…This is an album that satisfies the casual listener’s moods and the thirsty quest of more discerning musicphiles.”  Smooth-Jazz.de concluded, “Lawson's album Infinita is a must for serious lovers of the acoustic guitar.”

Additional information about Rollins is available at www.lawsonrollins.com. 

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2 April 2008                                                      email: greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

Guitarist Lawson Rollins set to release an expansive multicultural solo debut album May 20^th

Infinita is a richly decorated tapestry of jazz and World Music

featuring renowned musicians;

title track will be serviced to multiple radio formats

Exquisite Spanish guitar melodies and ethnically diverse grooves dance and romance on Lawson Rollins’ alluring solo debut album, Infinita, which will be released May 20^th on the artist’s Infinita Records label that is distributed by Baja/TSR Records.  Rollins composed the eleven songs that comprise the inspired jazz-World Music disc that he produced with Shahin Shahida (of the Persian-American group Shahin & Sepehr) and Dominic Camardella (Ottmar Liebert, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira).  Graced with gorgeous Portuguese vocals from Brazilian chanteuse Purim, the title track will be serviced to multiple radio formats including smooth jazz, college and non-commercial public radio with an add date of April 21^st.         

Infinita is an authentic collection that unites accomplished musicians and disparate influences from around the world such as Latin, Indian, Persian, Arabic, South American, European and American on a unifying, genre-defying mission of infinite possibilities that only music without borders can create.  Leading this United Nations-like effort is Rollins’ multilingual guitar, virtuously crooning with precision, poetry and passion over lavishly produced tracks that vary in mood spanning festive celebrations, mystery and intrigue, and poignant reflections.  With Shahida and Camardella contributing an array of instrumentation, percussion legend Moreira lends vocals as does Afghan vocalist Humayun Khan.  Adding Middle Eastern instrumentation are Azerbaijani kamanche master Imamyar Hassanov and Pejman Hadidi on tombak.  Completing the core ensemble are Grammy-winning violinist Charlie Bisharat, bassist Randy Tico, trumpeter Jeff Elliot and drummer-percussionist Dave Bryant in addition to a string orchestra in Prague. 

“I had a vision of what I wanted from the beginning, but over time, and through the contributions from my guest artists, the project took on a life of its own,” explained Rollins.  “There is a profound cross-cultural connection in the ancestry of the modern Spanish guitar to earlier instruments like the Arabic oud, the Persian tar and even the Indian sitar.  Bringing these styles together is like returning to the roots of the guitar.”  

Originally a drummer from the age of eight, the San Francisco-based Rollins fell in love with classical Spanish guitar as a teenager and studied prodigiously.  He developed an expressive guitar voice along with an inventive classical fingerstyle technique that he utilizes exclusively.  In his early twenties, Rollins was drawn to rhythmically dynamic Spanish folk music and the freedom he found in Latin jazz and South American music.  A decade ago, he partnered with Daniel Young to form the Latin guitar fusion duo Young & Rollins.  They established themselves on the international music scene through four critically-acclaimed albums, widely televised concerts, and extensive live performances in far-reaching venues ranging from the Sydney Opera House in Australia to Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center.  Their original and experimental amalgam of improvisational guitar interplay set in rhythmscapes that incorporate salsa, samba, Latin jazz, Bossa Nova, blues, classical and flamenco landed on the Billboard and radio charts.  Additional information about Rollins is available at www.lawsonrollins.com. 

The songs contained on Infinita are:

“Café Jobim”                            “Through the Night”

“Echoes of Madrid”                  “Ceremony”

“In Motion”                              “New World Raga”

“The Awakening”                      “Streets of San Miguel”

“Infinita”                                   “For JoAnn”

“Southwind”

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