March - 2nd...
First Friday Art Walk! Featuring the music of Carl Dixon - Jazz Vocalist!
Carl Dixon's began singing in Mt Zion A.M.E. church when he was two years old.
So in a sense this Disc has years in the making. And it is worth the wait!
"It's A Time For Love", which kicks off with "If I loved
You" from the musical "Carousel" and ends with "When I Fall
In Love", speaks to this most compelling of human emotions in anything but
maudlin style. Instead, it's all-ballad format explores the anxiety as well as
completeness of love and it does all that in a sophisticated swinging fashion.
This CD has an appeal for all ages.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Dixon has covered music from spirituals to
classics. His jazz roots run deep and were never neglected during his long
career in information technology with several of the nations major high-tech
corporations. He pursued that career until his retirement in 1999. But even
when he had a day job, Dixon could be found performing in locations ranging
from South Africa and Ghana to Montreal and even Maidstone, England where he
worked with tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson, another transplant to Colorado,
who made a mark on jazz after a long non-musical career. Despite such sojourns
and frequent engagements along the Front Range of his adopted state, Dixon
never had a disc of his own. Several years ago, saxophonist Rich Chiaraluce (a
fine player who "cooks" on this CD with pianist Jeff Jenkins, bassist
Ken Walker and drummer Paul Romaine) told the singer that he needed to put
something down. And now he has.
Of the 12 tracks on the disc, 11 are standards. The exception to the standard
rule is the original "Anginella," a tune with words and music by the
vocalist. This tune was influenced by an old Frankie Laine song that stuck with
Dixon. As for the standards, they never sound staid. While Dixon doesn't try to
stretch boundaries here, his full baritone sound (that would be very
comfortable in front of the Count Basie Orchestra) does stretch your
imagination when it comes to love. Along with Joe Williams, Nat
"King" Cole and Frank Sinatra, Dixon holds Billy Eckstein in the
highest regard. In fact, his next project involves remembering Mr. B. But until
then, kick back, think romance and enjoy this disc completely.
Since his retirement, Carl has enhanced his love of music and embarked upon a
musical career. He has performed in many venues in metro Denver, performed for
almost two years at Genghis Kahn in Colorado Springs and participated in the
2003 Pikes Peak Jazz Festival. He has performed in London, France, Durban and
Johannesburg, South Africa and recently in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City,
Mexico
On October 30, 2004, Carl Dixon and the Jazz Cats officially released their CD:
A Time for Love in a show-stopping performance at Dazzle's Supper Club on 930
Lincoln in downtown Denver. The place was packed and the audience showed their
appreciation by requesting an encore. While Carl and the Jazz Cats only did
four tuned from the CD, they performed in a manner that clearly demonstrated
their versatility. The programs ending tune "Go Down Moses" took the
audience to an emotional high as it was done in a uniquely swinging blues
style.
During a 2005 CD promotional tour in the U.S,. Carl performed with the Tommy
Grice Quartet at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia; for A Jazz Benefit for
Indigent Musicians in Trenton, NJ; and with the Frank Wilkins Trio as the
opening act for Gladys Knight & Bill Cosby in a Benefit Show in Cambridge,
MA .
People do not often think of Denver when they think of jazz. That is changing.
KUVO, our public jazz-only and high definition radio station, quietly continues
to set national precedents in its programming of American music. Colorado's own
jazz musicians like Carl Dixon and the Jazz Cats are gaining increased
recognition throughout the country.
KUVO, the number one US Jazz Station two years in a row, selected Carl Dixon
and The Jazz Cats' "It's A Time For Love" as it's jazz CD of the
month in 2005!
check out, http://www.carlcroons.com for more info!
