Eighty-Eight's | The Lonnie Plaxico Group

	NOW ON SALE Solid, hip and exciting performance recorded live at the JAZZ STANDARD (NYC). Live at JAZZ STANDARD / The Lonnie Plaxico Group VRCL 6012 (CD) \2,835 (tax in) VRGL 8812 (SACD) \ 3,360 (tax in) Stereo / Multi-ch VRJL 7012 (LP) \ 3,360 (tax in)


1. The Sidewinder (L. Morgan) \| [Real Player] [Windows Media] 2. Jumping Jacks (L. Plaxico) 3. Dedicated to You (S. Cahn, S. Chaplin) 4. A Shorter Take (L. Plaxico) 5. Summertime (G. Gershwin) 6. Along Came Benny (L. Plaxico) 7. You Don't Know What Love Is (G. dePaul, D. Raye) 8. Cachao's Dance (L. Plaxico) 9. Senor Silver (L. Plaxico) Recorded live at JAZZ STANDARD, New York on January 29, 2003 click for vinyl (analog) LP song sequence

Personnel: Lonnie Plaxico (b) Marcus Strickland (ts) Alexander Norris (tp) Martin Bejerano (p) Lionel Cordew (ds) Kahlil Kwame Bell (perc)

Exquisite mixture of various musical elements makes the intensive groove!
Bassist Lonnie Plaxico is not only one of the in-demand bassists, but also known as a great music director and a composer. This album, recorded live at the JAZZ STANDARD is a great document of a wonderful, evolutionary artist. It represents the talent and experiences which Plaxico gained through his musical career, and what he is looking for the future. The repertoire of the date is a mixture of Plaxico's own compositions and four standard tunes. It must had been a happy surprise to the audience, for the group seldom performed standards in the past. But the original and unique arrangements by Plaxico gave a new life to the classics, and sounds fresh as it was his own composition. "It was a challenge" according to Plaxico's words, but "worth it." As the musician who respects the great tradition of jazz but also creating his music in his own faith, he keeps himself open-minded and keeps challenging. The total-group sound is lead by horns, while the leader devotes himself in creating the steady beat. The groove of the whole group hypes up the audience, which feeds back the energy to the musicians. The very tension of the night reveals that Plaxico is truly one of the most influential musician of his generation.

Lonnie Plaxico The middle child in a family of musicians, Chicago-born Lonnie Plaxico inherited a gift for music that was discovered and nurtured early. By the age of twelve he had taught himself to play the electric bass, and he was soon venturing into Chicago's music scene, renowned for its mix of jazz, funk and blues. It was not long before the young musician made his first recording, featuring his family's band. At the age of just fourteen, having already performed alongside several prominent Chicago jazz figures, Lonnie Plaxico turned professional, playing the electric and acoustic bass with equal facility. In 1980 Plaxico moved to New York and soon began to appear with such artists as Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon and Wynton Marsalis. His first extended tenure was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers: between1983 and 1986, Lonnie performed on twelve of Blakey's albums, including the Grammy Award-winning, New York Scene. In 1986 he joined Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, continuing with that group until 1993. Presently, Plaxico is the musical director and featured bassist for Cassandra Wilson; their critically acclaimed and award-winning collaboration has now spanned fifteen years. Plaxico's recording and performance catalog is equally impressive for its caliber, depth and diversity. He has appeared with such luminaries as Sonny Sitt, Junior Cook, David Murray, Alice Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Joe Sample, Abbey Lincoln, and Dizzy Gillespie. Just as noteworthy are his performances with younger artists -- among them Steve Coleman, Rachelle Farrell and Dianne Reeves. Lonnie has also recorded with Bill Cosby, Lonnie Liston Smith, Ravi Coltrane and Barbara Dennerlein, as well as his Grammy-winning collaborations with Art Blakey and Cassandra Wilson. He has also recorded six critically acclaimed albums as leader. Lonnie Plaxico's musicianship is probably best expressed in his masterful integration of different forms --combining the rigorous technique of classical, the improvisation of jazz, and the rawness of funk into one exhilarating musical experience. (courtesy of lonnieplaxico.com - for more detailed information, visit the artist's website.)