Teena Marie

The Beauty Behind The Sax… Jeanette Harris

Pink and Blue Notes2 Comments

She’s talented, confident, humble, and has a great sense of humor. As a child, she was intrigued by the photo on a Grover Washington, Jr. cassette tape. That fascination with the sax led Jeanette Harris to become a saxophone player. She has an undeniable sound that’s uniquely her own and shares reflections of herself in each song. On stage and off, Jeanette is dedicated to being the best at what she does. From exhilarating performances to incredible song writing, she has enhanced the world of Smooth Jazz. Her cd “Summer Rain” offers something for everyone. From the teasing “Take Me There” or up-tempo “The Ride,” to the Latin glazed “Muy Caliente,” you can feel the positive vibe she delivers.

Jeanette and I share conversation.

Jeanette Harris
Jeanette Harris
Jeanette Harris
Jeanette Harris

Dwayne “Smitty” Smith

Pink and Blue NotesLeave a comment

How do I begin telling the story of Dwayne “Smitty” Smith? Well, I can start by saying that the artist from Washington, DC is kind, and humble. He’s also a writer, producer, and super talented bassist. It was in middle school that Smitty realized his love for the bass guitar. He heard a fellow classmate playing “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder and asked him to teach it to him. Amazingly, he not only learned the song, but played it perfectly with one finger. WOW!!! A bassist was born, and a stellar career soon followed. He moved to LA and quickly became the bassist to call. Not only would he work on the local scene, but would work with artists like Gerald Albright, Teena Marie, Anita Baker, and Kirk Whalum. Just to name a few. He was fortunate enough to spend 7 years with the legendary band The Isley Brothers. He continues to collaborate with other artists and has released his sophomore project titled “Stories.” This CD has something on it for everyone. Smitty beautifully covers “People Make The World Go Round”, and offers other songs that will have you swaying to funky grooves, and listening intently.

A conversation in Seattle.

"Stories"

Dwayne "Smitty" Smith
Dwayne “Smitty” Smith

The amazing Brian Simpson

Pink and Blue NotesLeave a comment

Brian Simpson has always known that music would play a very important role in his life. Actually, the most important role. The music of the 60’s Brian heard his Father play around the house had a strong influence on the artist he is today. He left his home town of Gurnee, IL and headed for LA. It was there that he began to get immersed in the jazz scene and start working with artists like Boney James. Brian took a little break from jazz to go on the road with pop sensations Janet Jackson, Teena Marie, and Sheena Easton. Those were experiences of a lifetime for Brian. He would however return to jazz music. Jazz was where his heart had always been. In 2005 Brian wrote “It’s All Good” as a solo artist, and it was a #1 radio hit. He is always working with other jazz artists, and continuously pours his creativity into every project. Not only has he been touring and working on other projects, but he’s also been the musical director for Dave Koz for the past 15 years. His current CD is titled “Just What You Need.”

Brian tells me his story during our interview.

Brian Simpson
Brian Simpson
Brian Simpson
Brian Simpson

CLICK TO FOLLOW BUTTON. LIKE THE FACEBOOK PAGE PINK AND BLUE NOTES. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @Pink_BlueNotes.