MusiConversations Show Archives

Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra  has a MusiConversation with Jazz Saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa

Tom and Jeff Discuss:

1. Their Recent collaboration on Tom's latest solo CD Deep Chill 
2. Jeff's work with The Rippingtons and his self titled work since 1999.
3. Jeff''s life as a family man and making it all work with a busy recording and touring schedule.
4. Tom and Jeff listen to a few of Jeffs songs on various CDs on Native Language Records and Fehrenheit Records
   • Another Door Opens
   • Peace of Mind
   • Simple Truth
   • Play

About Jeff Kashiwa:

Many smooth jazz fans were taken by surprise in early 1999, when Jeff Kashiwa left the Rippingtons after ten years to devote more time to develop his career as a solo artist, but in truth, the popular saxophonist has always had his eye on striking out on his own. Before joining the Ripps in 1989, he led various ensembles at clubs throughout Orange County, California, and he spent much of his down time from the Ripps' hectic touring and recording schedule leading his own band, Coastal Access. His two previous solo albums, "Remember Catalina" (1995) and "Walk a Mile" (1997) were critically and commercially acclaimed and laid a perfect foundation for his Native Language debut, "Another Door Opens", in many ways his first major entry into the smooth jazz marketplace.

Aside from the large base of Rippingtons' fans who are incredibly supportive of Kashiwa's new endeavors, the saxman also brought to the next phase of his career two very important legacies from his tenure with the band, the experience of touring with a very popular group and the creative partnership Kashiwa has forged with Rippingtons' keyboardist Dave Kochanski. Kashiwa produced "Another Door Opens" with Kochanski, bassist Brian Bromberg and famed keyboardist Jeff Lorber. Kochanski wrote four of the songs, including the brassy, retro-funk flavored first single, "Hyde Park" (the "Ah, Ooh" song).

"The amazing years I had with the Rippingtons mean so much on so many different levels, from developing friends for a lifetime to learning countless things about composing, producing and arranging from Russ Freeman. I remember he used to tell me in the early days, 'fill up your horn more,' meaning, bring more energy to my playing, and I think my playing on "Another Door Opens" reflects this. And while I like many of the songs on my previous albums, the new tunes are stronger, more melodic and much tighter."

"It's both exciting and scary not to have that to fall back on anymore, as I did when I put out my other two albums," he says. "It's like leaving a job to start your own business. But I believe all the effort I put forth will eventually come back to me, and making that kind of connection with the fans is what I live for musically. The object of both this new phase of my career and life in general is to transcend those daily fears and follow what I believe is the right path."

Kashiwa can be heard on a number of soundtracks for movies and television, including the main theme for ABC's All My Children. He has also donated numerous recordings to charitable causes and his commitment to education has made him a popular clinician at many public schools and universities nationwide. For the past six years Disney has hired him as an alumnus teacher for its College Band program.

                                       - Excerpts from http://www.JeffKashiwa.com

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