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| Description: | Eric Starr is an accomplished drummer. Yet he is also a composer, and what truly distinguishes his music is its inventiveness – he’s not limited by any kind of convention. Starr's new album, She, reflects a lifetime of musical influences, from jazz to pop, Brazilian to avant-garde. The concept for this album was to bring together musicians from widely different backgrounds and disciplines to create a body of music that is, at once, steeped in the jazz tradition yet distinctive and fresh.
She is a stunning document of Starr's skill as a songwriter and as a musician. Recorded in New York and London with a gifted group of musicians, the CD’s songs are evocative, passionate and assured. Vocalist Nelson Starr, who is Eric’s older brother, is featured on most of the album’s six tracks. Without a doubt, Nelson's smooth tenor voice adds beauty and warmth to the each tune.
She also features multi-saxophonist Iain Ballamy, a pioneer in Britain’s modern jazz movement. Ballamy has worked with Bill Bruford, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Gil Evans and Django Bates to name a few. Guitarist Dominic Miller, best known for his 15 year tenure with Sting, also guests on She. Lastly, Academy Award nominated
pianist and composer Kenny Ascher and Criss-Cross Jazz recording artist Jim Rotondi both make appearances on the album. Starr and his band made their long awaited debut earlier this year at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City where they played to a sold out room.
The live incarnation of The Eric Starr Group features Nelson Starr, Iain Ballamy and the renowned pianist Andy LaVerne. LaVerne's resume reads like a veritable Who's Who in jazz. Among others, LaVerne has worked extensively with Frank Sinatra, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Lionel Hampton, Michael Brecker, and Elvin Jones. The ensemble is rounded out by guitarist Marc Schonbrun and bassist Nori Shiota.
The band's set features Starr's drumming on many selections. However, Starr's compositions are not drummer-centric. Starr's goal as a songwriter is to contribute to what he calls "The New American Songbook." His melodies are infectious and listener friendly. However, his music avoids the trappings of "smooth jazz" or other harmonically simple forms of music.
Starr's tunes have been compared to Sting's jazziest material, and to Pat Metheny's Brazilian influenced work. Starr also cites Antonio Carlos Jobim as an influence as well as such disparate artists as Bill Evans and Joni Mitchell.
The Eric Starr Group will be performing at The Cornelia Street Café on December 16th, 2004. This intimate Greenwich Village eatery and performance space is one of New York's treasures. As Mayor Edward Koch said in a proclamation celebrating the café's 10th anniversary in 1987, it has become "a culinary as well as a cultural landmark."
ABOUT THE ERIC STARR GROUP'S DEBUT ALBUM SHE . . .
“This inspired debut recording by Eric Starr displays creativity in all areas…There is a certain magic about this CD.” -jazzreview.com
"A beautiful first album with inspired music." -Jazz Dimensions (Berlin)
“Ravishing…Glorious euphoria!" -Ipirotikos Agon (Greece)
“Starr's compositions breathe the heady ether of the music of the spheres...Watch this man!" –Buffalo News
“Sweet sounding gold.” -Artvoice
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