ON THE FUNKY SIDE
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If you’re looking for an antidote to the everyday and an alternative to the
jazz doldrums, a fresh wind is blowing. Paul Rozmus, bandleader, composer,
arranger, producer, keyboardist and solo flutist is an extraordinarily
rewarding listen. His nimble instrumental scatting, percussive sensitivity,
infectious grooves, sensual energy and intelligent arrangements imbue both
his recordings and dynamic live performance with irresistible warmth and
charm.
Following in the tradition of his debut album, Rhythm of Love, The eleven
tracks of Paul Rozmus second solo release, On The Funky Side, are all
written or co-written by the artist, himself. They display not only his
prodigious ability on flute, but also his sophistication and maturity as a
producer/arranger.
Deliciously rhythmic, melodic and hooky, On The Funky Side encompasses
contemporary jazz and r&b, shaded by funk, blues, Latin and pop. “Each of
the songs has some kind of different twist, even though they’re related to
each other,” reflects Rozmus. “That’s why I picked different musicians for
different songs. I wanted variety, yet there had to be a stylistic
connection.”
Rozmus has assembled a collection of contemporary jazz and r&b’s most
exceptional artists to evoke that delicate balance. Jeff Kashiwa lends
soprano saxophone to the album’s first single, “No, No, No… OK!” providing
a perfect vehicle for Rozmus’ agile fluting. Freddy Jackson, who has a
penchant for collecting No. 1 Hits, delivers a romantic and sensuous version
of Rozmus & Gary Walker’s’ “I Miss You,” while guitarist Eric Essix infuses
the title track with his signature funk-blues-jazz fusion. (The track has
already been picked up on smooth jazz stations in the UK, where London-based
Passion Jazz has released On The Funky Side.) Essix also plays and shares
production credit on the evocative and sexy “At 2 In The Morning.”
The classically trained Rozmus’ lifelong passion for jazz with pop nuances
and a funky flavor began in Poland, where the flutist studied at the most
prestigious conservatory, in Katowice. He served as musical director at
numerous festivals and received top honors for his songs and instrumental
performances before and after graduating with a Master’s degree in
Composition and Arranging. Over the course of his career, he has produced,
arranged or recorded above 200 compositions, with more than 20 radio hits,
achieving renown as a solo artist and contributing to both gold and platinum
albums for top performers in his native country.
With On The Funky Side, Rozmus has delivered a groundbreaking and
break-through project that is literally a breath of fresh air in the
sax-saturated world of smooth jazz. Presently, he is touring and performing
non-stop with his own Paul Rozmus Band, and is scheduling selected dates
with Jeff Kashiwa, Freddie Jackson and Eric Essix in support of his current
release. Rozmus is planning to produce a number of instrumental and vocal
performers this year, but above all wishes to live out his responsibility as
an artist: “to create positive images.” “After all,” he pronounces with
deep conviction, “We are creating our future!”
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