1/4 to Four

Night Owl CD released!
To order or to contact Henry Winckel, email:
[email protected]

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"Night Owl" — It started out as an idea for a solo album. But it soon evolved into a remarkable collaboration between award-winning composer and pianist Henry Winckel, and virtuoso saxophonist Paul Perez.

Winckel began writing music for the album in January of 2006. By mid-year, he'd written about seven tunes, playing and recording the piano, bass, drum and background parts using synthesized and sampled instruments.

He invited friend and former Liverpool Express keyboardist Roger Scott Craig to give the tunes a listen.
Craig suggested the music could be enhanced by adding some real saxophone.
Winckel hired Perez to play on the album and was immediately impressed with his musicianship. Perez was equally impressed with the music, and the two decided to collaborate.
"I came up with the song ideas, but it was Paul who was largely responsible for shaping the overall sound of the album — not just with his playing, but by knowing exactly which musicians to bring in for each tune," Winckel said.
Musicians like bassist Glen Fong, drummer Jarred Pope and bassist Jimmy Haslip of the Yellowjackets.
Winckel says it was an extraordinary experience watching the songs transform, as each player infused the tunes with his own distinctive style and creativity.
"Glen is a perfect example," Winckel said. "When he came over to record "Dream Tripper," he told me he'd come up with a completely different bass line than what I'd written.
"Good thing, too. Because what he came up with was much better."
("Dream Tripper" is the fifth tune on the above Standalone player.)
Perez, in addition to bringing all the players into the project, co-wrote seven of the album's 13 tunes.
Since he and Winckel lived in separate cities, Winckel would email mp3s of his compositions to Perez. Perez would then come up with melody lines and horn arrangements.
It turned out to be a perfect blend of talents.
The result is "Night Owl," an album that has been enthusiastically praised by music experts for its "superior musicianship, music and compositions," and hailed as an "extraordinary project," and "some of the most melodious jazz to be produced in recent memory."Henry Winckel
You can check out Henry Winckel's site and listen to five additional tunes by clicking on the following link:
henrywinckel  

Paul Perez began playing the saxophone in high school and was soon performing on the club circuit throughout the Central Valley. He played on several cross-country tours while he was in high school, performing gigs from Vancouver to Washington D.C. He continued sax studies with his friend and mentor Ray Meder. He also attended the L.A. Jazz Workshop, studying under notable saxophonists Matt Cattingub, Pete Christlieb, Bill Green, Jackie Kelso, Lanny Morgan and Don Rafael. Eight years ago while "sitting in” with the California State University, Bakersfield Jazz Ensemble, he found himself preparing for the guest appearance of his idol Michael Brecker in the annual Jazz Jam. Recognizing Perez’s talent, Brecker asked him to join in an extended improvisational interchange at the concert, producing a five-minute display of hair-raising, improvisational fire. Three years later, Jazz Jam soloist Ernie Watts would again give Perez an opportunity to show he could stand “toe to toe” with the greatest saxophonists alive. Perez graduated with honors from CSUB and won numerous outstanding soloist awards in festival appearances. His playing is showcased on many CSUB recordings. On graduating, he toured and recorded with Tower of Power as the featured saxophone soloist. Perez has performed on tours with Smokey Robinson and Donna Summer, and his sax is featured in the movies “Tortilla Heaven” and Quentin Tarrentino’s “Curdled.” He also can be heard on most episodes of “Resurrection Boulevard” on Showtime.

Glen Fong has a wide range of musical experience. As a youngster, he started playing clarinet and later added the saxophone and bassoon. He then turned his attention to the bass and his talents have been in constant demand ever since. A graduate of California State University, Fresno, Fong has performed with local big bands including the Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield jazz ensembles, Sanctuary, Sneakers, Ain’t No Thang, and toured with the Ice Capades Orchestra. He has backed musicians such as Ed Shaughnessy, Chuck Findley, Tommy Newsome, Bennie Wallace, Dizzy Gillespie and Louie Bellson. He has also performed with Pete Christlieb, Dr. D’s Debris, Festival Composers’ Return, and the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop Orchestra.

Jarred Pope began to devote his energy to jazz drumming at age 13. He discovered the playing of Dave Weckel and Vinnie Colaiuta, and set their playing as goals to be achieved in his own. At age 18, he joined Sneakers and Ain’t No Thang, which performed at numerous jazz festivals and as a featured group in a performance at the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival. His recording credits include Sneak Previews, Sample This!, and the Street Players What Are You Looking At. Most recently, Pope has backed-up Mother Funk Conspiracy, Crosby Loggins and blues/rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa.

Jimmy Haslip is one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after talents in the music industry. In addition to co-founding the multi-Grammy-Award winning and nominated jazz group, the Yellowjackets, Haslip has played bass on more than 400 albums and performed with the top names in music. He has also produced 60 albums for a variety of artists.
"Considering the extraordinary list of musicians Jimmy has played and recorded with, when Paul asked him to play on three of our tunes, and Jimmy replied by asking if he could play on two more because he really dug them, we figured that was a pretty good sign," Winckel said.
In addition to playing on five of the album's tracks, Haslip recorded a smokin' solo on "Eight-Finger Funk," and an exquisite, off-the-cuff intro to "Free Spirit," a tune dedicated to the late Michael Brecker.
You can check out Haslip's bio, the list of music greats he's played with and his discography by clicking on the following link:
jimmyhaslip

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