Keith Jacobson

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Since moving from his hometown of Seattle to San Diego in 2000, saxophonist Keith Jacobson has been a one-man force of musical nature, electrifying the city’s vibrant contemporary jazz scene with an ever-growing slate of charismatic performances at a wide variety of public and private venues.
In 2006 he released his debut CD I Wanna Be With You. A multitude of tracks from that recording received airplay on over 80 college and smooth jazz stations across the country, building a solid fan base for the saxophonist’s dynamic new follow-up Turn On The Charm on Jacobson’s newly incorporated EPJ Records. Released in mid-July, the album went into immediate rotation at over 20 smooth jazz stations and in its second week, ranked at 31 on the airplay chart of www.smoothindiestar.com, the independent artist page of www.smoothjazz.com.
Although he maintains a heart for lyrical tenderness on a few tracks of Turn On The Charm—most notably, a passionate reading of Billy Joel’s “She’s Got A Way” and the balmy and whimsical original “Jasmine”—Jacobson, co-producing again with popular San Diego keyboardist Jeff McCullough and co-writing eight of the songs--is for the most part is turning up the heat, amping up the grooves and rocking and funking out. Effortlessly mixing soprano, alto and tenor (sometimes all on the same tune and often creating sizzling textured horn hooks), Jacobson sets the tone up front with five jamming hook-filled tracks that push the usually cozy boundaries of the genre.
Driven by a blast of horn textures, Darren Pleis’ thick bass bottom and a spirited soprano melody “Get Up” gets things off to a wild, thumping retro start. The title “Zip In My Zap” is a clever ode to Jacobson’s co-writer Max Zape, but it also applies perfectly to the percussive, sometimes discofied old school jam vibe of the tune. “Inside Track” keeps the party hoppin’ with a throbbing bottom, a percussive sax melody and touches of retro soul and blues in McCullough’s keyboard harmonies. The sensual, mid-tempo “Rendezvous” is more on the whimsical side, with a playful soprano melody, easy beats and the shimmer of more retro keyboard sounds. The title track lives up to its promise to “Turn On The Charm,” blending trippy, mystical electronic effects with a hard driving funk-rock groove.
“On The Way” also features these hypnotic ambiences mixed with an in your face, horn textured hook and some of Jacobson’s most powerful improvisations. He simmers down for “She’s Got A Way,” “Jasmine” and gently tropical flavored “Spur Of The Moment” before the rousing, all out fiesta finish “Too Much Fun”—a classic soul jazz jam featuring party voices, fellow San Diego musician Patrick Yandall’s jangling rhythm guitar, a sizzling electric guitar solo by Matthew Von Doran and wild improvisations by the whole band.
Like most busy musicians, Jacobson is always trying to balance work and his private husband and dad time with Lise and their almost five year old son, Eric. “The sacrifices I have to make are worth it because of the interaction I have with the audiences,” he says. “At some of these less glamorous solo gigs, I get onstage and nobody cares but by the end of the night, people are into it and telling me later how much they enjoyed my performance. I really love those only in Southern California moments when I’m playing late in the day with the sun in my face, playing the smooth jazz I love. It’s really blissful. I have an incredible opportunity each day to fulfill my lifelong dream, yet in many ways, all of this is just the beginning.”