Jeff Kashiwa - Remember Catalina (1995)

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I remember Catalina Island -- it was December 1990 and the first stop on my first cruise. Jeff Kashiwa remembers Catalina because it was here that he met his future wife Chaunte for the first time in 1989 while doing a Rippingtons concert at the Catalina Jazz Trax Festival. This meeting ostensibly set up the release of this album in 1995 -- it's Jeff's first solo effort. While the title track commemorates Kashiwa meeting his wife to be, that's not the whole story. All eleven tracks are full of passion, energy and experimentation. This album is a very cool introduction to Jeff Kashiwa while his star was rising with the Rippingtons, and it features some wonderful guests such as Mark Stephens on keyboards and David Benoit on piano for the tune "A Familiar Place." Dave Samuels delivers a stellar performance on vibes on two of the best tunes on this disc -- "The Asian Persuasion" and "Remember Catalina" while Kashiwa plays alto flute (can you believe it?) on "The Asian Persuasion" and "Autumn Ride." Jeff entertains with an extremely fluid and energetic tenor sax on "You Gotta Believe" and the high energy tune "Mardi Gras." I came to know and appreciate Melvin Davis on bass from Jeff Kashiwa's later albums (Another Door Opens and Simple Truth) before I ever heard this album; on "Mardi Gras" Davis lays down an ultra funky bass line that tears it up for me. This album is an excellent compilation of creativity that needs to be experienced by anyone who thinks they know Jeff Kashiwa because of exposure to his current work; just one listen to "King of the Gypsies" and you'll see what I mean. For me, it was a good thing to "Remember Catalina" -- I hope you do too.

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01. Coastal Access
02. Street Smart
03. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?
04. I Will Come Back To You
05. Asian Persuasion, The
06. Remember Catalina
07. Autumn Rid
08. You Gotta Believe!
09. Mardi Gras
10. King Of The Gypsies
11. Familiar Place, A