Trombonist Geoff Alpert… Front & Centre with ‘The New Sound’ in Contemporary Jazz!

6/9/2017

Brand New Album, ‘Open Your Heart’

The trombone is usually considered the anchor of classic horn sections, however, in the funky hands of emerging recording artist Geoff Alpert, it becomes a melodic and sensual Smooth Jazz lead voice.

Geoff Alpert has loved music all his life, studying the craft, learning several brass/valve instruments, playing in bands and composing songs. Inspired by the likes of Jazz legend J.J. Johnson, Rock band Chicago’s James Pankow, and fusion greats such as Wayne Henderson and Raul de Souza, Geoff studied music as a major at San Diego State University while supplementing his income gigging near and far, Yet he walked away from music for 30 years in the early `80s to be an ideal provider to his family.

Following the painful passing of his wife from cancer in 2002, Geoff did some profound soul searching which led him to pick up his trombone again, gradually easing back into the scene where he met Bassist Darryl Williams and Musical Director/Keyboardist Gail Jhonson.

Both pushed and assisted him in creating a musical statement that spoke to his emotional life story, his undying passion for the art form and the spiritual Eastern martial arts disciplines that guided him along his journey. That musical statement is Geoff Alpert’s Brand New Album ‘Open Your Heart’.

Featuring re-imaginings of classics by The Jacksons and The Emotions, Geoff Alpert’s debut solo album ‘Open Your Heart’ draws from his passions for Jazz, Pop, R&B, Soul-Jazz and Latin Music.

‘Open Your Heart’ (co–produced with Gail Jhonson) is a 10 Track Tapestry which lovingly places the trombone in a front and center position, something it rarely enjoys in the present musical landscape. Floating between Jazz, Pop, R&B and Latin sound signatures, it’s a bold yet highly accessible and brilliant listen.

Highlights include the Brazilian flight of the title track, a cover of The Jacksons' “Heartbreak Hotel” (composed by the immortal Michael Jackson and specially arranged for Geoff by Gail), the transfixing and deeply touching trombone and keyboard duet “Thinking About You” (in memory of his departed mother and wife).

“The Crusade” (a tribute to The Jazz Crusaders/The Crusaders emulating some of the progressive sounds of the band’s evolution over five groundbreaking decades), the groovin’ “Zen Funk” (featuring bassist Darryl Williams and dedicated to the Ken-Ka-Kung Fu Club, the martial arts school which Geoff has been both student and teacher for four decades), and an especially emotive cover of sister trio The Emotions’ 1977 hit “Don’t Ask My Neighbors” on which Geoff tips his hat to trombonist Raul de Souza, first instrumentalist to cover the song in 1978 (produced by the late George Duke) while placing his own heart piercing stamp on the Quiet Storm classic.

In addition to co-producer & renowned keyboardist, Gail Jhonson, Geoff Alpert ensembles with genre all-stars Darryl Williams, Adam Hawley, Greg Manning, Tony Moore, Michael Paulo and Althea Rene. ‘Open Your Heart’ to a fresh new sound in Contemporary Jazz!

This album is full of pleasant surprises, a fresh approach to Jazz not often seen in Contemporary Jazz. Geoff Alpert’s ‘Open Your Heart’ will delight all Jazz music lovers!