| Earlier in the
month I told you about sessions Scooter, Finck and I did for a Sega
game. The name of it is: Phantasy Star Universe. This month was quite busy. We started doing sessions for Atsushi Kosugi (who produced our “My Favorite Songs” albums for Aosis/JVC) for a Japanese Boys Band called Arashi. I already played on their previous album. Omar Hakim, Will Lee, Scooter Warner and Gerry Barns were on board and Roy Hendrickson BEHIND the board! |
 With Will Lee at Live Aid with Nile Rodgers and the Thomson Twins! |
 With Will Lee for Arashi’s session |
Every year, Phil Ramone puts together the music for the Song Writer Hall of Fame, the most prestigious ceremony honoring composers, lyricists and publishers and every year, it is the most touching and awe inspiring event for me. The inductees this year were Bill Withers, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Smokey Robinson, Barry Gordy, Les Paul, Sherman and Sherman (Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and Steve Cropper.
Steve Cropper, Bill Withers, Kirk Whalum, Vaneese Thomas and Bashiri Johnson
The house band was
the usual suspects: Rob Mathes, Shawn Pelton, Jeffrey Mironov, Tom
Barney, Bashiri Johnson, Vaneese Thomas, Lisa Fisher and Fonzi
Thornton. We had the immense pleasure and honor to play with Steve
Cropper (“Sitting By The Dock of the Bay”), Richie Sambora, Jason Mraz,
John Fogerty, Ryan Cabrera, Angie Stone and Faith Evans who both tore
it up, Smokey Robinson, Ricky Fante.
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One of the nice surprises for me was to be reunited with 2 of the greatest singers in the world, Peabo Bryson and Lalah Hathaway. I had worked on an album for Peabo produced by Arif Mardin way back when and had not seen him since! We will definitely rectify that I think in the near future…And Lalah was just amazing as always and I had not seen her since we toured Japan with Marcus Miller sometimes in ’95 I think. What memories and what lessons to be learned from Bill Withers, Smokey Robinson and Steve Cropper. A memorable and inspiring evening… |
 With Peobo Bryson |
I finished my first piano solo Christmas album. It is called “Dorian’s First Christmas” and contains both original compositions inspired by the holidays and old standards. I was hoping to see it released for this coming Holiday season, but seeing how things are developing, I might have to put it on the back burner for now and hope for a Christmas 2006 release…or a MIRACLE! LOL
June 22nd, I saw Keith Jarrett at Carnegie Hall… need I say more?... I thought of picking up the kazoo instead…
More sessions for the new trio record…the title?... “The Body And Soul sessions”…It was Ozan’s idea! :?D
6-10-05 News
| 2005 Philippe Saisse |