J.S. Bach, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, John Adams, The Beatles, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Claude Debussy, George Crumb, Warren Zevon, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan,
Ron Thomas, Bill Evans, Joni Mitchell, Steve Vai, Jaco Pastorius,
John McLaughlin, Frederic Chopin
Franz Liszt, Igor Stravinsky, Lyle Lovett, Mike Falcone, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charlie Parker, Eric Clapton,
Wayne Shorter, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum
The musical structures of Simple Major/Simple Minor are not complex forms. Richard uses simple forms to highlight subtle features of arrangement/orchestrations and also to illuminate the improvisational explorations of the players. Well over four hours of music was recorded between May 2003 and February 2004. First or second takes were always preferred and eventually overdubbed versions of the pieces were put aside in favor of the live ones.
Comments by Ron Thomas
At the outset I had no intention to make this project a Jaco "tribute" but his musical presence is so strong throughout that I realized his name had to shine through. Chico and I were born at the right time (1955) for Jaco to be one of our idols. He was a powerful guidepost for us both, and many thousands of others as well. Don't let the two keyboards fool you, the spirit of John Francis Pastorius III is present throughout this recording. Check out Chico Huff, one of my favorite electric bassists on the planet. The playing of Ron Thomas is like no one else. He is one of the great originals playing electric jazz starting with his recordings in the early 70's on Pat Martino's "Live" and Eric Kloss's" One, Two, Free". Glenn Ferracone's drumming is always in the groove after years of playing with the DeFrancesco family (Papa John, Johnny and Joey)and the Mike Falcone Quartet.
Comments by Richard Burton
Richard Burton - Keyboards Ron Thomas - Keyboards Chico Huff - Electric Bass Glenn Ferracone - Drums
Recorded and Mastered by Glenn Ferracone at The Music Centre, Exton, PA
Produced by Richard Burton
Other Vectordisc CDs featuring Richard Burton are Kristin Garson's "Music Under the Influence" and Ron Thomas's "Scenes from a Voyage to Arcturus".
Ron Thomas can be heard as the leader of the following Vectordisc CDs (Scenes from a Voyage to Arcturus, The House of Counted Days, 17 Solo Piano Improvisations and Cycles). Ron can be heard as a sideman on The Mike Falcone Quartet's "Playing Live" and Kristin Garson's "Music Under the Influence".
More information at www.RichardBurtonMusic.com, www.RonThomasMusic.com, www.myspace.com/chicohuff and www.vectordisc.com.
