"Simple Major Simple Minor"
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.
Richard Burton is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, publisher and producer. He is the owner of the Vectordisc label and Burton Music. Vectordisc features the music of a core group of artists such as Ron Thomas, Johnny DeFrancesco, Mike Falcone, Bobby Rose, Glenn Ferracone, Richard Burton, Joe Mullen, John Swana, Ray Ferretti, Paul Klinefelterand Jon English. The music is a collaboration between these featured artists and an ever growing roster of highly skilled side musicians like Chico Huff, Tony Marino, Terry Klinefelter, Bob Meashey, Bob Howell, Steve Giordano, Don Glanden, Matt Davis, Marc Adler, George Rabbai, Joey DeFrancesco and the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra. Vectordisc's first release of 2009 was "I Saw It Comin' by the Johnny DeFrancesco Power Trio with Glenn Ferracone, Paul Klinefelter and Joey DeFrancesco. In the second half of 2009, Vectordisc released Jon English and the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra's "Music for Film", Ray Ferretti's "Nice View" and Ron Thomas and Bobby Rose's "Galaxy". In 2010, look for Paul Klinefelter's "Night Mood" , Richard Burton & Ray Ferretti's "Fat Samba" , Ron Thomas's "The Tango for a Lost World" and new music from the DeFrancesco Brothers.
