Gabriel Mark Hasselbach - Gabriel's Horns
Wind Tunnel Multimedia

On his album "Live on Maui" Gabriel Mark Hasselbach showed the many sides of his musical journey - the Traditional Jazz persona and his more mainstream Smooth Jazz side. This time instead of trying to please everyone with on one spin Hasselbach has releases two album's simultaneously. "Come Out Swingin' as the title suggests is for the traditionalist and features Vancouver's newest vocal superstar Michael Buble' on Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin." The pair does the song justice, it's bouncy, light and fun. Hasselbach coupled with pianist Miles Black on George Shearing's classic "Lullaby Of Birdland" reminds us why good Jazz sticks to the bone.
The Smooth Jazz album "Gabriel's Horns" though not as strong is a close second. Good Smooth Jazz should appeal to a wider audience but maintain some semblance of Jazz and this album does that. Hasselbach follows a big trend in the genre by including a few pop oriented vocals featuring popular Vancouver singer Christine Duncan. What I liked most about "Gabriel's Horns" is it's sense of nostalgia that revisits some of the catchy grooves from the beginning of the format. It's also an ingredient that may be please the traditionalists who are not usually open to Smooth Jazz. Having played Hasselbach's Smooth Jazz in both Vancouver and Calgary I see "Gabriel's Horns" as another hit album in a very successful career. I highly recommend both of these albums. - by John Beaudin

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Gabriel Mark Hasselbach-Live On Maui indie
www.sassabrass.com/windtunnel

There's been a lot of talk of a possible Smooth-Jazz radio station coming to Vancouver. With six of the fourteen applicant going in that direction it seems the genre is finally getting the recognition it deserves. I've heard my fare share of what constitutes as Smooth-Jazz. It works best when an artist combines different elements of the Jazz umbrella and Hasselbach does this on Live On Maui. His Trumpet sounds quiet and reflective on "Underground Vibe' while avoiding the pretentious tone of a lot of horn balladeers like Kenny G, Hasselbach chooses more of a Miles Davis approach. Expect covers of Duke Ellington's catchy lush 'Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues and a very lively inspired take of Cole Porter's I Love Paris. The hip shaking doesn't stop there Hasselbach's own Salsa Picosa sounds like a Smooth-Jazz hit single if there ever was one. The Vibe here is bright, happy and confident, One Listen and You'll be hooked. Mark Hasselbach proves the best Smooth-Jazz artist's don't have to be predictable 'Live On Maui' is an inventive, sophisticated live album that's bound to please anyone remotely interested in any genre of Jazz.

By John Beaudin

read our interview with Gabriel Mark Hasselbach

 

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