Apogee & Gerald Heimann

APOGEE is the well established side Project by Versus X singer, guitarist and composer Arne Schäfer. The Art of Mind is the eigth APOGEE album and invites the listener to follow a highly emotional, complex and adventurous journey through the history of progressive rock. APOGEE music is complex progressive rock based on the great progressive music of the seventies but often emerging out of the established rock field in various directions. The musical influences of APOGEE´s music are covering a wide range of styles from classic progressive rock into folk, heavy rock, jazz, baroque and renaissance music, minimal music, and new musics. In contrast to Versus X where I play guitar and sing, in APOGEE vocals and all instruments except drums are performed by myself via multitrack recording.

Apogee shows the solo works of Arne Schäfer, the talented leader and singer of German band Versus X. Apart from this collective experience, he's also written numerous tracks, a selection of which is included on "The Border Of Awareness" (1995). He shows there his obvious talents as multi-instrumentalist and as exceptional guitarist. Created by a brilliant composer, this CD reveals an incredible musical culture, that also includes German folk, jazz, Progressive rock, contemporary music and hard-rock. The five long tracks included on "Sisyphos" (1998) show a complex, sophisticated, contrasted and sometimes tortured art with expressive vocal lines, in a spirit close to Peter Hammill's…

German project Apogee have been releasing material at a steady pace for the past 25 years or so, a venture that started out and still is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Arne Schäfer, but now with drummer Eberhard Graef appearing to be a permanent member as well. "Endurance of the Obsolete" is the tenth album to be issued under the Apogee moniker, and was released by German label Progressive Promotion Records in the summer of 2020.
Ably assisted on percussion by Eberhard Graef, Shafer puts in a tour de force on guitars, keyboards and vocals an impressive feat given the complexity of the multi-textured arrangements which range from standard driving rock to full blown symphonic textures. It has to be said that this is a good rendering of some traditional symphonic prog rock…

Apogee is a solo project of Arne Schäfer, of the German progressive rock band Versus X, along with drummer Eberhard Graef. "The Blessing and the Curse" has become a rather non-compromizing Prog Album, with 5 Longtracks, all in the range between 12-16 minutes playingtime and stylistically close to the classic Progressive Rock of the early seventies (comparable to the records of e.g. Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, ELP, UK, Pink Floyd of this period). All Songs are rather complex structurally and regarding the harmonic material used, while besides the Apogee-typical orchestrations also many atmospheric elements are contained.

Pianist & composer Gerald Clayton explores the impact and abstraction of time on his ravishing 2nd Blue Note album Bells On Sand, which features contributions from mentor Charles Lloyd on saxophone, father John Clayton on bass, longtime friend and peer Justin Brown on drums, and new collaborator MARO on vocals. “Each musician on the record represents a different aspect of the axis of time and its shifting sands,” says Clayton. “My father and Charles Lloyd, who has been a mentor figure to me, reflect new permutations of my past, and the lineage of elders who have shaped my development; Justin Brown, being my contemporary and musical brother, represents my present; and MARO represents the future—she is part of the next generation, and points to a brand new collaboration.” The music includes new originals, pieces by Catalan composer Federico Mompou and Gerald’s uncle Jeff Clayton, as well as two stunning solo piano versions of the standard “My Ideal.”

One of the biggest stars of R&B, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz, Gerald Albright has earned his reputation as a “musician’s musician.” Born in Los Angeles, he began piano lessons at an early age. Albright’s love of music picked up considerably when he was given a saxophone that had belonged to his piano teacher. By the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, he was already a polished saxophonist. Albright decided to switch to bass guitar after he saw Louis Johnson in concert. A few months after graduating from college, he joined jazz pianist/R&B singer Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band. Later, when the bass player left in the middle of a tour, Albright replaced him and finished the tour on bass guitar.

Gerald Veasley, an in-demand bassist for dozens of artists (amidst lengthy periods with Grover Washington, Jr. and the Zawinul Syndicate), finally debuted as a leader with 1992's Look Ahead. Veasley welcomed both Washington and Zawinul on single tracks, Zawinul's feature being one of his best-known compositions, "Country Preacher." Elsewhere, Veasley works with varying lineups usually anchored by keyboard player Mark Knox, who detracts slightly from the jazz flavor of the date, though his keys do add atmosphere to several tracks. Veasley's spry six-string bass is heard best on "Fly Spy" (with Washington), though the most enjoyable cut on the record is the '70s funk throwback "Sweet Mary."

The first five chronologically sequenced tracks of this compilation mirror the rise of the smooth-jazz radio phenomenon. "So Amazing," "Bermuda Nights," "In the Mood," "My, My, My," and "Anniversary" are all still staples of the format. Released between 1987 and 1990, all (except the second one) are covers of popular R&B tunes, and they still sound fresh. These songs alone make this an excellent collection for smooth-jazz fans. Starting with his fifth album, Live at Birdland West, the exciting tenor saxophonist became a little more adventurous, often completely crossing that broad line that separates smooth jazz from contemporary electric jazz. Two duets–one with Lee Ritenour, "G & Lee," and "Boss of Nova," with Joe Sample–are two examples of his playing that sets Albright apart from most saxophonists who are tagged with the smooth-jazz label. Serious Albright fans may not appreciate the absence of his popular duets with his frequent partner, vocalist Will Downing, but that aside, this is a worthy summation of Albright's successful tenure at Atlantic Records.