Talented Musicians, Swingin’ Music & a Worthy Cause | September CD of the Month

There is much to admire about a group of musicians coming together to record a swingin’ session for a worthy cause, moreover,  what’s more impressive is that all the musicians involved donated their artistry. Keyboardist and pianist Jeff Lorber and guitarist Chuck Loeb lead an all-star ensemble for the CD titled “Bop” on the Artist Share label.

The veteran musician Jeff Lorber decided to raise funds for polycystic kidney disease better known as PKD, a potentially life-threatening genetic condition that has affected Lorber and members of his family. As important as the reason to record “Bop” is, the bottom line is the music is the primary reason one would listen to or purchase a CD and this recording has 12 great grooves guaranteed to please even the most discerning ears.

Lorber and Loeb are accompanied by some of jazz’s best names, Randy Brecker, John Patitucci, Brian Bromberg, Harvey Mason, Eric Marienthal and others who lend their well-honed craft to this project that will donate all of its sales proceeds to research the cure for PDK.

The music line up includes 3 tunes written by Charlie Parker and some other classics from the bop cannon by Monk, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy and Trane. Because all of the musicians involved have busy schedules recording, leading their own bands and playing as sidemen it took 6 years for all of them to be able to enter a studio in order to have this ambitious project some to fruition.

It is an extremely feel good experience to listen to this very enjoyable CD and know that it is helping to find a cure for PKD, it just doesn’t get any better.