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Reviews of Gabriel Mark Hasselbach's work
REVIEWED
+ RECOMMENDED ON SMOOTHJAZZ.COM
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GABRIEL
MARK HASSELBACH |
First Name Basis |
Wind
Tunnel Media
Isn't
it time that we get to know this compelling musician on a first
name basis? His work is on the same par as other trumpeters
you’ve come to love in the Smooth Jazz genre... Chris
Botti, Rick Braun, Greg Adams. Gabriel, as we’ve been
asked to call him, is a world-class multi-instrumentalist specializing
in trumpet, flute, flugelhorn and EWI (electronic wind instrument).
For years, he’s been one of Canada’s premier
jazz musicians and over the past year or so we’ve come
to know Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, his music as become the #1
downloaded artist on Smoothjazz.com appealing to our listeners
all over the globe. It is our hope that the new CD, GABRIEL...
FIRST NAME BASIS finds a home at Smooth Jazz radio as it’s
more than qualified with songs that offer fun and interesting
hooks, solid craftsmanship and articulate performances. The
first single, the upbeat, “Take That!” is a favorite
and sets the tone for this smooth and layered project. I think
you’ll love the cool cover of “Been Around The World,”
with vocals handled by Dee Daniels. Other songs that stand out
to us are the sparkling, “TheLook In Your Eyes,”
the sweet and sultry, “Comfort Zone,” and the world-influenced,
“Tempting Fate.” Get to know Gabriel Mark Hasselbach
on a first name basis with this cool new project – It’s
a totally in the pocket, Smooth Jazz slam-dunk!
~Sandy
Shore |
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GABRIEL
MARK HASSELBACH |
Swingin'
Affair
| Wind
Tunnel Media
Canadian
jazz aficionado and top brass instrumentalist Gabriel Mark Hasselbach
loves to come out swinging with two releases at once; Smooth
Jazz in one hand and mainstream jazz in the other. His latest
jazz foray is SWINGIN’ AFFAIR featuring the Jazz Perpetrators
with guests, internationally known vocalists Dee Daniels and
Nancy Ruth. Like an athlete adept at both football and baseball,
GMH is on his game with SWINGIN’ AFFAIR. A tasty trip
to tradition with songs that will melt the winter snow with
stylish standards like Horace Silver ’ “Senor Blues,”
Paul Desmond’s “Easy Living” and the perennial
classic, “Moonlight In Vermont.” The song selection,
according to Hasselbach, is “a collection of classic but
underexposed mainstream gems.” The multi-talented musician
is featured on trumpet, flute, flugelhorn, alto flute, valve
bone, ewi and vocals on this SWINGIN’ AFFAIR. Backing
him up are the Jazz Perpetrators. The ever popular Hasselbach
is currently one of the most downloaded recordings artists on
Smoothjazz.com, is a 2005 Smoothjazz.com Smoothie Award recipient
for top CD sales during 2004 and he’s up for a Canadian
Smooth Jazz Award, nominated for Wind Instrumentalist of the
year. Blow, Gabriel, blow! ~Sandy
Shore |
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GABRIEL
MARK HASSELBACH |
Gabriel's Horns |
Wind
Tunnel Multimedia
Smooth...
Sweet... Sultry... That's the way Gabriel's horns sound. Critics
are calling Gabriel Mark Hasselbach Canada's best kept secret
in music. Others are claiming that his talents deserve much broader
recognition. We agree! And that's why we're so happy to be introducing
Smoothjazz.com's global audience to this impeccable and versatile
recording artist. In an unprecedented move, the ambitious Hasselbach
has released two CDs at once (see following review for COME OUT
SWINGIN'). GABRIEL'S HORNS showcase his smooth jazz prowess and
is loaded with material that is sure-fire format hits including
the title track, "Gabriel's Horns", the moody, "Maui Rain", and
the beautiful "Uber Smooth" with it's soulful, relaxed 1970's
vibe. Other favorites include the cinematic "View From The Shore",
the sunny "Turn On To Summer" (the album even features an instrumental
and a vocal version of this tune featuring Christine Duncan) and
a slick, sassy cover of "Chain of Fools". GMH chooses his tools
wisely... He plays trumpet and flugelhorn, plus trombone and flute.
His artful arsenal has me floating back to "the day", when Tim
Weisberg was a twin son, and when Strawberry Letter 23 was open
for all to read. GABRIEL'S HORNS has a long shelf life, you will
not be taking this one out of the CD player anytime soon. ~Sandy
Shore
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GABRIEL
MARK HASSELBACH |
Come Out Swingin' |
Wind
Tunnel Multimedia
This
is a rich, fantastic jazz album featuring the seductive horns
of Gabriel Mark Hasselbach. The setting: Acoustic jazz piano (Miles
Black), jazz bass (Miles Foxx Hill), jazz drums (Craig Scott)
and guest vocalist Michael Buble who is featured nicely on the
Cole Porter penned, "I've Got You Under My Skin". The 'Wow Factor'
is pretty high on this CD. We're blown away by the GMH's originals,
including the west coast jazz & bop of "Blue Miles" and the
lush and sophisticated "Underground Vibe". The artist's choice
of covers is truly inspired. Several Cole Porter compositions
are featured on COME OUT SWINGIN' including the above mentioned,
but also, "I Love Paris" and "I Love You". Both of these are a
solid tribute to the late composer. Also covered on this stellar
recording, "Lullaby of Birdland", "Round Midnight", and Jon Hendricks
and Harry Edison's "Centerpiece". While the project is indeed
sophisticated and perhaps meatier than GABRIEL'S HORNS, smooth
jazz fans should not be afraid to add this wonderfully crafted
album to their collection. Gone are the days when smooth jazz
and "jazz" fans sit in separate rooms. Perfect for a Sunday morning
or a broody winter's night. ~Sandy
Shore
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INTERNATIONAL
A & R
"Look
out Rick Braun. Move over
Chris Botti.
Gabriel Mark
Hasselbach is a talent to
be reckoned with."
Joseph
Bertie The
Warner Music Group
SWINGIN'
AFFAIR
Love
the CD Swingin' Affair!
Very
excited to play it for our
listeners. What
a service
to bring this level
of jazz to a large geographic
area in the middle of the
USA!
Mary
Palmer Music
Director High Plains Public
Radio/KANZ
FIRST
NAME BASIS
The
latest "First
Name Basis" will
find a home along side the
others. Solid playing, steady
grooves and masterful writing.
The title track says it all...."Take
That"....I
will and lots more. Keep it
smooth."
Bob
Farrow, Morning Host-Assistant
Music Director, CIWV-Wave
94.7fm.
" Gabriel
chooses his musical weapons
wisely.... Versatile & well-versed,
Hasselbach has forged a career
as a pioneer and innovator
on the Canadian contemporary
scene & with
each successive project he
continues to raise the bar!!
Gabriel
... First Name Basis
is
another excellent effort & one
on which Hasselbach continues
to provide ample proof that
he belongs among the elite
of Smooth Jazz artists. Several
selections rank among the
finest that he's ever recorded
and undoubtedly Gabriel will
win over a new legion of fans
with this release!!"
Ted
Hasiuk - Jazz Lynx Cafe Jazz
Radio
GABRIEL'S
HORNS
"Highly
competent horn playing....
a potpourri of winded aural
environments..... unabashedly
excels in the music's mainstream"
Gregory
J. Robb AllAboutJazz.com
"GABRIEL'S
HORNS has a long shelf life,
you will not be taking this
one out of the CD player anytime
soon."
Sandy
Shore/ SmoothJazz.com
"Gabriel
Mark Hasselbach is a talented
multi-instrumentalist whose
music receives prominent airplay
on the Jazz Cafe channel here
at Max Trax. Maui Rain has
a smooth groove that fits
in perfectly with our sound.
This bright, sunny song is
only the first of what I hope
to be several single releases
from "Gabriel's
Horns" --
we want more!"
Carol
Ann Murray, MaxTrax
LIVE
ON MAUI
“…… a
recording that should be in
every music library in the
country….
an excellent recording which
should propel Hasselbach to
a prominent position
in Canadian music and beyond. Gabriel
Mark Hasselbach is easily
Canada's best kept secret
in music, a talent deserving
of much broader recognition.”
Ray
Alexander [Host/Producer
of ‘Fascinatin'
Rhythm ‘ CKUW
Radio', Founder of Jazz Winnipeg
Festival & Former
contributor to The Jazz Report
Magazine]
"Hasselbach's
music is a fresh new sound
in the world of Smooth Jazz
and I am pleased to inform
you that we have added three
tracks from his latest works
to our main rotate on the
Australian Smooth Jazz Radio
Network.
-Terence
Gaynon, Program Director,
Australian Smooth Jazz Radio
Network
"A
welcome import on the Maui
and Hawaiian jazz scene! Great
production, terrific tunes,
and it sounds hot on my jazz
show!"
Jack
Gist, Jack's Jazz, KAOI Wailuku
“This
multi-talented musician tackles
brass duties with taste; he
moves smoothly through flugelhorn,
flute, trumpet, and alto flute
instrumentation. His grasp
of electronic wind instruments
is also noteworthy…”
Mark
D’Antonio,
Maui Time Review
“… jazz
works best when an artist
combines different elements
of the jazz umbrella and Hasselbach
does this on ‘Live
On Maui’. Hasselbach’s
own Salsa Picosa sounds like
a smooth jazz hit single if
there ever was one. ‘Live
On Maui’ is
an inventive, sophisticated
live album that’s
bound to please anyone remotely
interested in any genre of
Jazz.”
John
Beaudin QMFM Radio
“Did
Gabriel Mark Hasselbach's
parents have a premonition
by naming him Gabriel ? We
earthlings have been so blessed
with the
versatile, cool, funky and
even celestial sounds produced
by this US born, Vancouver
artist that it makes me wonder
if the arch angel himself
has personally sprinkled Hasselbach
with a little extra talent
and ability.” Darryl
Klause - host - City Jazz
-My City Radio
"I
have added the Hasselbach
disc to our rotation.
I like "Moanin'" that's
a good
one!
Mike
Jacobs , KIOS Omaha
“We're
really enjoying the new Live
on Maui CD! It's been in a
heavy rotation for a few weeks
now, and we're reporting our
spins to Gavin's Jazz chart”
Bob
Stewart, KCCK Cedar Rapids
"Live
On Maui is getting tons of
calls and air play on our
Quiet Storm show. It is going
to heavy rotation, and we
will report to Gavin."
Robert
Griffin, KABF Little Rock
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