JAZZ

Friday, October 7, 2011 6:30PM

Friday, October 7, 2011 9:30PM

Join us Friday, October 7th to catch the Smooth Cruise Encore… an amazing evening featuring Phil Perry and Alex Bugnon.

It wouldn’t be the end of another amazing Smooth Cruise season without one last beautiful evening on the Hudson (’til next year) and a smooth jazz show to remember!

PHIL PERRY

Born and raised in East St. Louis, Phil Perry spent a large part of his career as one of the most sought-after backing vocalists in the music business. His bright, multi-octave range has played a supporting role on dozens of albums by such acts as Anita Baker, Boz Scaggs, Rod Stewart, Peabo Bryson and George Duke. However, he has shined in the spotlight distinguishing himself through 5 strong solo albums that have highlighted both his ability to interpret classic soul songs as well as his own songwriting skills.

Phil first came to the attention of Soul Music fans as lead singer of the Montclairs, who’s “Begging’s Hard to Do” was a moderate hit in 1972. After a brief stint as part of the singing duo Perry and Sanlin, he went solo in 1991 with The Heart of a Man, an album, most notable for Perry’s remake of Aretha Franklin’s “Call Me.” His follow-up album, 1994’s Pure Pleasure, is among his best, and included fantastic remakes of “After the Love is Gone” and “If Only You Knew” and a seven minute cover of the Spinners’ “Love Don’t Love Nobody” that was sheer magic.

During the ‘90s, Phil also received increased coverage on Smooth Jazz radio through his guest work on albums by Lee Ritenour, the Rippingtons, and others, which inspired Windham Hill subsidiary Private Music to sign him. His Private Music debut, One Heart One Love, hit the top five. On his follow-up album, My Book of Love, Phil began to take a more active role in songwriting and production, putting his personal imprint beyond the vocal performance. This led to his lead songwriting role on 2001’s Magic, a stellar album on Peak Records that showed Phil Perry in complete control over his music.

His most recent release Ready For Love (August 2008) entered the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart at #4. Produced by the master of the Urban ballad, Chris ‘Big Boy’ Davis (Will Downing, Maysa, Najee) and joined by special guest, smooth jazz superstar Kim Waters, Ready For Love is drenched in sensuous grooves and passionate melodies.

ALEX BUGNON

Alex Bugnon has crafted one of the most recognized styles in today’s contemporary jazz piano: a sultry blend of contemporary jazz, funk, and R&B with hints of gospel, for good measure. The nephew of trumpeter Donald Byrd, Alex grew up going to the Montreux Jazz Festival in his hometown in Switzerland. At age 6, he started playing classical piano and as a young musician attended the Paris Conservatory of Music for two years, before moving to the US to attend the Berklee School of Music.

Alex spent four years working as a session musician in New York, backing urban and jazz performers such as Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, James Ingram, and Keith Sweat. Signed to Orpheus Records, he released his 1989 debut album, Love Season. It reached the pop charts and the Top 40 of the R&B charts, as did his follow-up, 1990’s Head Over Heels. The subsequent three album releases all placed in the R&B charts and after five years away from recording under his own name, he signed to the jazz division of Narada Records, and his sixth album, Alex Bugnon… As Promised, reached the contemporary jazz charts. He followed in 2001 with Soul Purpose.

In 2005 his album, FREE, reunited him with Atlanta based keyboardist and producer Phil Davis and proved a refreshing blend of exotic rhythms with haunting, soulful melodies… and the signature Alex Bugnon piano sound. His latest release, 2009’s Going Home explores the music he grew up on (his first love) more deeply than ever before. From songs inspired by Horace Silver and Ahmad Jamal to covers of old favorites from WAR’s “The World is a Ghetto” to Herbie Hancock’s “Oliloqui Valley,” to an adaptation of “Nothra Dona di Maortse” (a song he discovered at his father’s funeral), the 8-song project taps deep roots from multiple plains.