New York, NY (Top40 Charts / Company) Guitarist
Blake Aaron was locked and loaded to release a new single on July 30 when fate intervened. Earlier this month, he received a track from chart-topping saxophonist Darren Rahn, which inspired
Blake to write an entirely new melody. The guitar man's record company, Innervision Records, and radio promoter flipped when they heard the demo, instantly recognizing the hit potential for "Groovers and Shakers." The hustle was on and within ten days, the new track was produced and recorded by
Aaron and Rahn, replacing the single
Aaron had intended to drop on the same date. Several radio programmers who have already heard it are eager to add it into rotation on Monday.
"Groovers and Shakers" balances retro R&B dancefloor funk and urbane hipster cool jazz with panache. Aaron's crisp electric jazz guitar licks pair divinely with Rahn's vivacious tenor sax blasts throughout the sizzling summer single. The complementary tandem had wanted to collaborate dating back to an interview Rahn did a few years ago when
Aaron hosted a nationally-syndicated radio show. The cut they crafted together recognizes the people behind the music, the fans, the radio programmers and the concert promoters who are keeping jazz vibrant and flourishing.
"In every aspect of our lives, there are 'Groovers and Shakers' who make everything happen and our smooth/contemporary jazz community is no different. From the dedicated fans who follow the music online, on the radio and who come out to the concerts with smiles on their faces while dancing on their chairs to the people who tirelessly work at the radio stations to bring new music to the listeners; to the club, festival and event promoters; and to radio, print and online jazz media. Every one of them could have used their talents in any number of areas, but their passion for this music has inspired them to work - some even just as volunteers - to keep smooth/contemporary jazz thriving. It is these 'Groovers and Shakers' to whom this song is dedicated for without you, there is no jazz," said Aaron, who for decades has been a fixture on the Billboard Top 10 singles chart.
Slated to appear on Aaron's forthcoming "Color and Passion" album, "Groovers and Shakers" is the fifth single from the project tentatively slated to drop this fall, following "Riviera Nights," "VIVID," "Godfather Brown" and "Summer Ride." The unconventional approach to recording an album over a period of years mirrors the successful path he followed for 2015's "Soul Stories," Aaron's fifth album that was assembled and released as collection of diverse yet engrossing musical chapters only after three singles reached the Billboard Top 10.
Aaron performs frequently with his own band at venues across the nation along with being a busy first-call session player and producer. He'll play the Derby City Jazz Festival at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY on August 10, The King Center in Melbourne, FL on
September 22 where he will share the marquee with
Paul Taylor and Brian Simpson, and back home at SoCal's jazz hot spot, Spaghettini, in Seal Beach on
September 29.
For more information, please visit www.BlakeAaron.com.
