DIGITAL MUSIC MARKETING

The title of The Allen Carman Project’s popular 2019 debut album Carmanology was more than just a clever twist on the bassist’s surname. It defined a fresh collaborative aesthetic and the mission of his ensemble of musical veterans to create hip and exhilarating, top-flight, melodically and rhythmically engaging smooth jazz whose sonically innovative,

Steps Ahead-like creativity transcends the four-bar beat with a sax solo vibe that genre fans are used to hearing. The core group traces its roots back to the mid-80s when Carman was playing in a contemporary jazz band at Brothers in Tampa and percussion virtuoso Gumbi Ortiz, now famed for his decades of touring with Al Di Meola, sat in and blew his mind – leading to a lifelong friendship and future collaborations.

A year after dropping their cleverly named follow-up collection I’ve Arrived, The Allen Carman Project’s latest single “Joy Jam” is a soulful and infectious burst of elegant, keyboard and sax driven funk whose spirited title and dual feeling of comfort and high-spirited energy cheerfully defies these challenging, sometimes dispiriting times. The tune exuberantly reminds us that life, and brilliantly played contemporary jazz, can still be a joyful and exciting experience.

Written and orchestrated by Grammy nominated keyboard virtuoso Philippe Saisse and coproduced by Saisse and percussion virtuoso Gumbi Ortiz, “Joy Jam” also celebrates the enduring Tampa, FL roots of The Allen Carman Project, with all the participating musicians being longtime residents of Florida. In addition to Carman and Ortiz, the ensemble includes longtime members, drummer Luis Alicea and saxophonist Kenny Anderson, and the sizzling horn section of Scott Myers (trombone), Terry Clark (trumpet) and Mike MacArthur (sax). To complete the full-on Florida based jam, rather than have the L.A. based Saisse complete the work via digital file transfer, the ensemble brought him to Clearwater, where he joined the others and led the sessions from the Yamaha grand piano at Clear Track Recording Studios.

True to its name, “Joy Jam” is highlighted by Saisse’s compelling melody, his dual magic with Carman’s hoppin’ bass and Anderson’s lead sax, a cool caressing synth atmosphere, later fiery solos by Anderson and Carman and simmering, then punchy horns which get into a whimsical call and response pattern with the sax and keys. Don’t let the world or the passing of summer get you down – it’s time for a Tampa based “Joy Jam”!