Getting to the Root of People, Places and Things Musical

Root Tones: Getting to the Root of People, Places and Things Musical

Jazz fans all over the country and around the world are anxiously anticipating the imminent return of Robert Lee Irving Ill as a solo artist with the arrival of his groundbreaking new trio CD entitled, "New Momentum".

This latest project features Robert Irving (he prefers to be called Baabe; pronounced with 'Bobby') on piano bassist, Buster Williams, and drummer, 'Yussef' Ernie Adams. Buster Williams and Irving both played and recorded with Miles Davis and they have also played together with the Wallace Roney Quintet and other ensembles led by Irving. Adams has played with such giants as Stanley Turrentine, Ramsey Lewis, and Al Demiola. This is Baabe Irving's first time as leader of a recording session in which all acoustic instruments are used. "New Momentum" is the opening track on this CD that includes nine songs of breathtaking quality, vibrancy, and feeling. Among the melodies are Irving's unique arrangements of three Miles Davis standards, "Nefertiti", "Seven Steps to Heaven" and "Stella By Starlight" along with his own stunning compositions, "Earth Energy" and "Primordial Waters" among others.

After a quarter century of being primarily a producer and arranger, Baabe now reemerges as a solo artist and leader in his own right. "After working behind the scenes for many years. I became too busy to even think about a solo career as a recording artist," says Irving. "I was content to work primarily as an arranger, producer, and occasionally as a sideman.

Nevertheless, I love to play piano, so I accepted all acoustic gigs offered to me. Many of these performances placed me in a trio setting, inspiring me to begin the development of arrangements and compositions that evolved into the New Momentum project."

Of his fellow trio members for this project Irving says, "I've always enjoyed working with Buster Williams, who brings a lot of color and magical moments to this project. Ernie Adams is amazing in every group setting in which I've worked with him and, just as I had imagined, the synergy between Buster and Ernie is tremendous."

Irving is well known in Chicago and among his peers internationally as an innovator in the ever-changing world of jazz, fusion, and popular music. "New Momentum" showcases Baabe Irving's piano prowess, unmatched improvisational skills, and his unique compositional approach. Irving explains, "I endeavored to advance the traditional trio sound by infusing the music with the adventurism and edge of avant-garde juxtaposed with melodic elements and various nuances more common to classical music." Kahil El Zabar says in the liner notes for the CD, "This trio project is a wonder-filled adventure, full of surprising gems that glow with emotion and thought-provoking departures."

"New Momentum" also highlights the 25th year of Irving's music career which officially began in 1981 with the Miles Davis comeback release, "The Man with the Horn" of which Irving was keyboardist and co-writer of both the title track and the composition "Shout" (the title song of which is slated for re-release by Carlos Santana. In 1983 Miles Davis named Baabe Irving as Music Director and principal keyboardist of the Davis band. Irving became co-producer on the pivotal Miles Davis album, "Decoy", which won the Downbeat Album of the Year award in 1984. In 1986 Irving was the producer of Miles Davis', "You're Under Arrest" project from which the track, "Human Nature" received a Grammy Award nomination. This track still enjoys regular airplay. In 1987, Irving scored music for the film "Street Smart" (the first motion picture for Morgan Freeman and the last one for Christopher Reeves) on which Miles played trumpet. Shortly after leaving the Miles Davis band in 1988, Robert Irving III released his only other project as a leader, his jazz/fusion debut, "Midnight Dream" as the first American artist on the Verve Forecast label (selling 30,000 units pre-Sound Scan). Irving's production of Terri Lynn Carrington's 1990 debut for Verve Forecast, entitled, "Real Life Story", also received a Grammy Award nomination. This project included sessions with Wayne Shorter, Grover Washington, Jr., Diane Reeves, Patrice Rushen, and Carlos Santana.

In 1992 Irving co-founded the Miles Davis alumni band, ESP (with now Rolling Stones' bassist, Darryl Jones). This group recorded for Pioneer Records in Japan and toured Europe extensively. Irving's 1993 production of Susan Osbourne's "Wabi" won the prestigious Nippon Music Award in Japan for "Best Creative Concept". Throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium, Baabe Irving produced a myriad of projects of diverse genres while recording and performing with such artists as David Murray, Gary Bartz, Buster Williams, Regina Carter, and Wallace Roney.

Baabe Irving, who refers to himself as an 'interdisciplinary arts entrepreneur', is also an accomplished visual artist whose paintings have been exhibited around the world. He has created the cover artwork for "New Momentum". Several of his paintings appear inside the CD booklet including his portrait of Miles Davis entitled, "Seven Steps to Heaven". Irving and his trio plan to tour this fall to promote the CD. Several performances will coincide with exhibitions of his art.

The official release date of "New Momentum" is August 23, 2006. The CD will be available in record stores and other retail outlets thereafter in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe as the first joint release by Sonic Portraits Entertainment and BlueHorn Entertainment.