Trombonist Clifton Anderson Releases 3rd CD, “and so we carry on” on Sept. 25th, 2012

What happens when you get a bunch of friends together? Trombonist, composer and producer Clifton Anderson went into the studio in September 2011 to record and produce his third release as a leader, and so we carry on, with a stellar lineup of guest artists who also happen to be his friends. The featured friends — pianist Monty Alexander, soprano saxophonist Kenny Garrett, bassist Bob Cranshaw, trumpeter Wallace Roney, percussionists Kimati Dinizulu and Victor See Yuen, and drummers Steve Jordan and Jeff “Tain” Watts — blended seamlessly with Clifton’s working band, pianist Donald Vega, tenor saxophonist Eric Wyatt, bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Steve Williams, to create a musical blueprint for hope, renewal and carrying on.  

and so we carry on opens with its title track, an original composition full of intense tones and powerful energy, letting listeners know that this is stress-relieving, feel good music. In total, there are six new original compositions, each brilliantly crafted to take the listener on an emotional journey to provide musical relief for motivation to navigate through hard and confusing times. There are also three uniquely arranged standards; the Rogers & Hart ballads “Where or When” and “Falling in Love with Love,” both given fast-paced treatments, and a bright, sunshiny take on the eternally optimistic “Tomorrow,” from the musical Annie.

The provocative CD cover image by artist Rudy Gutierrez is a disturbing mixture of chaos, turmoil, and just plain old scary stuff. Clifton Anderson hopes that the musical journey on and so we carry on will be the right antidote to enable people to feel better after listening.

Clifton Anderson was born on October 5, 1957 in Harlem, New York City. He grew up surrounded by music. His father was a church organist/choir director, and his mother a singer and pianist. It was no surprise that Clifton exhibited an affinity for music at an early age. When he was seven years old, he got his very first trombone, a gift from his uncle, legendary tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

Clifton attended the prestigious Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art in New York City and is a graduate of The Manhattan School Of Music. In 1983, Clifton got the call to join his uncle Sonny on the road. For over three decades, he performed as a member of Sonny’s group and toured extensively with him around the world. Clifton has also appeared on ten of his recordings and has produced four releases for Sonny’s label, Doxy Records.

In 1997, Clifton released his first recording as a leader/producer on the Milestone label entitled Landmarks. Landmarks received critical acclaim internationally and made the top ten playlists on US Jazz radio coast to coast. At the end of 2007, Clifton went back into the studio as a leader to produce the highly anticipated, critically-acclaimed Decade (2009).
 
Clifton has worked and performed with a “who’s who” of diverse musical legends, such as Stevie Wonder, McCoy Tyner, Frank Foster, Slide Hampton’s World Of Trombones, Dizzy Gillespie, The Mighty Sparrow, Lester Bowie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paul Simon, Carlos Garnett, Terumasa Hino, Keith Richards, Muhal Richard Abrams, WyClef Jean, Geri Allen, T.S. Monk, and Charlie Haden, among others.
 
*Click on the title below to view the full EPK*

and so we carry on
Clifton Anderson
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Label: Daywood Drive Records
Distributed by BFM Digital