1. Dreamsville 2. Ojos de Rojo 3. Always and Forever 4. Love Walked In 5. Fall 6. Soul Eyes 7. Hebgan Happy Hour
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Joe Cartwright
piano
Bob Bowman
bass
Todd Strait
drums

Joe Cartwright has soul eyes. Ever since Bill Evans in 1959 established the acoustic piano trio as the format from which to seek freedom in the groove, all comers have laid their swords at the feet of such earlier gods who dwell at the jazz pantheon. With this recording, Cartwright now opens the soul eyes of those earlier gods, demonstrating a mastery of the firm yet subtle balance that exists in the delicate “marriage” of three musicians – himself, Todd Strait, and Bob Bowman.

From the very first track, “Dreamsville,” the trio takes the road less traveled. Strait resists the all-too-common urge to double-time, and Bowman in kind negates the obvious invitation to walk. Taking Cartwright’s telepathic lead, they collectively choose to just dig deeper and swing harder. This, in essence, is the modus operandi of the trio.

Throughout the album, the listener is offered a whiff of aromas that surface from the caldron where servings of unbridled enthusiasm are being shared among three masters of the craft.

Todd Strait’s lithe drumming is like a flittering butterfly. His hands, simply put, are always around, lurking, almost stalking from behind; the chattery left hand is dazzling, while his floor work anchors the pace. Meanwhile, Cartwright’s melodic virtuosity is deftly fused with his propulsive, percussive attack, as if taking cues from Strait. And perched precariously in between is Bowman, whose triplet-laden, multi-layered bass lines come bursting forth, simultaneously blending the harmonic advances from Cartwright and rhythmic complexity of Strait and leaving no uncertainty regarding his ability to meet the unrelenting demands of both gentle giants.

The sonic landscape is almost too visual; the music seems to be slowly surging toward your ears. Engineered to near perfection, this disc should be used as a litmus test for breaking in new headphones.

Cartwright’s sensibility of swing lies within his deep overarching inflection of and affection for the blues, aged and earthy, with a Horatian propensity for gospel-tinged soul music. Indeed both Silver and Connick would blush upon hearing the whimsical qualities he endlessly exudes, the earmark that identifies him always as the catalyst for that eternal joie de vivre that permeates the trio and ultimately the music itself.

The musical camaraderie is self-evident. They play like they’ve grown up together. The laughter at the end of “Love Walked In” tells you all you need to know. These guys really enjoy each other’s company, and every gig is boy’s night out. As for Cartwright, I leave you with my personal paean: Joe’s left hand is as serious as your life, and his right will give you good religion.

Dr. Wayne Goins
Director of Jazz,
Kansas State University,
Manhattan, Kansas

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Purchase “Soul Eyes” Now!
($17.00 each includes s/h within U.S.
Orders from outside U.S. email for shipping cost)

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	1. Saudade 2. Manteca 3. Jacob’s Ladder 4. Samba Feliz 5. La Luna Negra 6. Peruchin 7. Cold Duck Time 8. On Fire
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Joe Cartwright
piano
Doug Auwarter
drums, percussion
Steve Rigazzi
bass
Gary Helm
percussion

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Several years ago I became inspired by the music of Brazil and Cuba. I set about to assemble a group of musicians and a repertoire that would reflect the profound influence this music has had on me. With the help and guidance of my friends Doug Auwarter and Gary Helm, two wonderful Latin percussionists, I immersed myself in the music. In Steve Rigazzi I found a bassist who was a kindred spirit and provided the foundation that allowed the music to soar. I have been blessed in my life to have met and worked with great jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Eddie Harris, Walter Booker, and Mike Melvoin. It is an honor to share their compositions with you. The music of Michel Camilo, Cedar Walton, Bill Cunliffe, and Charlie Otwell, four of my favorite pianists, has been a great inspiration to me. I am pleased to be able to include their compositons on this recording. La Luna Negra represents the fruit of my passion for Latin jazz. It is my sincere hope that the joy I experience when performing this music can be transmuted to you, the listener.

—Joe Cartwright

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Purchase “La Luna Negra” Now!
($17.00 each includes s/h within U.S.
Orders from outside U.S. email for shipping cost)

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Contact Info:
Joe Cartwright is available for Concerts, Club Dates, Clinics, Workshops, and Private Lessons
Email: joepiano@kc.rr.com
Phone & Fax: 816.468.4462
Address: 8250 North Forest Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64118, USA

Website and all contents ©2002 Joe Cartwright.

"One can tell that these three musicians love what they are doing, and I think you will love hearing what they have to say" — Dave Brubeck	1. Blues in the Closet 2. In Your Own Sweet Way 3. My Romance 4. Bro Samba 5. Unit VI 6. Refuge 7. Dat Dere 8. You And The Night And the Music 9. I've Never Been in Love Before
(Click on titles for mp3 clips)
Purchase “That Trio Thing” Now! ($17.00 each includes s/h within U.S. Orders from outside U.S. email for shipping cost) discography click on link to get purchase info Richard Ross Trio, Richard Ross Trio, Lafayette Music, 1985 Queen Bey, Coming Thru, Beystring Records, 1987 Big City, Bright Lights, City Light Jazz Ensemble, Accent Music, 1988 Triplicity, Joe Cartwright Trio, Lafayette Music, 1990 I Didn't Know About You, Karrin Allyson, Concord Records, 1993 Come Fly With Me, Angela Hagenbach, Amazon Records, 1994 Musa Nova, Musa Nova, Amazon Records, 1995 'S Wonderful: Concord Jazz Salutes Ira Gershwin, Various Artists, Concord Jazz, 1995 Feel the Magic, Angela Hagenbach, Amazon Records, 1996 Kansas City Live, City Light Orchestra, City Light Entertainment, 1996 Jam Session, Lisa Henry, LRH Productions, Inc., 1996 Thunderhorn, The Music of Kim Park, Thunderhorn Productions, 1998 La Luna Negra, Joe Cartwright Quartet, Lafayette Music, 1999 World Tour 2000, Angela Hagenbach Trio, Amazon Records, 1999 Flying High, Vaughan Nark, Summit Records, 1999 Weaver of Dreams, Angela Hagenbach, Amazon Records, 2000 Another Place in Time, Donnie May , 2001 Viva Bilardo, Vince Bilardo, Latin Jazz and Big Band Swing, Viva Records, 2001 Reflections, Charles Gatschet, Barnstorm Productions, 2002 Gently, Kim Park, Thunderhorn Productions, 2002 A Time For Love, Gary Dammer, Gary Dammer Productions, 2002 That Trio Thing, Joe Carwright Trio, MJA Records, 2003 JazzTrek, SoundTrek Presents A Special Collection of KC's Finest Contemporary Jazz, 2003 KC Potpourri, Mike Metheny, 3 Valve Music, 2003 Soul Eyes, Joe Cartwright Trio, Lafayette Music, 2004 Joe Cartwright Presents The Best Of Kansas City Jazz Volume 1, Lafayette Music, 2005 Smokin' at the Oak Bar, Wayne Goins w the Joe Cartwright Trio, Little Apple Records, 2005 Joe Cartwright Presents THe Best of Kansas City Jazz, Volume 2, Lafayette Music, 2007