DANGEROUS CURVES

In its review of Jeff Golub's 1999 release Out of the Blue (Mesa/Bluemoon), JazzTimes Magazine asserted that the guitarist's innovative style transcends typical contemporary jazz boundaries, enthusiastically calling it "one of the most crackling, inventive takes on the blues to come along in some time." But there's more to Golub than just blues. By taking in the influences of Wes Montgomery, Les McCann, and Cannonball Adderly, and then adding magical pop melodies and improvisations, it's clear why Golub's been one of the genre's most popular performers since the mid-'90s. Playfully keeping what he calls a "beatnik funk vibe" throughout, Golub's GRP debut, Dangerous Curves, perfectly captures this multitude of influences along with the energy and spontaneity of his unforgettable live performances.

Golub produced the album with veteran drummer and GRP Vice President of A&R Bud Harner. Harner came up with the idea of creating a live club/party atmosphere, keeping the overall vibe of the recording loose and casual. The band consisted of Golub's good friends Mitch Forman (keyboards), Lincoln Goines (bass), Steve Ferrone (drums), Dave Woodford (sax, flutes), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone), Kevin Savigar (Hammond B-3), Luis Conte (percussion), and a guest appearance on one track ("No Two Ways About It") by acoustic guitarist Peter White.

"The idea all along was to make this a fun record. Fun to record and to listen to," says Golub. "The direction we chose throughout was a kind of '60's minimalist, soul-jazz approach featuring acoustic bass, vintage keyboards, and me playing mostly a hollow-body jazz guitar. We cut all the tracks in eight consecutive days in order to keep the momentum going, tracking most of it live and mixing almost immediately following the sessions." He continues, "we just went with our first thoughts and ran with them, letting the final result have a raw, honest quality." The Dangerous Curves session proved to be a great learning experience: "It's a little scarier just to go with your first gut instinct, but the rewards are definitely there."

Golub's instincts generally don't stray too far from his trademark jazz/blues base, from the brass-infused, bebop-influenced blues of the title track to the restless and blistering funk bounce of "Another Friday Night." His dynamic moodswings cover a lot of intriguing territory, going wildly Latin on "Step Aside" and retro-soul for "Droptop." On the seductive "No Two Ways About It," Peter White's unmistakeable, high toned acoustic breezes dance jubilantly in and around Golub's tougher edges; the contrast brilliantly showcases the many faces of contemporary jazz.

Golub wrote or co-wrote most of the material on Dangerous Curves, while carefully choosing a handful of unique covers-"Mr. Magic," a soulful tribute to the late Grover Washington, Jr.; "Soul Serenade," a melancholy take on King Curtis' '60's blues hit (recorded here by Golub and company at 2 a.m. one morning); and Smash Mouth's hit "Walking on the Sun," which Golub approaches from a moody, atmospheric angle.

Coming of age on the guitar in the '60s and early '70s in Akron, Ohio, Golub's original goal was to become a bluegrass player. The British Invasion and exposure to many of the Chicago blues greats of the era led him to explore blues and pop, while attending the Berklee School of Music added a jazz sensibility to his list of influences. "Years later, when I became a solo artist, I found that I gave all of my influences equal attention," he says. "For me, listening to anything and everything helped me discover a voice of my own. Had I limited myself to just one style, my influences would probably be more obvious and less of a melting pot."

Diversity has defined Golub's lengthy career as one of New York's most called upon session players and sidemen. After a handful of years in the '80s playing with Billy Squier, Golub performed as Rod Stewart's lead guitarist from 1988 to 1995, including three world tours and four studio albums that featured several Golub/Stewart compositions. Golub has also worked with Peter Wolf, John Waite, Vanessa Williams, and Ashford & Simpson, among others. In addition to his session work, Golub released his first solo record in 1988, Unspoken Words (Gaia/Polygram), hailed by Guitar World as "smooth, versatile...full of taste and soul."

Golub left Stewart's band to commit full time to his other musical interests, specifically the formation of the contemporary jazz outfit Avenue Blue (actually a rotating group of touring and recording musicians). Their self-titled Bluemoon debut was an immediate success, nearing the top of the contemporary jazz charts in 1994.

In 1995, Golub was hired by pianist Bob James for a week's engagement at New York's Blue Note-a gig which resulted in his touring and performing with James and saxman Kirk Whalum on their GRAMMYŽ-nominated Joined at the Hip (Warner Bros.). Avenue Blue released Naked City in 1996 and Nightlife (both on Mesa/Bluemoon)-which hit #1 on Radio & Records' NAC/Smooth Jazz Albums chart-the following year.

With a new deal on GRP Records and an upcoming stint on the acclaimed Guitars & Saxes tour (Summer 2000), Golub is looking forward to continuing his musical development and to experimenting with new ideas. "Every record I make should be an expression of my growth-a statement of who I am today and where my interests have taken me. I've accomplished that with Dangerous Curves while also expressing how much fun music can be."

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