sam rudin music

piano_madness

Piano Madness

This was Sam’s first album, released on Blue Rock’it Records in 1992. Kicking off with the Tom Waits cover that became my signature, there are 6 solo tunes here, and 6 more with a variety of guest stars.

10 of the 12 feature vocals. It’s blues, it’s country….and there is a bit of bluegrass and a bit of old-time jazz.

Mike Marshall and Darol Anger shine in #10, and Norton Buffalo brightens up #9. Numbers 4, 7, and 11 feature a great blues band with Garth Webber playing standout guitar. Danny Caron does the same with a different band on #2.

But Spotify has made it clear that the biggest hit on this album, and indeed, my biggest hit ever – BY FAR – is my solo piano rendition of Layla – Part 2.

piano_madness
piano_madness

This was my first album, released on Blue Rock’it Records in 1992. Kicking off with the Tom Waits cover that became my signature, there are 6 solo tunes here, and 6 more with a variety of guest stars.

10 of the 12 feature vocals. It’s blues, it’s country….and there is a bit of bluegrass and a bit of old-time jazz.

Mike Marshall and Darol Anger shine in #10, and Norton Buffalo brightens up #9. Numbers 4, 7, and 11 feature a great blues band with Garth Webber playing standout guitar. Danny Caron does the same with a different band on #2.

But Spotify has made it clear that the biggest hit on this album, and indeed, my biggest hit ever – BY FAR – is my solo piano rendition of Layla – Part 2.

Once_or_Twice_sm

Once or Twice a Week

This is very much a “Band” record (#10 is an exception), reflecting the repertoire of Hurricane Sam and the Hotshots as they toured throughout CA in the ’90’s and ’00’s. Featuring Jeff Ervin (sax), Danny Caron (guitar), Steve Evans (bass), and the two Jimmys – Sanchez and Hobson – on drums.

  1. Boogie & Blues (Live)
  2. Jazz/Funk
  3. Medium tempo Blues. It’s an original lyric, and therefore the title cut
  4. A Bluesy version of this Dylan classic
  5. Swinging R&B Instrumental
  6. Yes, it’s that Credence tune
  7. This Little Richard classic veers into be-bop
  8. This Blues shuffle stays right where you expect it to stay
  9. 12-bar Funk (Live)
  10. The one solo tune of the album (instrumental)
Once_or_Twice_sm
Once_or_Twice_sm

This is very much a “Band” record (#10 is an exception), reflecting the repertoire of Hurricane Sam and the Hotshots as they toured throughout CA in the ’90’s and ’00’s. Featuring Jeff Ervin (sax), Danny Caron (guitar), Steve Evans (bass), and the two Jimmys – Sanchez and Hobson – on drums.

  1. Boogie & Blues (Live)
  2. Jazz/Funk
  3. Medium tempo Blues. It’s an original lyric, and therefore the title cut
  4. A Bluesy version of this Dylan classic
  5. Swinging R&B Instrumental
  6. Yes, it’s that Credence tune
  7. This Little Richard classic veers into be-bop
  8. This Blues shuffle stays right where you expect it to stay
  9. 12-bar Funk (Live)
  10. The one solo tune of the album (instrumental)
ab67616d0000b273c9d273130db26d02f5081b98

Live & Kickin’

As the title says, these are all live performances. The first eight songs are solo and the last two are with the band.

  1. A funk-ified Taj Mahal tune
  2. Blues version of a Dylan classic
  3. Hot Jazz a la Louis Armstrong
  4. Blues and bluegrass in one cut
  5. Straight ahead be-bop
  6. One can do a lot with this tune.
  7. The original bluegrass piano
  8. A Willie Nelson Blues
  9. Same as #1 of Once or Twice a Week
  10. Same as #9 of Once or Twice a Week
ab67616d0000b273c9d273130db26d02f5081b98
ab67616d0000b273c9d273130db26d02f5081b98

As the title says, these are all live performances. The first eight songs are solo and the last two are with the band.

  1. A funk-ified Taj Mahal tune
  2. Blues version of a Dylan classic
  3. Hot Jazz a la Louis Armstrong
  4. Blues and bluegrass in one cut
  5. Straight ahead be-bop
  6. One can do a lot with this tune.
  7. The original bluegrass piano
  8. A Willie Nelson Blues
  9. Same as #1 of Once or Twice a Week
  10. Same as #9 of Once or Twice a Week
ab67616d0000b273a12f2b5468f7e7ae3f67b78f

Interiors

This newest CD is quite a departure from Sam’s usual “boogie, blues and jazz.” These pieces were created and recorded at Sam’s home – solo piano in a contemplative mood.

Four of these songs are based on pre-existing compositions:

#2 is a Cat Stevens tune

#4 comes from the Broadway show Peter Pan

#9 is a well-known folk song

The others are spontaneous improvisations

 

ab67616d0000b273a12f2b5468f7e7ae3f67b78f
ab67616d0000b273a12f2b5468f7e7ae3f67b78f

This newest CD is quite a departure from Sam’s usual “boogie, blues and jazz.” These pieces were created and recorded at Sam’s home – solo piano in a contemplative mood.

Four of these songs are based on pre-existing compositions:

#2 is a Cat Stevens tune

#4 comes from the Broadway show Peter Pan

#9 is a well-known folk song

The others are spontaneous improvisations

 

An American in Paris and Other Jazz Standards

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS AND OTHER JAZZ STANDARDS

Although all of my music has a least a touch of jazz in its DNA, this is the album that is entirely a jazz project. (Not coincidentally, there are no vocals this time out.) The joke, of course, is that neither the title song, nor most of the others are jazz standards. But maybe some of them should be!

  1. This is my own personal favorite among all of my recordings. A fresh treatment for a pop song from the 60’s. With Matt Eakle on flute.
  2. George Gershwin created this famous melody as a 12 Bar Blues. Surely he meant for someone to take it from it’s orchestral setting and turn it loose.
  3. Yes, this is a standard. Now at be-bop speed.
  4. A Miles Davis classic, played here with a touch of the blues. Solo piano.
  5. We took out most of the swing here, in favor of a slightly Latin propulsion.
  6. This is an original with a bossa beat and great flute from Matt Eakle.
  7. Solo Piano. A great song from the earliest Dixieland days.
  8. Another original. Hot Swing, straight up.
  9. Is this the first time that this rock ballad got a “smooth jazz” treatment? No it is not.
  10. Yes, this does speed up. That somehow seemed appropriate.
An American in Paris and Other Jazz Standards
An American in Paris and Other Jazz Standards

Although all of my music has a least a touch of jazz in its DNA, this is the album that is entirely a jazz project. (Not coincidentally, there are no vocals this time out.) The joke, of course, is that neither the title song, nor most of the others are jazz standards. But maybe some of them should be!

  1. This is my own personal favorite among all of my recordings. A fresh treatment for a pop song from the 60’s. With Matt Eakle on flute.
  2. George Gershwin created this famous melody as a 12 Bar Blues. Surely he meant for someone to take it from it’s orchestral setting and turn it loose.
  3. Yes, this is a standard. Now at be-bop speed.
  4. A Miles Davis classic, played here with a touch of the blues. Solo piano.
  5. We took out most of the swing here, in favor of a slightly Latin propulsion.
  6. This is an original with a bossa beat and great flute from Matt Eakle.
  7. Solo Piano. A great song from the earliest Dixieland days.
  8. Another original. Hot Swing, straight up.
  9. Is this the first time that this rock ballad got a “smooth jazz” treatment? No it is not.
  10. Yes, this does speed up. That somehow seemed appropriate.

“SAM IS THE REAL DEAL! A TRUE ENTERTAINER. AND VERSATILE! HE SPANS THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF AMERICAN MUSIC. HE IS BIG FUN.”

– Anna DeLeon, Owner of Anna’s Jazz Island (Berkeley)

© Copyright 2021 | Sam Rdin

Logo & Web Design by