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| Vibes Alive Releases "After Hours" Vibist Dirk Richter's story is about discovery and passion. Before Dirk was even old enough to go to school, he was hanging out at the local music store. At the tender age of four, Dirk was intensely studying music on a daily basis. By the time he was five, Dirk was gigging as a sideman with other youngsters in a band called the Tax Exemptions. Influenced by Jean Luc Ponty, Jeff Lorber, George Duke and Lionel Hampton (because of swing music), Dirk became a serious mallet player by the age of eight. After high school, he studied at Pasadena City College w/Gary Foster (who had a Monday night big band), thoroughly immersing himself in the local Pasadena jazz scene. It was in Pasadena that Dirk would meet his future partner in songwriting crime, Randall Crissman, a guitar playing television and movie composer with a string of credits that includes the likes of MTV, CBS, FOX and Nickelodeon for shows like Oprah, Dancing with the Stars, Joe Millionaire, Access Hollywood and The View. Together, they would pen their first album, Vibes Alive (1997-Syndrome Records), which featured the stellar cast of Jeff Lorber, Luis Conte, Jimmy Johnson, Jimmy Haslip and Carlos Vega. Jonathan Widran of All Music Guide would declare, "…Richter takes charge, carrying cool melodies atop those trademark Lorber rhythms and harmonies on 70's throwbacks like the Hammond B-3 and the Wurlitzer Electric piano." Following the release of the Vibes Alive album Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman would form a band named after the album and would head to the studio to record a second album. Scheduled to be released in 2008 via Swingding Records, After Hours combines the stellar cast of the 1997 release with a few new all stars for a hot sound that will sizzle the airwaves. More on After Hours by Vibes Alive: The collection of tunes in After Hours is a tapestry of kinetic exchanges between an incredible cast of musicians. These sessions capture the essence and spirit of the music in its most uninhibited form. A master conductor, Richter uses the vibes as a paintbrush that accentuates the communication between each gifted artist. According to Richter, the music is about "going back to the basics of creating music." It's about making music without boundaries. With all the format changes in the industry, the time is ripe for musical change and that fans are eager to have music that is fresh and alive. The team of Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman offer up a sound that is unique, spirited and passionate. Add in solid songwriting and a stellar cast and you have a winner. After Hours Musician List: Dirk Richter: vibes, keyboards Randall Crissman: guitar, synth bass Jeff Lorber: synthesizer, Wurlitzer electric piano Gary Meek: sax & flute Luis Conte: percussion Vinnie Colaiuta: drums Jimmy Johnson: bass Putter Smith: acoustic bass Bob Summers: trumpet Written and arranged by Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman Produced by Randall Crissman write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |