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| Bernie Williams’ New Album Moving Forward Williams' Eagerly-Awaited Second Album Features Guest Appearances By Bruce Springsteen, Jon Secada, Patti Scialfa, Dave Koz, The Harlem Boys & Girls Alumni Choir, Famed Yankees Public Address Announcer Bob Sheppard And An All-Star Cast Of Renowned Studio Musicians In Conjunction With The Release Of Moving Forward, Music & Baseball Fans Will Have Several Opportunities To Connect With The Acclaimed Guitarist/Songwriter And Famed Yankee Superstar: - Look For Bernie Williams To Appear At The April 2nd Opening Of The New Yankee Stadium Hard Rock Café, Where He Will Donate His Custom-Made Yankees 51 Fender Telecaster Guitar & Perform With Music Students From The Bronx-Based Renaissance EMS Organization. - On April 7th, QVC Will Hold An Advance Sale of Moving Forward, Paired With A Limited Edition Copy Of The Hardcover Book Yankee Stadium: The Final Season – Signed By Williams. - On April 8th, The YES NETWORK Will Air A One-Hour "CenterStage" With Bernie Williams, Featuring An In-Depth Interview & Music Performance Of Songs From Moving Forward. - On April 14th, Williams Will Celebrate The Release Of Moving Forward By Meeting With Fans At A 6:00PM In-Store Appearance At BORDERS (2 Penn Plaza, New York). - Finally, Bernie Will Take To The Stage To Perform A Special Concert (With Special Surprise Guests) April 18th At The Nokia Theatre Times Square. "With April 14's Moving Forward, former New York Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams returns to his second great passion: jazz guitar…his new album, includes everything from 'an introspective, pensive version' of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' featuring spoken vocals from veteran Yankee Stadium announcer Bob Sheppard to a live recording of Williams performing 'Glory Days' on stage with Bruce Springsteen, an experience he calls 'a dream come true'" – Entertainment Weekly "Because [Bernie Williams'] debut, 2003's The Journey Within, was met with critical and popular acclaim, he was able to bring in an even bigger cast of heavy hitters for his sophomore effort. The players include, Dave Weckl and Kenny Aronoff on drums, Lee Sklar and Abraham Laboriel on bass, and Dave Koz on sax. It's the other guitarists that Williams surrounds himself with though, that are the most mind-blowing… Guys like Mike Stern and Scott Henderson... Despite the contributions from those guitar all-stars, Williams remains the focal point, with deft acoustic rhythm and lead parts on every cut, plus great electric work." – Guitar Player MOVING FORWARD, the sophomore album from critically acclaimed guitarist/songwriter and famed NY Yankees star BERNIE WILLIAMS will be released on April 14 by Reform Records. Showcasing a variety of musical styles representing Williams' diverse influences such as jazz and classical guitar, rock, salsa, merengue and other Latin Rhythms, Moving Forward marks the five-time All-Star's eagerly awaited follow-up to his critically hailed 2003 debut The Journey Within. A classically-trained instrumentalist who developed his love for playing guitar (alongside baseball), at a young age in Puerto Rico, Williams has dedicated the last two years toward his growth as a musician and the preparation and recording of the songs shared on Moving Forward. Co-Produced by Williams and Loren Harriet (who also helmed The Journey Within), Moving Forward features a variety of original instrumentals written and performed by Williams – playing alongside renowned musicians such as Dave Weckl (drums), Mike Stern (guitar), Scott Henderson (guitar), Dave Koz (sax), Wayman Tisdale (bass), Giovanni Hidalgo (percussion) just to name a few. The album also finds Bernie joined by a few more very special guests on select cover songs that have been longtime favorites of Williams. Jon Secada (along with the Harlem Boys & Girls Alumni Choir) joins Williams in the studio for a highly energetic reprise of Secada's famed "Just Another Day". In a nod to both artists' bi-lingual heritage, a completely Spanish version of the song - "Otra Dia Mas Sin Fuerte" - is also an album highlight. Next, Williams reached out to a fellow New York icon to lend his instantly recognizable voice to the album's most heartfelt and personal track, with the legendary Voice of Yankee Stadium Bob Sheppard providing a specially recorded introduction to Williams' deeply introspective version of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game". Finally, in a very special bonus track, Moving Forward ends with a celebratory live recording in which Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa take to the stage with Williams (on a night in which Bernie was the honoree of the "Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation") for a rousing version of "Glory Days". After Williams deftly handles a guitar solo to the delight of the crowd, Springsteen bestows Bernie with the ultimate musical compliment, proclaiming: "I believe there is a place in the E Street band for this gentleman" write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |