Smooth Ride feat. Arturo Sandoval

Smooth Ride feat. Arturo Sandoval

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Growing up in Long Island, New York, versatile trumpeter/ flugelhornist Frankie V. (Frank Vardaros) chose his instrument after hearing a recording of legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. "It was Maynard's Live at Jimmy's album. After hearing that album, there was no doubt in my mind what career I wanted to pursue. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I had that album on my turntable for a whole year."

A classically trained trumpeter, FV's musical career began to take shape at an early age. He spent his early years developing the craft of screaming lead trumpet by performing with countless numbers of big bands, including a two-year stint at Disney World in Florida.

Later, while attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he combined screaming lead trumpet and jazz soloing over the backdrop of his jazz funk group Future Reference. In 1993, he came out with his first solo album entitled Funky Talk, which featured all FV's original jazz funk compositions. Two years later, FV recorded an album Live at the Regattabar in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His rendition of "A Night in Tunisia" became the number one requested on many college radio stations throughout the Northeast.

In 1996, FV began to seriously think of the flugelhorn as a solo instrument. "I was always known for being a high note trumpet player, but when I picked up the flugelhorn a different side of my playing immerged, focusing on more melodic and subtle playing. I still leap into the stratosphere on the flugelhorn but it seems to take on a different quality for myself and for the listener. Of course the trumpet remains my main voice and first love."

In summer 1998, Frankie V toured in the trumpet section with Arturo Sandoval's Hot House Big Band beginning at the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, passing through the Saratoga Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall and eventually making its way to the Newport Jazz Festival.

Exposing other facets of his playing and musicianship. FV serves as the trumpet soloist and music director for the Ryles Jazz Orchestra; the house big band for Boston's famed Ryles Jazz Club. FV founded the Ryles Jazz Orchestra in 1997 keeping in mind the great tradition of a house big band in a major jazz venue (i.e. The Village Vanguard Band, Thad Jones Mel Lewis, Birdland Dream Band, to name a few). Throughout the year, the band performs with many national guest artists, most recently Bobby Shew, Bob Mintzer, Phil Wilson, Nick Brignola, Jon Faddis and Bill Watrous. In April 2001 the band released its debut recording, a live album entitled Ryles Jazz Orchestra Live at Ryles.

In the fall of 1999, FV traveled to London England and Abbey Road Studios where he was the Associate Producer on the debut recording of the John Williams Trumpet Concerto, featuring Arturo Sandoval with the London Symphony Orchestra for an upcoming album.

Frankie V was asked to arrange two Duke Ellington compositions for the San Francisco Symphony with Jon Faddis conducting. The concert took place June of 2000.

Product Description
This exciting new album highlights Frankie V's original compositions, as well as a refreshing new arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "Another Star." The album runs the gamut: Smooth Jazz, Jazz Funk, and Latin Jazz; showing many sides of Frankie’s playing. It combines a smokin’ rhythm section led by Sandoval on piano, with Ernesto Simpson on drums, Dennis Marks on bass, and Samuel Torres on percussion. Throughout this album, you will hear Frankie V’s warm, lush flugelhorn sound, contrasted by his screaming doubled trumpet tracks on "A.S" -- a tune that he wrote and dedicated to his hero Arturo Sandoval. Frankie V pairs up with saxophone great Ed Calle so beautifully on the track "New Life Latino," a gorgeous cha cha / bolero, it sounds like they have been playing together for years. The icing on the cake is the teaming of Frankie and Arturo on flugelhorns on Frankie's "Mi Amiga Mi Amore." It’s a guarantee you’ll be humming this one for days.

Smooth Ride feat. Arturo Sandoval,Frankie V,Vee Records,The album is produced by Grammy Award Winning Trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval and is a mix of Frankie V's Smooth Jazz, Jazz Funk and Latin Jazz originals. "Smooth Ride" features Arturo Sandoval on piano, saxophonist Ed Calle makes a special solo appearance.

Jazz Music: Smooth Ride feat. Arturo Sandoval

Jazz Music: