Rob Tardik's 3rd CD Release - B.E.L.L. (Balance.Energy.Laughter.Love)
Ringing the B.E.L.L of Life !!!
...These are the words that drive multiple award-winning Contemporary Jazz Guitarist/Artist
Rob Tardik. As a 2011 Billboard Charting Artist and 2010 Canadian Smooth Jazz Guitarist
of the Year, the arrival of his 3rd CD recording B.E.L.L. is a personal statement
and musical glimpse into his current life’s musical direction and growth, further
showing the world his passion for life, music, and the guitar. If you enjoy instrumental
music, then expect Rob’s smooth guitar work to soothe your soul and provide the
soundtrack to your lifestyle. Rob is again destined to capture plenty of attention
with his fantastic new musical offering, further growing his status in the current
Adult Contemporary Jazz music scene.
From Contemporary Jazz to Pop, World, Lounge, Latin, and Flamenco overtones, Rob’s
new CD will be serving up an eclectic jazzy mix of genre-bending smooth, funky,
and infectious contemporary instrumental music grooves which will keep him moving
forward into 2012 and beyond. Featuring an all star CD of guest artist collaborations
and top studio musicians like drummer Tony Moore (George Benson), bassists Mel Brown,
Eric Soostar, and Rich Brown. Rob’s stellar core band includes some of Toronto’s
finest including 2010 Canadian Wind Instrumentalist of the Year saxophonist Carson
Freeman, bassist twin brother Curtis Freeman, keyboardist Davor Jordanovski, drummer
Jeff Salem and newest members, percussionist Gino Mirizio and 2nd guitarist Geoff
Hlibka.
The new CD produced by Rob and keyboardist/studio owner Davor Jordanovski features
for the first time ever a very unique quartal phase music-listening concept. The
12 new tracks of music are subdivided into groups of 3 songs within each of the
four quadrants of Rob’s life acronym B.E.L.L.
Rob’s current musical journey opens quadrant one with Balance. The opening cut is
the hypnotic groove based radio single “East Meets Wes”, a collaboration right across
North America between legendary producer Paul Brown (George Benson, Luther Vandross,
Boney James, and Larry Carlton) and Rob. The call and response type communication
between the two guitarists is immediate and lyrically highlighted by the strong
hooky chorus that ties the track together. All the while the two of them show mutual
admiration and a tip of the hat to the late great jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery
through Paul’s tasteful arch top inflected octave work which is complimented by
Rob’s smooth melodic nylon string guitar lines. Track 2 “The Right Time” introduces
Rob’s skilled foray into AC pop music as he pens his first vocal track featuring
South African singing-sensation Francois Mulder. The balance of breathtakingly effortless
vocals and Rob’s liquid smooth acoustic work will leave the listener humming the
chorus long afterwards. Track 3 “Kimberley’s Song”, is a serene, beautiful, heartfelt
song written for a very special someone who has brought true balance into Rob’s
life.
Quadrant two kicks up the Energy on B.E.L.L into high gear as “Shakin’ the House”,
recorded and produced by saxophonist Darren Rahn, gets the pace moving. Recorded
at Darren’s “Litterbox” studio in Colorado, Darren and Rob’s music writing/playing
chemistry is instant and as the title suggests, will be raising the roof in many
homes worldwide. Track 5, “When It Comes To Lovin’ You”, features the collaboration
between Rob and Emmy award winning songwriter/pianist Don Breithaupt on this second
vocal tune of Rob’s, again featuring the gifted Francois Mulder, the result: a contemporary
jazz and Bossa Nova flavored gem with a rich vocal reverberating hook. The up-tempo
track 6 is aptly named “Frolic”, a playful tune bordering on fusion written by co-producer/keyboardist
Davor Jordanovski. The tracks effortless melodic romp let’s Rob’s guitar and Davor’s
piano converse freely and move into sprees of tasty trade off jams and improvisational
flourishes.
Laughter is the best medicine and main ingredient in quadrant three of B.E.L.L.
as track 7, La Buena Vida (The Good Life), will light up the dance floor and get
heels clicking on this Pop/Rhumba Flamenco inspired track that showcases Rob’s incredible
facility and lightning fast guitar technique, but at no point loses the listener
as the beautiful Latin melodies sing on. Alto saxophone superstar Warren Hill lends
his incredible talents and joins on track 8, “Sunday Morning”, a song which defines
the genre and showcases Warren’s tasteful phrasing, lyrical soloing, and Rob’s keen
melodic songwriting sense. The best things in life are free and the track 9, “Smile”,
completes the 3rd phase by simply making you do just that. Guest artist Jaared,
fill’s out Rob’s ear-catching guitar melodies by adding his cutting edge, layered
horn lines to keep toes tapping and faces grinning from ear to ear in a song that
simply lets the melody sing without words.
Love is the final theme in quadrant four and a phase of personal reflection for
Rob. These three songs succeed with musical depth and soul in capturing this highly
desired, but sometimes very elusive emotion in all it’s facets and dimensions starting
with the track “Midnight Blue”. The second song on B.E.L.L. co-written with multi-award
winner Don Breithaupt, feature both musicians in fine musical form as they each
freely improvise solos that breathe the cool night air into this late night track.
The two are joined by Juno Award winning trumpeter Gabriel Mark Hasselbach who adds
just the right amount of soft horn undertones to the track. The captivating “Waiting
for Love”, is a tender chill/lounge song which is highlighted by Rob’s gentle classical
finger style melodies that are supported throughout by the trance-like electronic
loop-based rhythms. These wash through the song like gentle waves as Gabriel Mark
Hasselbach’s muted trumpet compliments Rob’s emoting guitar lines in a song of passionate
yearning that at the same time remains hopeful. The CD’s final World/Flamenco-flavored
track 12, “Corazon Contento” (Happy Heart), is a fitting ending for Rob having found
his own personal peace and happiness in the simple gifts of life as the trio of
guitar, accordion, and Cajon jam the tune out into the sunset on a green hilltop
signifying the arrival of Love.
With the forthcoming release of his 3rd studio CD this fall 2011, Canadian born
Rob Tardik is poised to make a musically infectious return to concerts and radio
worldwide. Through further establishing himself as a serious player in the contemporary
jazz genre, Rob will continue to support his passion for the guitar and to share
his true love of performing live music for audiences everywhere, helping to promote
the ringing of the B.EL.L. of life everyday!