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Paul Hardcastle: Paul Hardcastle IX

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records
Released: 2020.07.24
Time:
 61:04
Category: Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Cool Jazz
Producer(s): Paul Hardcastle
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.paulhardcastle.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2020
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Welcome To The Morning (P.Hardcastle) - 2:08
[2] Latitude (P.Hardcastle) - 4:24
[3] Tropicool (P.Hardcastle) - 6:24
[4] Welcome To The Beach (P.Hardcastle) - 4:09
[5] Outside My Window (P.Hardcastle) - 4:47
[6] Let It Go (P.Hardcastle) - 4:29
[7] Soaring Like An Eagle (P.Hardcastle) - 6:23
[8] No Escape Pt.1 (P.Hardcastle) - 4:39
[9] Universal Vibes (P.Hardcastle) - 4:26
[10] Falling (P.Hardcastle) - 5:52
[11] No Escape Pt.2 (P.Hardcastle) - 4:35
[12] Lovin You Lovin Me (P.Hardcastle) - 3:31
[13] Innocent (P.Hardcastle) - 4:46

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Paul Hardcastle - Keyboards, Programming, Producer

Rock Hendricks - Saxophone

Maxine Hardcastle - Vocals on [5]
Gary Winters - Flugelhorn on [3]

Ron Boustead - Mastering
Bobby Cutmore - Artwork

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


CD 2020 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records - TNR117



Just short of two years since the release on Trippin N Rhythm of Paul Hardcastle’s ‘Hardcastle 8’ comes the logically titled ‘Hardcastle IX’.

All things considered ‘Hardcastle IX’ finds PH in decidedly chilled mode and none more so than with the distinctly ethereal ‘Welcome To The Morning’.  Several tracks later he sends out another welcome, in fact ‘Welcome To The Beach’, that is as light and airy as the title suggests it might be.  It possesses the usual Hardcastle elements of smoky sax and seductive rhythm while elsewhere the moody ‘Outside My Window’ possesses a tension that just builds and builds.

Talking of building, the six-minute plus ‘Soaring Like An Eagle’ and the equally expansive ‘Tropicool’ (which comes complete with a dazzling trumpet solo) are all about mellow urgency and when PH walks the tightrope that bridges smooth jazz with chill the result is the spine tingling ‘Universal Vibes’.  The first single to be serviced to radio is the incredible ‘Latitude’ that may well finds its way onto my list of all time Hardcastle favourites and another track with radio ready written all over it is the sublime ‘Let It Go’.  It glides along on an enticing mid tempo groove and in this respect is in the excellent company of the sultry yet edgy ‘Innocent’.

In similar vein is the compelling ‘Falling’ while arguably the most commercial number on ‘Hardcastle IX’ is the zesty easy on the ear ‘Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me’.

‘No Escape’, which here PH provides in two non-consecutive parts, might well be the definition of what Paul Hardcastle’s music is really all about.  Part one with vocals and later part two as an instrumental, take your pick.  Both have got it all going on.

Smooth Jazz Therapy - July 23, 2020



Deciding on album titles has never been a difficult task for Paul Hardcastle. Sequential Roman numerics have been the trend since in the smooth jazz chapter of his career. Most would agree that the most difficult task for any artist is remaining relevant and highly regarded as Hardcastle has for over 35 years since his technopop smash hits ‘19’ and ‘Rainforest’.  Yet here we are, on the brink of 2021, and the British musician multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer returns with his smooth synthesizer excellence on his ninth solo smooth jazz album on the Trippin’N’Rhythm label. IX draws listeners into the project with Welcome To The Morning, an interlude introduction that is slow, moody and tone setting, followed by Latitude, the lead off and chart impacting single steeped in up-tempo and rich exotic vibes. Let It Go is another example of how Hardcastle makes his exotic chill sound so unique and signature by maintaining an up-tempo sound.

What has a become a familiar, and familial trend on recent projects, Hardcastle’s recording artist and vocalist Maxine lend her talent on several tracks. Like the theme and music itself, Maxine is sensual and even ethereal on Outside My Window, and returns on the similarly themed No Escape Pt.1 , and the Pt. 2 continuation a few tracks later.  Welcome To The Beach picks up where the opening leadoff Welcome To The Morning left off, but by contrast, a fast paced groove with a sax lead over top off  Hardcastle’s steady and sophisticated keyboard melody.  On what is a break from a mostly moody and thematic sound, daughter Maxine returns on what is the undoubtedly the most smooth pop offering on IX, Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me. This bouncy and sweetly sung track hits all the right chords for what could easily be a father-daughter hit single beyond the confines of groove jazz music.

Whether it be solo work, or with his side project Jazzmasters, the veteran Hardcastle’s work has been defined by a sound that is sophisticatedly smooth and progressive and his latest chapter IX is proof of that assertion. I could easily score this project a perfect 10, but in this case, even a 9 seems perfect and appropriate.

Stu Berketo - Wave.fm



The legendary Paul Hardcastle is still laying it down! He has come a long way from the classic, Rainforest. That was all the way back in 1984. There aren't too many artists out there that can stay relevant for 35 years. Whether it is a solo release, or as the leader of the Jazzmasters, it is always an event when he releases an album.

Hardcastle IX is his the project for 2020. It drops on July 24th, and we are sure you will like the album. There are 13 tracks, but one is an interlude and one of the songs is broken up into two parts.


The legendary Paul Hardcastle is still laying it down! He has come a long way from the classic, Rainforest. That was all the way back in 1984. There aren't too many artists out there that can stay relevant for 35 years. Whether it is a solo release, or as the leader of the Jazzmasters, it is always an event when he releases an album.

Hardcastle IX is his the project for 2020. It drops on July 24th, and we are sure you will like the album. There are 13 tracks, but one is an interlude and one of the songs is broken up into two parts.

The set starts out with an interlude. In Welcome To The Morning, Hardcastle just eases into the album, sort of like an interlude for a live show.

Latitude is the first single off the album. It is straight mid-tempo goodness. The sax is really smooth and the piano is vintage Hardcastle. One commenter on YouTube, "Can't go wrong with Paul Hardcastle in the rotation." I know that's right!

Tropicool is next. If you have the word "cool" in the title, it better be extra cool. This song should be the soundtrack of every dream sequence in feature films from here on out. The trumpet is featured, and we are sure that you will have an out of body experience every time it comes on.

In Welcome To The Beach, Hardcastle goes to his signature uptempo sound, and on the hook, you get the horn and the keyboards playing together in harmony. During the verse the two instruments are both featured separately. There is something really comforting about those keyboard sounds.

Hardcastle breaks it all the way down with Outside My Window. This is sensuality at it's best. His daughter, Maxine Hardcastle provides some vocals here. Overall, this is one of the top tracks on the album.

Once again, sax is the way to go on the next track. Let It Go offers a blueprint on how to create a mid-tempo groove that will be relevant for the next 20 years. This type of song never goes out of style and you can add it to virtually any type of playlist.

Soaring like An Eagle is up next. This is a nice R&B track, and my only gripe is that it should have a male lead vocal. That would have taken this song over the top. Nonetheless, it is still a great track.

The slow grooves continue with No Escape Pt 1. The keyboard arrangement will make you groove in your seat, and Maxine is back with some vocal riffs. After listening to this, I just may need a cigarette...and I don't even smoke!

Universal Vibes is just that, a song that transcends any language, lifestyle, or culture. This is the type of track that will fit at a quiet evening in the US, while also serving as background music for a small dinner party in South Africa.

We pick up the pace a little with Falling. I sense a little island flair in that Hardcastle style. This one is difficult to put into words, but in this case, the music does all of the talking. It is a song that should be in heavy rotation in every French Cafe.

No Escape Pt 2 is next. Very similar to part 1, and in case you did not get enough the first time, here you get that extra helping.

We get a curveball next with Lovin' You Lovin' Me. This is a straight vocal track, and it has a nice bounce that will make you sing along.

The album concludes with Innocent. This track contains several elements. It is a strong drum patch, sensual background vocals, and an Electronica/Acid Jazz feel. You can really say that about all of the tracks, but this one really embodies the two genres.

The latest edition of the Hardcastle series is the perfect soundtrack for 2020. We have been staying in more, and this is the type of music that will relax your mind, and take you away from all of the stresses of the world.

Be sure to start streaming Hardcastle IX Starting July 24th.

The Jazzworld
 

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