Smoothjazz.com Album Review
BOBBY RICKETTS: Skin to Skin
(Third Wave Entertainment)
Smooth just got a little hipper with the delivery of Bobby Ricketts' SKIN TO SKIN. Nu jazz meets urban grooves to create a stylish Smooth Jazz vibe. Warm, exotic, deep. This is one of the most scintillating albums of 2008! The American saxophonist makes Scandinavia his home. Copenhagen, Denmark has always been a haven for expatriate musicians. "sax players in particular," according to Bobby. Jazz legends Ben Webster and Dexter Gordon are two examples of artists who honed their craft in the Danish capital. Ricketts continues this tradition. He's actually become a TV icon, having performed on more major prime time television shows than any musician in Denmark. Working as music director during the past ten years on some of the most popular TV shows in Danish broadcasting has made Bobby Ricketts a household name. Due to such a demanding schedule, SKIN TO SKIN is the gifted performer's first solo release in many years. This outstanding recording is jam packed with ten solid tracks, each one offering up the 'Wow Factor'. from stunning originals to sensational covers like Coltrane's "Naima," Leon Russell's "A Song For You," and the OutKast smash "The Way You Move," and featuring guest performances by world-class musicians including Delmar Brown (Sting, Gil Evans), Chris Minh Doky (Michael Brecker, Mike Stern) and some of the finest players in Northern Europe including several from his own TV band. SKIN TO SKIN. superb nu jazz, elegant craftsmanship and fresh ideas!
~SANDY SHORE, Smoothjazz.com
Amongst peers, professional colleagues, fans, and the music industry itself, saxophonist/producer/music director Bobby Ricketts is praised for his consistent, unusually high standards of musical & artistic integrity -and is admired for the courage it takes to maintain such standards. On his home court in Scandinavia (Bobby is originally from Boston, but has his base in Denmark), the expatriate American saxophonist is referred to as a TV-icon, having demonstrated his musical abilities on more major prime time television shows than any musician in Denmark, often performing with some of the biggest names in the global music industry. Being seen as music director during the past 10 years for some of the most popular TV shows in Danish entertainment has made Bobby a household name. After approx. 400+ career TV appearances (and still counting), serving the most recent 150+ program episodes as music director he is, quite simply, one of the most recognized names and faces of any musician in the country.
Being seen is one thing, being remembered is something else altogether, and the sensual, earthy, soulful saxophone stylings of Bobby Ricketts leave a lasting impression. Bobby Ricketts has studio musician credits on several hundred albums, soundtracks, commercials, and has appeared live with such names as Jocelyn Brown, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Kele LeRoc, Suzi Quatro, Vonda Shepard, Curtis Stigers, Toots Thielemanns, Fred Wesley, Roger Whitaker, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Young and virtually every top Scandinavian artist as well.
The musical integrity, artistry, heart and soul of saxophonist Bobby Ricketts can be heard on the album "Skin To Skin" - his first solo recording in quite a while - "I've been so busy fulfilling commitments to play or produce for other artists or broadcast clients, and recording a solo album never entered my mind until recently. Over the past few years, the desire to express myself entirely within my own personal musical universe has inflamed into a burning passion."
The fire is already beginning to spread on the internet, as increasing numbers of net radio stations add pre-released mixes to their playing lists. "Skin To Skin" features guest performances by world-class musicians such as Chris Minh Doky (Michael Brecker Quartet, Mike Stern Group), Delmar Brown (Sting, Gil Evans Orchestra), George Whitty (Brecker Brothers) and Bobby Ricketts' own TV band, which includes some of the top musicians in Scandinavia. Preview the album on www.bobbyricketts.com and join the mailing list to stay on top of the latest developments.
