Christian Sands Trio

Footprints

Available from Quadrangle Music

Stanza USA announces the release of a new jazz CD, "Footprints", featuring the incredible artistry of 14-year old pianist Christian Sands. Sands is rapidly becoming well known to Connecticut jazz fans who have been enthralled with his performances in jazz festivals, concert halls, restaurants, and private parties. "Footprints", Christian's debut recording, was produced by his teacher, Rex Cadwallader of Milford, CT, and his parents, Stephanie and Clayton Sands, of Orange, CT.

The CD features the sounds of Christian playing the piano with the grace and maturity of a seasoned professional. Also highlighted are Sands' partners Jeff Fuller on acoustic and electric bass, and Jesse Hameen II on drums. The trio has often been heard in the New Haven area, and this summer they will perform at the Berkshire Jazz Festival (Great Barrington, MA) on Saturday, July 26th, 2003, at 1 & 4 pm. "Footprints" is available locally (New Haven, CT) at Cutler's Records, Lillian's Beauty Salon, or online at cdbaby.com/sands.

Background

Christian Sands has been described as a "dynamic pianist with extraordinary musical maturity beyond his years". He is indeed an accomplished musician with great poise and sophistication, possessing a warm, unpretentious personality with an honest, heartfelt approach. He has been playing the piano since he was 4 years old, and he wrote his first musical composition at 5. He has developed an impeccable sense of rhythm and time, and at 13 he is already in demand. He has been fortunate to play with the likes of Rufus Reid, Willie Ruff, Dwike Mitchell, Arti Dixon, Michael Assetta, Jim Fryer, and Christopher Herbert. He has attended Master Classes with Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, Eddie Palmieri, and Nestor Torres.

Christian's great touch draws tone and feeling from the piano whether on up-tempo tunes, Latin, Swing or Fusion. His playing gives the listener the intimate feeling as if he's playing only for you. Sounding very relaxed, his melodic improvisations are nothing short of astonishing. His sense of harmony and chord voicing is quite sophisticated.

On this - his first full length album - Christian and partners Jeff Fuller and Jesse Hameen II have an elegant compatibility, with total professionalism. Fuller and Hameen have both toured worldwide and recorded with Lou Donaldson's groups, and they both have their own production companies. Fuller co-leads the popular group, Samba Brasil, and Hameen is not new to the jazz circuit, having performed on countless recordings.

"Footprints" is Christian Sands' musical gift to those supportive and adoring fans that have been fortunate enough to hear him play. The songs listed on the CD give the impression of walking along a beautiful, sandy beach. He is only 13 years old, and the best is yet to come...

Musical Selections

Four (Miles Davis, BMI) 4:05

Canteloupe Island (Herbie Hancock, Hancock Publishing) 4:07

Wave (Antonio Carlos Jobim, BMI) 6:17

All Blues (Miles Davis, BMI) 5:26

Sands of Egypt (Christian Sands, ASCAP) 6:12

Footprints (Wayne Shorter, BMI) 4:38

Ryan's Groove (Christian Sands, ASCAP) 4:49

I'll Remember April (DePaul, Johnston, and Rave, ASCAP) 4:39

A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie, ASCAP) 6:08

Wind Chimes (Christian Sands, ASCAP) 5:41

Maiden Voyage (Herbie Hancock, Hancock Publishing) 7:35

Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers, BMI) 5:42

TOTAL TIME 63:19

Christian Sands, piano

Jeff Fuller, bass

Jesse Hameen II, drums

Producer: Rex Cadwallader

Executive Producers: Clayton and Stephanie Sands

Engineer: Norman Johnson

Manor Recording, Middletown CT

Manufactured and printed by Disc Makers, Pennsauken NJ, USA

Photos: Harold Shapiro