Sweet Jazz Sounds of Paul Sawtelle

Veteran saxophone player, Paul Sawtelle, has been paying his dues as a musician for over 30 years and he’s enjoyed every minute of it. As a top-shelf arranger, big band leader, funk, rock and blues band sideman, in-demand session player and featured soloist on scores of studio projects and live shows. He’s played for President Clinton, worked with Heart, opened for artists from Savoy Brown to Jonny Lang, appeared on national television shows and, in 2008, won a prestigious Spelleman Award, the Norwegian equivalent of The Grammy, for his horn arrangements and playing on Sony Music’s extraordinary blues band, Orbo and the Longshots album.

When asked about the first music that inspired him as a player, he didn’t hesitate. “The first Chicago Transit Authority album had a tremendous impact on me. The mixture of rock and horns was inspiring and fresh. Seeing that band for the first time live was magical.” He also couldn’t get enough of other groove and horn based bands and players like Tom Scott, Tower of Power, Janis Joplin, Moby Grape, Blood, Sweat & Tears, David Sanborn, Lenny Pickett, Grover Washington, Jr. & Stanley Turrentine.

The CD was recorded during the fall of 2014, at the legendary London Bridge Studio in Seattle with producer/engineer Geoff Ott. Paul gushed about the experience. “Geoff was laid back, patient and positive and he created an atmosphere conducive to artistic expression.” Jeffrey Ross, Kenny G’s first manager and no stranger to jazz, funk and R&B, served as Paul’s coach, mentor and co-producer during the sessions.  http://www.paulsawtelle.com