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"Everything
I do" is better with Smooth Jazz! Sergio Caputo's U.S. debut Smooth Jazz album "That Kind of Thing" continues to receive a warm stateside welcome as America is discovering the talented Italian born SF Bay area resident Jazz composer, guitarist and producer. The album, which features the joyous single "Everything I Do", is enjoying strong radio support from coast to coast in North America which is consistently increasing as the weeks go by. Beginning 2004 as a relatively unknown artist to the U.S. market, Caputo's new release has launched his American musical notoriety in a few short months, something European audiences have been aware of for over 20 years where he has been the Pop Jazz darling of majors labels Warner and Universal since the early 80's. Caputo's work is receiving the kudos it deserves and he is poised to become a major player in the U.S. Jazz market, this time through the efforts of San Francisco's Independent labels Idiosyncrasy Music and the Groove Factory. Bravo Sergio!" |
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(Idiosyncrasy/Groove Factory)
Do
you know Sergio? Well here's a little background info for you. The super
smooth guitarist was born in Rome, Italy. He began his musical career
with overnight success in 1983 as a singer and songwriter with the release
of "Un sabato italiano". Sergio's unique style of jazz-infused
pop defined an entirely new genre of music and became an immediate sensation
in the European music scene. Sergio Caputo's prolific recording career
continued over the next two decades to produce 13 CDs, with numerous hits
that have topped the pop charts year after year. The artist's prestigious
collaborations include recordings with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Tony
Scott and others, and live performances with the likes of Lester Bowie.
Recently, Sergio relocated to California where he has written and produced
this brand new, delicious Smooth Jazz CD, "THAT KIND OF THING".
That 'kind of thing' happens to be an ultra suave kinda thing. You know,
chillin' in your car, driving down the coast highway kinda thing. The
CD launches with the in the pocket, Smooth Jazz hit, "Everything
I Do" and tracks into a cool collection of assorted musical flavors
and textures including the use of a sexy trumpet and a smokey saxophone
on several favorite tracks, including the moody "Intimacy",
the beautiful Spanish-influenced, "Like A Shooting Star", and
the sensual and hopeful, "Waiting For Your Love". Other favorite
tracks include the captivating, "Serenata roja" and my personal
favorite, "Jazzy Girl", which offers a city-chic, hipness. The
artist plays all guitars on this stellar recording as well as keyboards,
programming and sample editing on all songs and bass on most songs. Now
you know Sergio! And THAT KIND OF THING is sure to be your kind
of thing as it provides one of the finest listening environments that
we've heard all year." ~Sandy Shore -
Smoothjazz.com
Smooth
Jazz Vibes
"Bay Area musician by way of Italy Sergio Caputo makes his
smooth jazz debut after more than 14 CDs and many session dates. You
hear the CD’s first song, the hit “Everything I Do” and
the darn happy “Guess I Miss You Again,” and you get the feeling
he made the right choice. Caputo is a guitarist who also plays keyboards,
bass and programs much of his music. Overall, it’s a relaxing blend
of jazz and pop with some Latin influences, especially on the lovely
“Serenata Roja” and “Like a Shooting Star” where
Caputo, who plays mostly electric guitar, switches to acoustic. It’s
a laidback affair, and Caputo settles nicely into it and keeps that
groove throughout, thankfully not feeling the need to add any vocal
tracks or crazy rock asides. This makes a nice addition to any smooth
jazz collection. Smooth grade: B+"
~Brian
Soergel, Smooth Jazz Vibes
Sergio Caputo
"That Kind of Thing is a genuinely sophisticated affair and no doubt represents some of Sergio's finest work to date."
- The Jazz Lynx, Cafe' Jazz
~Sandy Shore - Smoothjazz.com
~Brian Soergel, Smooth Jazz Vibes
The Jazz Nation
"Sergio Caputo is a citizen of the world. Born in Rome and residing in the U.S., his career originated in Europe and extends the globe. Having gigged with many noteable artists over the last couple of decades (including Dizzy Gillespie) this gifted guitarist has had critical acclaim creating original stylings of jazz, Latin and pop-inspired songs. Now sojourned and laidback in California, he releases his 15th album, That Kind of Thing. He speaks the international language of 'music' but for Caputo however, this is a new journey into the assembly of smooth jazz. With his latest excursion he continues to bring people together in harmony and it's That Kind of Thing Sergio Caputo does so well..."
-D.J. Fazio, The Jazz Nation
"Guitarist
Sergio Caputo is originally from Europe and now lives and works
in California. Having produced 14 albums already this disc contains a
combination of light Smooth Jazz mixed in with a little Latin flavored
compositions. The first radio single "Everything I Do" starts
off the CD in a light, bouncy, west coast, Joe Pass style backed be Charles
McNeal call and response saxophone. It's mid tempo, but nothing special
just easy to listen to. "Serenate Roja" is very pretty Latin
piece played on classical guitar. From the :30 mark to about 1:10 the
song sounds exactly like Sting's "Englishman In New York" and
goes back to that musical theme later in the piece, but the song goes
in more of a traditional Spanish/Latin melody. I dug it a lot. "Like
A Shooting Star" is another pretty song in more of a Pop Latin feel
than the previous mention song. "In The Madness Of My Dreams"
is a soft medium paced Smooth Jazz track backed with a little trumpet
while "I Used To Be So Cool" is much more hip in it's rhythm.
"Jazzy Girl" has more of a groove/urban twinge to it that made
the song stand out over some of the other tracks that might be mundane.
All of the songs are originals with Caputo playing guitar, keyboards,
programming, sample editing and bass on all songs except "Jazzy Girl"
where Luci Pirozzi's bass playing is exclussive."
-Review by Jeff Charney, ContemporaryJazz.com
"Sergio Caputo’s musical career spans over two decades and
includes 14 albums. His latest release, That Kind of Thing,
is his first album made in the United States (recorded at Xavier Studios
in San Francisco). It also marks his debut into the Smooth Jazz genre.
Caputo wrote, produced, arranged and mixed the ten track CD; plays guitar,
keyboard and bass; and did all the programming and sample editing.
That Kind of Thing is a nice mix of Latin rhythms, Spanish guitar, and mellow grooves, with some good jazzy brass thrown in. The light, upbeat, Latin feel Everything I Do sets the pace for the CD, and features Charles McNeal on sax. It’s followed by Guess I Miss You Again. Sergio plays everything on this track that offers the same Latin groove and upbeat mood. Enrico Ravo’s muted trumpet sets the pace for Intimacy, a track with a nice mellow groove that features some great interplay between trumpet and guitar.
There is a descriptive phrase that I learned to really love from the time I’ve spent in Southern California. When the weather is just right, it’s a “top down day”… a day when jumping in a convertible and putting the top down is the perfect thing to do. There are “top down songs” that go along with that… songs you pop in the CD player of that convertible as you head up the coast. Serenato Roja and Like a Shooting Star are both “top down songs”. Both have that wonderful mellow Spanish flavor and great flamenco guitar work. Serenata Roja features Charles McNeal on flute, and the slightly more upbeat Like a Shooting Star spotlights Mike Olmes on muted trumpet.
Mike Olmes opens Waiting for Your Love with his muted trumpet. This romantic track falls in a nice mellow groove with the help of Sergio’s wah-wah guitar in the background. Rob Sudduth joins in toward the end on a free-flowing sax that provides a nice contrast to the smooth groove.
The slightly more up-beat, but still mellow with a little R&B flavored, My Lost Venus features some great mellow electric guitar work by Caputo. He’s joined by Rob Sudduth on the soprano sax.
In the Madness of My Dreams is a smooth Latin groove, upbeat, feel-good track… another good “top down song”! There is some really nice interplay between Sergio on guitar and Mike Olmes on trumpet.
I Used to Be So Cool lays down a funky Latin beat where Marty Wehner’s funky jazz trombone adds a really nice conterpoint to Sergio’s smooth Spanish guitar.
Sergio’s
mellow electric guitar work, Enrico Rava’s muted trumpet and some
great bass by Luca Pirozzi on the smooth R&B track, Jazzy Girl,
finish of this very pleasant and relaxing CD. It’s That Kind of Thing."
-
Elizabeth Ware, The Jazz Nation
***Café Jazz Pick of the Week***
"Beginning
with his debut release in 1983, Sergio Caputo has demonstrated
a unique style, one that successfully bridges the worlds of jazz and
pop. The veteran guitarist has enjoyed a critically acclaimed and prolific
career. He's recorded 13 cds over the course of two decades and in the
process has produced numerous hits that have topped the charts in his
native Italy. In the year 2000 Sergio kicked off the new millennium
by moving to the US. Based in the Bay Area, Caputo has worked hard at
establishing himself in his new surroundings. Just released is That
Kind of Thing, his Smooth Jazz debut album. It's a genuinely
sophisticated affair and no doubt represents some of Sergio's finest
work to date."
- The Jazz Lynx, Cafe' Jazz Radio
"How
many jazz guitar players spend their whole time trying to impress the
listener with how fast they can run scales with no sense of melody. Sergio
Caputo's new CD is anything but that. He has managed to show his personality
and express his feelings with the songs on "That Kind of Thing".
I call them songs, because they are lyrically pleasing even though they
are instrumental. "Serenata Roja" definitely has a message and
you imagine the words. "Jazzy Girl" is an understated fun tune
with a nice feel that makes it fit right in with good segue.
I am so glad to get something fresh and confident, Sergio Caputo is it.
I see at least five singles on this record. It makes me miss a nice little
cafe near the Duomo in Milan."
-Norm Allen, WLHC
