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| Guitarist/composer Cam Newton has been receiving good press
on the basis of his first two releases, while his latest outing titled
Short Films, represents the artist’s freshman offering for the
Arizona-based “Summit Records”
label.
Mr. Newton is a classically trained musician and a – Registered Music
Therapist, as this Oregon native boasts an impressive resume, having
played with blues legend B.B. King, saxophonist David Sanborn and
according to the companion press kit, toured or performed with one of
Miles Davis’ aggregations. With this effort, the guitarist pursues an
organic touch, atop lilting choruses and eloquently assembled themes!
Newton conveys a lust for life via passionate and primarily upbeat
choruses that often bespeak a world beat groove amid peaceable melodies,
layered strings and soprano saxophonist Michael Bard’s dream-laden lines
along with the intermittent injections of Far Eastern rhythmic structures.
Simply put, Newton’s training as a musical therapist is effectively
illustrated via his approach to composition. Yes, much of it could be
associated with “New Age” or radio friendly fare yet the artist’s
often expressive, prismatic aural canvasses translate into ethereal,
soothing and moderately energetic motifs. Hence, fans of “Shadowfax”,
the “Paul Winter Consort” or perhaps “Oregon” may want to pay
special attention to this affable and altogether attractive set. |
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By Glenn Astarita, ALL
ABOUT JAZZ |
| This contemporary jazz guitarist--who calls Portland,
Oregon, home--offers evidence of the area's high musical standards with a
lush 13-song set that, as the title suggest, conjures visual images of
geographical areas and its natural beauty. Among his A-list of players are
bassist and violinist Rob Thomas, who excels on "One Blue Pearl, and
saxophonist Michael Bard, who once led a groundbreaking contemporary jazz
band that included Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico, who later struck a claim
as rhythm section for the Pat Metheny Group. Newton does have his own
unique voice on acoustic, but composition-wise, on the first few electric
selections, dubbed Scene I, there are some similarities to southwest-twangy
music that's become Bill Frisell's stock in trade, particularly on
"Details at Eleven," the ballad "Mr. Pachelbel Takes a
Vacation," and the Celtic-colored "There Was a Time." On
Short Films, Newton contrasts an overt classical romanticism and high
energy, long melodic lines on more uptempo numbers like "Global
Village," and the anthem "To Fight the Good Fight." It's no
wonder that Newton is a licensed music therapist, because his is music
that soothes and inspires without seeking a lowest musical denominator. |
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--Mark Ruffin, Amazon.com |
| Cam’s diverse path to the release of his latest CD and
his career as a Music Therapist will be chronicled on a segment of Oregon
Art Beat on OPB Oregon Public Television (Channel 10 in
Portland area) on Thursday, March 22!! It will be
re-broadcast on Sunday, March 25th at 6pm. |
Cam Newton’s new CD, “Short Films”, will be featured
in the March 2001 issue of JAZZIZ Magazine
(one of the premier Jazz magazines in the world).
The tune “Spirit of the Pacific Rim” will also be featured on JAZZIZ
MAGAZINE's monthly sampler disc in that same issue. His tune will be
featured along with artists like Dave Brubeck, Shirley Horn, Rick Braun
and others.
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| The adage of “location, location, location” may be the
only thing keeping guitarist CAM NEWTON from stardom. The Oregon
native has received stellar reviews in international publications and won
the title of “Best Jazz Guitarist” in Portland from readers’ polls
in the Pacific Northwest. Famed jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd even named
Newton (in the liner notes of his First Flight album) along with Pat
Metheny and John McLaughlin as the best of a new generation of jazz
guitarists. But rather than move elsewhere, Newton draws inspiration from
the Oregon environment for his new CD, Short Films (Summit). On the
featured “Spirit of the Pacific Rim,” the guitarist’s 6- and
12-string forays soar over the work of two other slowly rising
Northwestern stars: saxophonist Michael Bard and violinist/bassist Rob
Thomas. |
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-- JAZZIZ Magazine |
| This music draws you in like a positive magnetic field. Unexpected accents,
shifting meters, and contrapuntal complexities set it apart from
fusion-as-usual. Newton’s guitar playing is full of nice surprises. Like a
jazzy John Fahey…… |
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-- DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE
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| …music that really stands up and says something… |
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-- THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/EXAMINER
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| Newton is a highly accomplished Jazz guitarist-composer… There’s a
carefree, blithe manner about Newton that belies his intensity about music. |
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-- THE OREGONIAN
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| …the melodies are consistently strong. Newton’s …familiarity with
Oregon’s abundance of mountains, rivers, and deserts is reflected in the
pastoral tranquility and subtle optimism pervading his music. |
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-- JAZZSCENE, JAZZ SOCIETY OF OREGON
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| Superb! |
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-- VICTORY MUSIC FOLK & JAZZ REVIEW
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| "Portland’s best Jazz Guitarist" |
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-- WILLAMETTE WEEK’S READER’S POLL AWARD
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Artist management:
Forrest Faubion
Waterways Music
POBox 8904
Portland, Oregon 97207
Tel: 503-804-9680
Fax: 503-699-9703
forrest@camnewton.com
© Copyright 2000 - 2003 NOTWEN Music. All rights reserved.
Cam Newton, Waterways Music Portland, Oregon
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