Search - Dan Siegel :: Hemispheres

A Note From The Producer

Cary E. Mansfield | Studio City, CA USA | 01/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Popular smooth jazz keyboardist Dan Siegel has been helping to shape the genre since his recording debut in 1980. When he originally released this extraordinary and ambitious project Hemispheres in 1995, he was simply trying to create an original, globally oriented twist on his mega-popular trademark keyboard sound. It was a veritable smorgasbord of world beat sounds, beats and textures which allowed him to keep a lower profile on the keyboard and keep the focus on some very unique all-star instrumental combinations. The plan was to bring together a lot of artists who played many different instruments some mainstream, some exotic, and blend them. The album title alludes to the overlapping of cultures, juxtaposing different sounds in ways you might not expect. It was a veritable United Nations in the studio at one time. Hemispheres is one of the 90s most innovative gems. The albums all-star instrumental collaborations include Osamu Kitajima (his soundtrack compositions have been heard in Japanese films and PBS documentaries), premiere banjo player Béla Fleck (considered one of the most innovative pickers in the world), and Boney James (best selling R&B saxophonist). Unavailable for over five years, this reissue features the previously unreleased bonus track "Rainbow Sky" with vocals by Terri Nunn, from the group Berlin ("Take My Breath Away")."