Gothic Theatre
Carl Dixon
Carl Dixon’s began singing in Mt Zion A.M.E. church when he was two years old. So in a sense this Disc has years in the making. And it is worth the wait! “It’s A Time For Love”, which kicks off with “If I loved You” from the musical “Carousel” and ends with “When I Fall In Love”, speaks to this most compelling of human emotions in anything but maudlin style. Instead, it’s all-ballad format explores the anxiety as well as completeness of love and it does all that in a sophisticated swinging fashion. This CD has an appeal for all ages.
Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Dixon has covered music from spirituals to classics. His jazz roots run deep and were never neglected during his long career in information technology with several of the nations major high-tech corporations. He pursued that career (after military service first brought him to Denver in 1957) until his retirement in 1999. But even when he had a day job, Dixon could be found performing in locations ranging from South Africa and Ghana to Montreal and even Maidstone, England where he worked with tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson, another transplant to Colorado, who made a mark on jazz after a long non-musical career. Despite such sojourns and frequent engagements along the Front Range of his adopted state, Dixon never had a disc of his own. Several years ago, saxophonist Rich Chiaraluce (a fine player who “cooks” on this CD with pianist Jeff Jenkins, bassist Ken Walker and drummer Paul Romaine) told the singer that he needed to put something down. And now he has.
Of the 12 tracks on the disc, 11 are standards. The exception to the standard rule is the original “Anginella,” a tune with words and music by the vocalist. This tune was influenced by an old Frankie Laine song that stuck with Dixon. As for the standards, they never sound staid. While Dixon doesn’t try to stretch boundaries here, his full baritone sound (that would be very comfortable in front of the Count Basie Orchestra) does stretch your imagination when it comes to love. Along with Joe Williams, Nat “King” Cole and Frank Sinatra, Dixon holds Billy Eckstein in the highest regard. In fact, his next project involves remembering Mr. B. But until then, kick back, think romance and enjoy this disc completely.
Since his retirement, Carl has enhanced his love of music and embarked upon a musical career. He has performed in many venues in metro Denver, performed for almost two years at Genghis Kahn in Colorado Springs and participated in the 2003 Pikes Peak Jazz Festival. He has performed in London, France, Durban and Johannesburg, South Africa and recently in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City, Mexico
On October 30th, Carl Dixon and the Jazz Cats officially released their CD: A Time for Love in a show-stopping performance at Dazzle’s Supper Club on 930 Lincoln in downtown Denver. The place was packed and the audience showed their appreciation by requesting an encore. While Carl and the Jazz Cats only did four tuned from the CD, they performed in a manner that clearly demonstrated their versatility. The programs ending tune “Go Down Moses” took the audience to an emotional high as it was done in a uniquely swinging blues style.
During a recent CD promotional tour in the U.S,. Carl performed with the Tony Williams Quartet at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia; for A Jazz Benefit for Indigent Musicians in Trenton, NJ; and with the Frank Wilkins Trio as the opening act for Gladys Knight & Bill Cosby in a Benefit Show in Cambridge, MA .
People do not often think of Denver when they think of jazz. That is changing. KUVO, our public jazz-only and high definition radio station, quietly continues to set national precedents in its programming of American music. Colorado’s own jazz musicians like Carl Dixon and the Jazz Cats are gaining increased recognition throughout the country.
KUVO has selected Carl Dixon and The Jazz Cats “It’s A Time For Love” as it’s jazz CD of the month!
“Its A Time For Love” is available on www.carlcroons.com, www.CdBaby.com , www.jazzlinkenterprises.com or through BraJas Productions at 303-663-2827.All of us jazz radio heads are always keeping our fingers crossed hoping to get a male vocalist with chops to play. Female vocalists are far too many to choose from so when a radio friendly male vocalist appears, most likely it receives prompt attention. With that in mind be on the look out for baritone-Carl Dixon and The Jazz Cats. Carl is originally from Trenton, NJ but has been in Denver for over 20 years. He finally recorded his first CD. We are playing it on Jazz 89, KUVO to the delight of our programmers and listeners.
Carl has embarked on a cross country car trip, a northern route to New Jersey and a southern route returning to the Mile High City. He gave me his itinerary and I gave him a list of jazz radio outlets for every major and minor town he travels through with a contact so he can deliver a copy of his debut album, “It’s A Time For Love”. Carl is a singer in the tradition of Billy Eckstine, Arthur Prysock etc and is refreshing to hear a contemporary recording in that vein with remakes associated with them as well. Moreover, the accompanying musicians are in fine form especially saxist Rich Chiarluce, back in Denver after a hiatus back East. Kenny Walker, Denver’s master bassist, Jeff Jenkins on the 88’s and Paul Romaine on drums are the other Jazz Cats.
When Carl returns from his sojourn, he’ll be mailing his CD to those stations he didn’t visit in person, so…....if you’re interested in obtaining a copy of a Cd that won’t change the history of jazz male vocals but has a song or 2 for the most conservative or open-ended jazz programming, let me know and I’ll see to it you get a copy soon.
Oh, one final note, the CD has nice artwork and is very radio friendly as the tracks are numbered, the timings are easy to see and the personnel is there to read on the back j-card without straining, something that can’t be said about too many releases as of late.
Arturo Gómez
