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Michael Franks
Over the languorous course of 33 years and 16 albums, Michael Franks has mesmerized an international legion of fans with his one-of-a-kind artistry. Seamlessly weaving lyrics of stunning sensuality, wit, reflection and literary eloquence over music that tastefully utilizes top shelf shadings of jazz, soul, pop, chamber and music from around the globe, Michael Franks the songwriter has set a bar in the music world that places him as nothing less than a statesman of song craft. His best known works include “Popsicle Toes,” “Monkey See-Monkey Do,” “The Lady Wants To Know,” “When the Cookie Jar is Empty,” “Tiger in the Rain,” “Rainy Night in Tokyo” and “Tell Me All About It” (covered by artists ranging from Diana Krall and Natalie Cole to Manhattan Transfer and the Carpenters). As if that weren't enough, Michael Franks the singer is gifted with a gentle, deliciously expressive voice - identifiable from note one. For his 17th album, Rendezvous in Rio (his first for Koch Records - in stores June 27), Michael Franks sways to a very familiar South American beat. The CD marks a 180-degree shift in scenario and temperature zone from his previous project, the holiday/winter CD Watching the Snow. On Rendezvous, Michael collaborates with old friends/producers Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip (of the fusion band Yellowjackets) and guitarist Chuck Loeb, as well as newer partners engineer/bassist Scott Petito and his touring Musical Director and keyboardist Charles Blenzig. Blenzig proved literally 'instrumental' in the creation of the funky, melodic bossa that became the title track, "Rendezvous in Rio." "That song was originally an instrumental with a different title from a record that Charles recorded," Michael shares. "It was more Latin than Brazilian, but that was the first music I sat down and wrote to for this album in September of 2005." Brazilian music, culture and vibe have haunted Michael's work from early on. The country's renowned composer Antonio Carlos Jobim has been such a significant influence on his writing that Michael has dedicated three songs to him over the years: "Antonio's Song (The Rainbow)," "Like Water, Like Wind" and "Abandoned Garden." And for his third album, Sleeping Gypsy (1977), Michael flew down to Rio to record two now-classic compositions: "Down in Brazil" and "B'Wana-He No Home." Listening to his catalog as well as new songs like "Under the Sun," one might assume that Michael has journeyed often to the land of the cafe' au lait cariocas...but he's only been once.
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Michael Franks: Anthology: The Art of Love
![Read "Anthology: The Art of Love" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000931OO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
by Chris M. Slawecki
These 31 digitally remastered tracks across two CDs span Franks’ three-decade career, with something from every one of his Warner Bros. releases plus his Windham Hill album Barefoot on the Beach, performances with the Australian sextet Crossfire and the Yellowjackets, and studio tracks with Joe Sample and Brenda Russell.
Early cuts show Franks as a fusion troubadour, mixing Japanese and Ahmad Jamal influences into zen-pop cool and soft that flowed with more than clever wordplay. “Eggplant” and “Popsicle ...
read moreMichael Franks: Barefoot on the Beach
![Read "Barefoot on the Beach" reviewed by Dave Hughes](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/7e06d62e16fc79b7946d1fc9b8a71bf9.jpg)
by Dave Hughes
Michael Franks'Barefoot on the Beachbreaks little new ground - it's another batch of slinky, laidback yet hooky pop-jazz confections with Franks' trademark clever, playful lyrics. (I swear Franks must hold the world record for number of metaphors and euphemisms for lovemaking.) But this is a particularly enjoyable batch - the sunny tunes are particularly bright, the love songs are especially romantic, and the heartbreak songs have a bit more angst. Of course, Franks always helps his own cause ...
read moreBasie Summer Jazz Fest 2018 Set For June 2-3 In Red Bank, NJ
![Basie Summer Jazz Fest 2018 Set For June 2-3 In Red Bank, NJ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/6c0bc5d14ff16fe64d3e42b9126782ce.jpg)
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All About Jazz
The historic Count Basie Theatre, the state’s top-selling performing arts theater and the namesake of jazz great William J. “Count” Basie, has announced its second-ever Basie Summer Jazz Fest, starring Michael Franks, Lee Ritenour + Dave Grusin, Bob James Trio and Lizz Wright on Saturday, June 2, plus Snarky Puppy, Esperanza Spalding and Moonchild on Sunday, June 3. Tickets for these performances, starting at $40, are on sale now through theBASIE.org, phone charge at 732.842.9000 and the Basie box office, ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Michael Franks
![Jazz Musician of the Day: Michael Franks](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/7e06d62e16fc79b7946d1fc9b8a71bf9.jpg)
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All About Jazz is celebrating Michael Franks' birthday today!
Over the languorous course of 33 years and 16 albums, Michael Franks has mesmerized an international legion of fans with his one-of-a-kind artistry. Seamlessly weaving lyrics of stunning sensuality, wit, reflection and literary eloquence over music that tastefully utilizes top shelf shadings of jazz, soul, pop, chamber and music from around the globe...Over the languorous course of 33 years and 16 albums, Michael Franks has mesmerized an international legion of fans ...
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Iconic Singer-Songwriter Michael Franks Releases Video For The Title Track From His New Album Time Together
![Iconic Singer-Songwriter Michael Franks Releases Video For The Title Track From His New Album Time Together](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/7e06d62e16fc79b7946d1fc9b8a71bf9.jpg)
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1888 Media
Michael Franks, the ever-artful singer-songwriter and harvester of the most delectable musical passion fruit known to distingué lovers, recently released his 18th offering, Time Together, his first for Shanachie, and first since 2006's Rendezvous in Rio. Following the success of the album's lead single/video Now That The Summer's Here" (feat. Eric Marienthal), Franks chose to highlight the album's sublime title track, a touching tribute to his beloved dog Flora, as a follow-up. Time Together" features Gil Goldstein on piano, Romero ...
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Michael Franks - Time Together (2011)
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Something Else!
You don't see me cover a lot of jazz vocalist or smooth jazz records, so you may wonder what is up with this piece about a record from smooth jazz's premier vocalist, Michael Franks? When I informed our own Mark Saleski my intention to cover Franks his reaction was to disgusted ewwwww!" but that didn't faze me one bit. I've already long ago admitted that Franks' music was a guilty pleasure of mine, so it's not like I'm going to ...
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Iconic Singer-Songwriter Michael Franks Returns With Sublime New Album Of Penetrating Poetry And Worldly Grooves, Celebrating His Love of Animals, Travel, Literature, Humanity And Life
![Iconic Singer-Songwriter Michael Franks Returns With Sublime New Album Of Penetrating Poetry And Worldly Grooves, Celebrating His Love of Animals, Travel, Literature, Humanity And Life](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/7e06d62e16fc79b7946d1fc9b8a71bf9.jpg)
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1888 Media
Time Together, Franks' First New CD in Five Years, Unites Him With An All-Star Cast of Friends Including Gil Goldstein, Chuck Loeb, Till Bronner, Mike Mainieri, Eric Marienthal & Others Michael Franks, the ever-artful singer-songwriter and harvester of the most delectable musical passion fruit known to distingué lovers, has returned with his 18th offering, Time Together, his first for Shanachie, to be released June 14, 2011, and his first since 2006's Rendezvous in Rio. Like James Taylor, Carole King, Joni ...
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Jazz This Week: Michael Franks, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, and More
![Jazz This Week: Michael Franks, Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival, and More](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/stlouisjazznotes100.jpg)
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week's calendar of jazz and creative music in St. Louis is considerably less crowded than last week's, but there are still several notable events happening around the metro area. Let's go to the highlights: The best-known touring performer in town this week is singer/songwriter Michael Franks, who will play on Thursday at the Ameristar Casino St. Charles' Bottleneck Blues Bar. For more about Franks and some video clips of him performing, see this post. Also on Thursday, the Jazz ...
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STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: "Down in Brazil" with Michael Franks
![STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: "Down in Brazil" with Michael Franks](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/stlouisjazznotes100.jpg)
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week, we've got some video clips of singer Michael Franks, who's coming to St. Louis on Thursday, September 16 to perform at the Ameristar Casino St. Charles' Bottleneck Blues Bar. Known for his gentle crooning, lyrical wordplay, and fondness for Latin and Brazilian rhythms, Franks started as a folk singer before turning to jazz in the early 1970s. He made one self-titled record before beginning a 20-year association with the Warner Brothers ...
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Walter Duda
pianoJames Hammel
vocalsBurke Ingraffia
vocalsDon Pope
woodwindsJim M. Lovell
guitarFrank Chiarini
vocalsPhotos
Music
Now That The Summer's Here (ft. Eric Marienthal)
From: Time TogetherBy Michael Franks