THE JIM MASTERS QUARTET Jim Masters, trombone and vocals Dave Powers, keyboards and vocals Jim Powell, trumpet and flugelhorn Joe Ong, drums with special guests Kelly Delaveris and Louise Salvador Recorded live at Spagio Restaurant, Columbus, OH, April 15, 1997 by Musicol Recording. Recording Engineers – John Hull, Warren Hull and Chris Loper Produced by Jim Masters. ABOUT JIM MASTERS: Jim Masters brings a depth of experience as a trombonist, singer, performer and educator. As an Alumnus of Youngstown State University he received outstanding soloist awards at the Wichita and Elmhurst Jazz festivals. He actively pursued a career in Ohio before moving to New York City whew he worked until 1990 before returnng to Ohio. Jim toured the U-S. and Japan with the Buddy Rich Band and the Widespread Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with the bands of Tito Puente, Mel Lewis, Clem DeRosa, Roy Gerson, Lew Anderson, John Fedchock / Maria Schneider, and currently performs as a member of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. In Columbus he was a member of the Bobby Floyd Project and co-founder of Yumbambe as well as many appearances with his own ensembles. He feels fortunate to have made music with many of the greats of Jazz. He has been a featured vocalist and soloist at NYC's Blue note with Jorge Anders Latin/Jazz Band. You may see him appearing in Bob Kindred and Anne Phillips' "BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT" A JAZZ NATIVITY. He has sung and played on numerous commercials and performed in many commercial venues, stages, orchestra pits and clubs. As a composer and songwriter Jinn has numerous compositions recorded. A family man, Jim has written and is writing many songs for and about children. His children's choir piece "We The Children" was performed by the Columbus Girl's Choir, and the Colonial Hills choir in Worthington, 0hio. Recently he composed music for Worthington's bicentennial play "The Scioto Company" and also is composer and lyricist for "Back Where I Belong", the official song of Licking County, Ohio. Masters created The American Jazz Experience which is an Artist In Schools, one hour informance which he and his group have presented to over 153,000 students in Central Ohio. He and the ensemble are deeply committed to sharing this American classic music with today's children. He shares this viewpoint with his partner and co-sponsor The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus. He currently serves on the faculty of The Ohio State University as Jazz trombone instructor and lecturer. Jim appears on the faculty of numerous music camps and arts festivals throughout the country including the 2003 Stanford Jazz Workshop. "JIM MASTERS, AN ORIGINAL VOICE" Bill Spilka International Trombone Association Journal "A highlight was a bright original by Masters, called "You Just Made My Day", to which the composer applied his earthly baritone voice as well as his horn" Stuart Troup New York Newsday "Jim Masters showed a rugged, belting attack both as a trombonist and a singer." John S. Wilson New York Times "Trombonist Jim Masters riffs .....a joy indeed" Chip Deffaa New York Post ORIGINAL CD LINER NOTES: My first introduction to Spagio was on a fateful evening in 1991. After a gig that evening, Kelly Delaveris introduced me to the popular restaurant and its restauranteurs Chef Hubert Seifert and his wife Helga. Before the night was over, I was playing my horn and getting the place dancing. Almost four years later, Bill Lewis called me to put a band together at Spagio for the Chef. We met and the Chef and I created the night and the concept. It was the beginning of a golden era in the musical history of jazz in Columbus, Ohio. We worked very hard to get going, but with commitment, quality and care, it continued to be an institution, lasting for eight wonderful years. All the atmosphere, food, wines, days and nights are award winning at Spagio. But…on Tuesday nights, THE PLACE TO GO – SPAGIO! This incarnation of the quartet came together when Jim Powell came back to town from New York City. Dave Powers (whose music you can also find on CD Baby and iTunes!) agreed to kick bass and piano, and with Joe Ong on drums, our sound was born. The musical dimensions of each of the individual musicians are manifold, giving us the freedom of painting many styles and colors on our musical canvas. What is beautiful about this now historic recording is the honesty in what you hear. If you came to hear us at Spagio on a Tuesday night, or hear us elsewhere, this is a sample of what you can expect to hear, not something designed and created in a studio. We feel a similarity to the honesty and art in preparing and presenting food, in the way we present our music. I thank Chef Hubert for his vision and perseverance. I thank all our fans and friends. I thank my family and dear friends for their encouragement and support. I thank all the great jazz artists past and present for our artform. I thank the wonderful artists who present their talents on this recording. I thank God for our talents…and the amazing universe which we are part of. Jim Masters (original 1998 notes, revised 2012)