The jazz pianist known as Eric Shenefield has released his latest LP record, “Southwest.” The record contains 11 original tracks for an approximate total listening time of one hour, bringing “Southwest” closer to the length of a double LP than that of a traditional long-play album alone. It has proudly been published as an independent release without support of the corporate music industry. Mainly focused on the imaginative and liberating principles of jazz fusion, “Southwest” is an especially colorful example of complexity expressed through simplicity, and one of the most inventive collections of original jazz songs to be released in the new millennium.

Shenefield cites as main artistic influences George Duke, Chick Corea, Joe Sample, Oscar Peterson, Jeff Lorber, Elton John, Tribal Tech, the Crusaders, and Steely Dan. Many of the traits which slated these for the annals of music history are present in Shenefield's “Southwest,” but his own creative motivations don't play solo on this LP. The composer is quick to point out that this new record showcases some of the jazz scene's finest instrumentalists at the zenith of their game.

“This album is for people who want to listen to music that is artfully crafted and sonically mixed to hear the contribution of every musician,” Shenefield writes. “It represents the efforts of many very gifted people. I want to share that message with all who hear it.”

Neither is his goal merely collaboration for collaboration's sake, either.

“It is my hope that people will hear something new and exciting each time they listen. I have written the music, but it is the collaboration of the musicians and engineers that makes it special.”

Pianist Eric Shenefield has been playing for nearly forty years. He considers his current group to be the culmination of a life spent performing music. Having begun at home at the age of eight, his skills honed and polished at the university level, Shenefield now provides services as a keyboardist, band leader, composer and arranger. He has performed in top-40 and jazz bands all over the United States.

“The whirring of a fan or the hum of tires as we travel down the road represent the possibility of inspiration,” he writes. “We can create music by what we feel and hear if we are open to those possibilities. Music is everywhere. Being willing to hear it is the gateway to a whole new world of sound.”

“Southwest” by Eric Shenefield is available online worldwide 1 September 2014. Get in early, jazz-fusion fiends.

-S. McCauley

Lead Press Release Writer

www.MondoTunes.com

“Southwest” by Eric Shenefield –

http://www.amazon.com/Southwest-Eric-Shenefield/dp/B00MFS8AUW/