Artist description This is Jim Beckwith's debut album, featuring Los Angeles-based band, Native Vibe. African-influenced jazz/pop fusion with melodic, soulful lyrics and vocals by Jim Beckwith. This album features Arnold McCuller, long-time backup singer for James Taylor and Lyle Lovett. Also, Vinx collaborates on one track with percussion, and several tracks have his help on backing vocals. Munyongo Jackson, percussionist for Stevie Wonder, Diane Reeves and others offers his percussive inspirations on the tune "No Power". A wide range of music on this project; lots of percussion and horns as well as a few ballads to round out the lineup, all tied together with the exceptional vocal quality and lyrics of Jim Beckwith.

Music Style Jazz/Pop/Worldbeat fusion

Musical Influences Stevie Wonder, Sting, Paul Simon, James Taylor, many others

Similar Artists Sting, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Michael Franks

Artist History Native Vibe formed in 1991 with Bill Macpherson and Nee Sackey. They have just released their newest of seven cd projects, Mirage.

Group Members Jim Beckwith, Nee Sackey, Bill Macpherson, Rogerio Jardim, Kevin Flournoy, Jason Hann

Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, drumset, djembe and various percussion, keyboards, brass horn sections, sax and trumpet solos...

Albums Jim Beckwith - Step Right, Shake Left

Press Reviews --- an impressive piece of work My first thoughts are that I hear a lot what I would call sophisticated pop -- strong vocals, sharp arrangements -- it mixes in a lot of world-music, funk and R&B influences, somewhat along the lines of what Sting, Paul Simon and maybe Peter Gabriel do. I heard things that reminded me of Sting, of Vinx (of course, he’s on this disk), Prefab Sprout/Blue Nile, Prince, the Neville Brothers and some African artists. Nice work. --Philip Booth; Downbeat, Billboard Magazine. A few weeks ago, I had heard a taste of Beckwith's sound on a streaming audio file off the Internet. Right as the file started uploading, I was hooked. His sound was a mix of jazz, world music, Latin, and anything else you can think of. Jump back again to Saturday, where we made our way to the concert. Skipper's was a combination eatery/outdoor music hall. The stage area, found next door to the restaurant, had wooden tables all around so one could eat whilst listening. (In case you're wondering, I had shrimp and fries.) Native Vibe took to the stage first, playing a healthy dose of jazz/rock fusion (not the early fusion, mind you). Soon Beckwith emerged, bathed in a sea of red and green light as he sang heartfelt lyrics and played the bongos or the djembe drum. On "No Power," Beckwith and Native Vibe percussionist Jason Hann tore off into an amazing solo, where Hann banged away on the congas at a furious speed. "Step Right" had a bouncy reggae feel that had echoes of Sting and Peter Gabriel. At one point during the concert, I had been nudged onto the dance area in front of the stage during a Latinesque number. For one thing, I dance horribly, which seems ironic for a guy who deals with rhythms on the drums. But I "danced," nevertheless, keeping my back toward an audience who probably wouldn't see me again anyway. But somewhere, somebody has a picture of me strangely moving to the beat in the background. Later in the evening, Beckwith sat alone with a guitar to play a lovely version of Sting's "Fields of Gold" among a couple of other tunes. My friend bought me Beckwith's debut CD, "Step Right Shake Left," as a birthday present, and now I have a continuing memory of that amazing concert. If you have a taste for the musical styles I mentioned, then I implore you to buy the CD. Michael Fortuna is a feature writer with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, extension 234.

Additional Info jim@commontouchmusic.com

Location Tampa, FL - USA

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