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BILL SHAFTON | In My Hands | Independent
I somehow knew I’d like this CD even before I heard it. Maybe it was the design on the CD cover…or the handwritten note from Bill Shafton, or, at the risk of sounding cosmic, Bill’s vibe that arrived with it…the vibe that told me this music came from his heart and soul, and had a warmth and beauty to it that would affect me in a positive way. When I did listen to IN MY HANDS, my expectations were exceeded. This is a beautifully crafted, melodically satisfying album! It’s polished and rich, lyrical and warm, and totally captivating. Bill Shafton is an L.A. guy…a product of U.C. Santa Barbara and Oberlin College. His mother wanted him to be a doctor, and at one point he intended to study law. We’re happy that he did neither, but instead took up the acoustic guitar. From Bill’s gentle solo performances on “The Journey,” “Embrace,” and “Celebration of Life,” to the Reggae treatment of “Santa Barbara” and the Caribbean rhythms of “Welcome Home,” this album overflows with quality and musical artistry. Check out the Metheny-esque “No Regrets,” my personal favorite. If this album came from a Smooth Jazz household name, the airplay would be instantaneous, and you’d want it for your collection. Don’t wait until everybody in Smooth Jazz knows who Bill Shafton is. Take my word for it…this is a great album. Get IN MY HANDS in your hands today! ~Scott O’Brien
- www.SmoothJazz.com
"breezy guitar jazz with a heartfelt core...In My Hands features a dozen memorable guitar workouts" - 20th Century Guitar
BILL SHAFTON
In My Hands
(Harmonic Warrior)
A graduate of Oberlin College, where he studied jazz and classical guitar, L.A.-based guitarist Bill Shafton released his CD debut in 2004. Although relatively unknown, Shafton has worked as a session guitarist, songwriter and producer for a number of artists including Dolly Parton and Carly Simon. In Shafton¹s words, ³With the guitar in my hands, I can communicate in ways that are beyond words. Music gives us the freedom to say what we truly feel², and his statement rings true on In My Hands. Assisted by players on the same wavelength‹including Zaza (piano), Luis Conte (percussion) and Ed Monjillo (drums)‹Shafton makes music that can best be described as breezy guitar jazz with a heartfelt core. Featuring fine studio mixing by Jerry Jordan, In My Hands features a dozen memorable guitar workouts including a swinging cover of the Beatles¹ evergreen ³Norwegian Wood² and the splendid, Metheny-flavored ³No Regrets². www.billshafton.com
- 20th Century Guitar
May 7, 2004
Fortunately for us guitarist Bill Shafton didn't listen to his mother and become a doctor. But her loss is our gain as his album In My Hands proves beyond a doubt. The title track, "In My Hands", begins quietly, steadily building into an intricate composition of guitar, keyboard and percussion. Near the end of the song Bill seems to be literally picking the tunes right off of the guitar strings with a mastery worthy of those who've been in and around the business much longer than he.
"No Regrets" will leave you feeling just that. Absolutely no regrets about adding this album to your collection. With the reggae-tinged opening, this song is an homage to the music that pulled him into this career path. Every musician has a beginning and Bill Shafton knows excatly when that moment was and immortalizes it here. Bill took the path offered to him and, apparently, never looked back.
I don't know if the song, "First Try" was actually just that, but it's a very upbeat, rhythmically moving tune that does a great job of showcasing Bill's great chops. The melody he weaves here merges perfectly with the accompanying instrumentation to combine as a musical whole. A true "first try" or not, if he continues in this vein Bill Shafton will be bringing us more and more great, enjoyable music. And I can hardly find fault in an artist who's willing to try to cover one of my favorite "obscure" Beatles songs, "Norwegian Wood." This choice of covers tells me that Bill Shafton is willing to step out of the box and try something a little different with this very standard part of an album release.
With another nod to his musical roots Bill again incorporates the steel drum into the song "Santa Barbara Sun" making me long for the time that I spent in Jamaica a few years ago. The sensation of sun, beach and your basic, fun party time is musically recreated here. Bring along your blanket and sunscreen and enjoy the rest of this stunning album. It is definitely worth a place in any Smooth Jazz lovers collection. - Derick Winterberg - The Smooth Jazz Site
- www.TheSmoothJazzSite.com
I love it! I play it over and over again. In the car, in my home... it soothes my tattered soul and puts me in a great mind space.
- Raleigh Pinsky
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
“Be A Doctor! Be A Doctor!” was the first song Bill heard as his mother rocked him to bed. Inspired by the deeply profound musical experience, Bill Shafton was destined to share his music with the world.
Bill took an unorthodox route to his music career. He started out attending U.C. Santa Barbara with the intention of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a lawyer (actually, his father’s, grandfathers’, sister’s, uncle's and cousins’ footsteps). But, after a few reggae concerts in Santa Barbara, his musical path came calling. “I would take my guitar down to the beach at night and strum my heart out. I’d always carry an extra G string in my back pocket for when I got a bit carried away. Those were my first experiences of really connecting with my music.”
He left the prescribed path and Santa Barbara behind as he returned to his native Los Angeles to study music full time. “I was in heaven…exploring the intricacies of guitar playing and music theory.” He carried on his collegiate studies at Oberlin College where he studied jazz and classical guitar along with psychology and religion “with a focus on psychological perspectives of the religious experience. I’m a firm believer that each religion carries a thread of truth, and music, at its best is a mystical/religious experience.”
After graduating from Oberlin in 1993, Bill debuted his talents with an album of singer songwriter and solo guitar material for Andromeda International Records. Since that time, he has worked as a session guitarist, songwriter and producer on tracks for artists such as Dolly Parton, Carly Simon and Zsa Zsa Gabor to name a few. He also formed a personalized children’s music company. Through it all, it was the guitar that kept calling him to record again:
“With the guitar in my hands, I can communicate in ways that are beyond words. Music gives us the freedom to say what we truly feel.” What Bill has to say is speaking volumes to those who have heard his music.
Jerry Jordan (engineer for Madonna, Roger Waters, Rod Stewart and co-producer of the album) comments:
“There is a great diversity of music for this album, with elements of jazz, smooth jazz, world music, classical, new age. Bill’s playing and the voice of his guitar shine through each of the songs."
In order to finance this self-produced album that would be on par with the scope of his musical vision, Bill went to work as a judgment collector for a law office in Los Angeles.
“There was something liberating about being able to focus all of my creative energy on the album, being able to bring in some of the best musicians in the world, build my own state of the art recording studio, and still be able to pay rent and eat something other than mac and cheese.”
The results of Shafton's labor are clearly reflected in the music. With compelling smooth jazz grooves, stellar guitar playing, world music stylings and heartfelt songs, Shafton takes the listener on a musical journey from start to finish.
The album closes with a musical tribute to his late father. "One of my most treasured memories is the two of us playing piano/guitar duets. He gave me such a solid foundation as a musician and, of course, as a man. Now it’s my honor to pass along his legacy that I hold…In My Hands."
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