CABO FRIO

Considering their humble beginnings in 1979 from out of Rochester and Buffalo, New York, CABO FRIO began making smooth jazz with songs like Sophistication, Little Evie, Sweet Sunshine and Jewels (to name a few) before the style was considered as a genre of music. In 1984 the group signed a deal with MCA and toured with label mates Spyro Gyra and the YellowJackets around the world performing at venues such as The Newport News Jazz Festival, Carnegie Mellon Hall, Carter Baron (DC) and clubs like the Blue Note in New York, and Blues Alley in Washington, DC.

CABO FRIO has also toured with Buddy Rich, Phyllis Hyman, Jeff Lorber, Joan Jett, Dave Valentine and shared the bill with such notables as Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, Kenny G., and The Crusaders along with Joe Sample.

In 1986, while recording for Zebra Records (a subsidiary of MCA), the CABO FRIO CD ‘Right On The Money’ climbed to #11 on the Billboard Chart. One year later their longest playing hit, ‘I’ll Get Back To You’, was recorded on the group’s self-titled CD. The producer, Peter Drake, brought in Eugene Wilde to sing lead on the vocal tracks. This collaboration poised the band as an R&B sensation even though the guitar riffs, drum patterns, along with piano and saxophone melodies suggested smooth jazz.

Although several changes in the membership of CABO FRIO has occurred over the past three decades, the band’s founder and original member, Curtis Kendrick, has been the sticky glue with the formula of the band’s distinct sound which was often compared to that of Sypro Gyra in the earlier days. This unique sound is apparent on the 1992 CD entitled ‘Sophistication’ with songs like ‘Piece of the Reece’, ‘Let Me’ and ‘Sidewalk’, recorded and released by Kezia Records. Musicians whom had played with the likes of the Winans, Luther Vandross, Pieces of a Dream, Chuck Mangione, and Aretha Franklin were now coming out to join with the prolific Songwriter, Keyboardist, Arranger, Producer and drummer extraordinaire, Curtis Kendrick in music collaborations.

Today CABO FRIO hails out of Chase, Owings Mills, Prince Frederick and Pasadena Maryland with members Mark Russell on Bass, David Wells and Saxophones, Benjie Porecki and Glen Douglass on Keyboards along with the timekeeper Curtis Kendricks on Drums. These guys have been sidemen with artists like Ken Navarro, Maysa, Stephanie Mills, Kim Waters, The David Bach Consort, Spur of the Moment, Regina Bell, Gerald Veasley, Ronnie Jordan, and Alexander O’ Neal (to name a few) and are happy to have forged a camaraderie with one another and a home for this group of fine musicians to belong. Sandy Shore (of Smooth Jazz.com) recently wrote, “This veteran jazz ensemble is truly the quintessential Smooth Jazz band – An east coast Fattburger if you will.”

‘Late Return’, the 2003 CD showcases pop jazz in songs like ‘What’s Going On’, ‘Limit 10’, as well as the melancholy jazz found on the title track and on Shamuta. It’s clear the return of CABO FRIO is not late. The Island Dance CD, recorded and released in 2004 on Kezia Records, exemplifies songs made perfect for the smooth jazz format, as we know it today. Songs like ‘Exit’, ‘Flight Time’, ‘Straight To You’, ‘Silent Cry’, and ‘You Don’t Know’ can be heard in hotel lobbies and on elevators across the country.

The latest CD, ‘The Best Of Cabo Frio’, is a strong collection of hand picked songs from six previously released CDs and the Original Band CD along with 3 newly recorded songs, ‘Sweet Serenade’, ‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me (Temptations and Supremes cover song)’ and ‘Tough Enough (first single)’. CABO FRIO is now ready to re-enter the music industry and soar to the forefront of the jazz scene with a catalog of smooth jazz that will enthuse jazz fans everywhere. While opening might be the start, it’s certain that CABO FRIO will be destined for headlining before long……