Joseph Toliver
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Joseph Toliver

Dallas, Texas, United States | INDIE

Dallas, Texas, United States | INDIE
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The best kept secret in music

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"Smoothjazz.com"

We're simply in love with this project... it's positive, charismatic and incredibly enjoyable. Bassist Joseph Toliver truly has created a wonderful mix of Jazz, R&B, Blues, Gospel and Spoken Word on this, his debut sold recording DANCING IN THE WINDOW... a soulful fusion of genres that leaves the listener feeling good. Joseph is sax man Tom Braxton's bass player... creating an opportunity that places him in very good company in the world of contemporary jazz. According to Mr. Toliver, DANCING IN THE WINDOW is an "eclectic mix of music and genres"... precisely what this fascinating world of Smooth Jazz set out to encompass... a tapestry of musical textures and influences. Joseph Toliver fits in beautiful as he dances from song to song including the irresistible "City Lights," the Latin-tinged title track, and the thick and soulful, "Band of Brothers" (reminiscent of Victor Wooten). Dance and download this one now... you'll love it! - Review by Sandy Shore


"Jazzreview.com"

Artist / Group Name: Joseph Toliver
CD Title: Dancing in the Window
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Year Released: 2011
Tracks: Strings, Inspire Me, Simple Life, Dancing In The Window, Amazing, Band of Brothers, Just Me, Better Days Interlude and Better Days

Musicians: Joseph Toliver (bass and keyboards), Tom Braxton (saxophone), Jarriel Carter (trumpet), Daran DeShazo (guitar), Todd Parsnow (guitar), Arlington Jones (piano), Caleb McCampbell (keyboards), Chad Brawley (piano), Eric Willis (piano), Bobby Sparks (keyboards), Steve Lewis (keyboard bass/strings), Jordache Grant (keyboards and percussion), Jorge Ginorio (percussion), Joseph "Joey" Lomas (percussion), Stephanie Toliver (percussion), John Carruth (drums), Jason Thomas (drums), Lawrence "Peebody" Ferrell (drums), Andrea Wallace (vocals), Djore' Nance (vocals), Jerome Allen (bass)

Rating: Three Stars

Bassist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer Joseph Toliver is perhaps best known as being smooth jazz saxophonist Tom Braxton's bass player for the past five years. Dancing In The Window is Toliver's first release as a leader.

This CD is a breezy recording on which no corner has been cut. There are so many cheaply done smooth jazz debuts that it is refreshing to hear one that is professionally conceived and executed from first to last track. Using a bass sound similar to the one employed by the late Wayman Tisdale, Toliver plays the lead voice on most of the tunes, even when vocals are included. Most of the tunes are vocals numbers that spice up the recording and help to make the disc very accessible, as when Toliver sings on "Simple Life" and Andrea Wallace sings the radio friendly "Inspire Me."

All of the tunes are typical smooth jazz fare with Toliver's boss Tom Braxton joins his bassist on the spritely up-tempo title tune. This Latin infused composition also allows for some nice percussion work by both Jason Thomas and Jorge Ginorio. It's a shame, however, that Braxton doesn't at least get a little solo spot on this, his only appearance on the disc. It is on this tune, perhaps more than any of the others, where Toliver shows off his melodically oriented improvisatory chops. He has real ability and isn't shy about letting the audience in on it.

"Inspire Me" is a nice radio-friendly composition and "Amazing" is a tune the chill market will appreciate, with some nice overdubbing of vocals by Wallace. "Just Me" is a quasi-bluesy big-type production number that is a bit of a departure when compared with the rest of the tunes on the disc. Overall this is a nice respectable solidly musical debut and with so many terrible smooth jazz debuts coming out in recent years, that is saying a lot. - Thomas R. Erdmann


Discography

Dancing in the Window - Joseph Toliver
Tom Braxton - Endless Highway

Photos

Bio

Born with an innate love for music, Joseph gravitated to any object in the house that he could use to create rhythms and sounds. By the time he was fourteen, the Dallas native had developed the skill to play multiple instruments, such as the lead guitar, piano, organ, and his most adored instrument, the bass guitar. Joseph’s love and mastery of the bass guitar has created opportunities for him to play alongside some of the nation’s finest musical talent. Impressively, Joseph has been the bassist for national recording artist, Tom Braxton for the more than 4 years.

After years of accompanying other artists, Joseph finally responded to the urging of others to embark upon the courageous journey to produce his first solo project. This instrumentalist’s obsession for jazz prompted him to produce a project that would be a soulful fusion of multiple tones, sounds, and rhythms that paint a hypnotic canvas of unforgettable lyrics, melodies and grooves. Since its anticipated release, “Dancing in the Window” has sold across the United States and many other countries.