“Every man lives in two realms: the internal and the external. The internal is that realm of spiritual ends expressed in art, literature, morals, and religion. The external is that complex of devices, techniques, mechanisms, and instrumentalities by means of which we live.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Conceived as a follow-up to their 2011 CD Our Own Devices, Player A has added two new songs, and remixed others from that release to present their newest EP, Devices, Techniques, & Mechanisms.
The release begins with a remix of Our Own Devices’ “(Hate to Say) I Told You So”, renamed “Told You So!” and featuring veteran smooth jazz sax man Jeff Kashiwa (Rippingtons, Sax Pack). Kashiwa brings some great sax lines and a funky solo to feature along with Mark Baldwin’s smooth guitar work.
“Jeff was gracious enough to play on this song and really took it to another level. I always felt like this song deserved more featured status, and still hold that it can be a smooth jazz radio hit,” says producer and Player A keyboardist/composer Eric Copeland. “I hope one day to say, ‘Told You So!’”
Next up is a song that was written for Our Own Devices but instead was adopted by smooth jazz guitarist Drew Davidsen (also produced by Copeland on Creative Soul Jazz). Called “Drew’s Blues”, the song was featured on Davidsen’s Spin Cycle release.
But now Baldwin shows his own version of the guitar work, and the groovy track is assisted (as it is on much of the EP) by veteran remixer and Grammy-winner Jeff Savage (Natalie Imbruglia, Toby Mac.)
“Yin & Yang” is another new tune and was scheduled for the 2011 album but wasn’t finished in time. While a fun track, it just wasn’t taking shape in 2011.
“We had cut the unique time signature tune with drums, bass, and keys, but at the time I didn’t have the melody or its personality,” Copeland says. “That all came to me this past year as I started thinking of remixing some of Our Own Devices.”
“Yin & Yang” features unique Eastern influences and instruments with Tuvan singing, as well as some funky jazz solos by guitarist Tom Hemby and drummer Scott Williamson.
The next track is a real remix, completely conceived, performed, and remixed by Savage. Remixing smooth jazz? Savage found it interesting, challenging, and ultimately fun! Originally called “Chill” on a 1999 album from Copeland named Cooler, then “Chiller” for Our Own Devices, now called “Chillest (Savage Remix).”
Player A perhaps made its greatest impact in 2011-12 on Smooth Jazz radio with the Top 30 Billboard hit “Coming On”. Here Savage remixes and some new smoother sax parts were found for a new mix of this hit song now called “Coming Back On.”
The EP ends on the song that Our Own Devices started with, “Sleekness Revisited” featuring another great smooth jazz sax man Marcus Anderson. Again with remix elements by Savage, Copeland also feels the saxes are now tighter.
“Some things just bother you after you release an album, and they never go away,” Copeland says. “And this killer tune just had some things I heard in headphones that always needed fixing. That is done now, and the groove is tighter too!”
The funny thing is, Player A was supposed to release a Latin record in 2018 that they have been working on the last six or seven years called Welcome to Florida. But Copeland decided to put that off one more year to realize this new vision for these songs.
“We’ll be moving sideways from Smooth/Acid Jazz to Latin, Bossa, and Samba, but Player A is all about showing different sides of the amazing musicians of Nashville and contemporary jazz. Whatever you hear will be well played, great songs, by great musicians and minds.”
Here the album at Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, and more!
Player A – Devices, Techniques, & Mechanisms (2018)
Credits:
Produced and Conceived by Eric Copeland for Creative Soul Jazz
Mixed by Bill Whittington
(Chillest mixed by Jeff Savage)
Mastered by Randy LeRoy
Told You So! (feat. Jeff Kashiwa)
Drums: John Hammond
Bass: Gary Lunn
Guitars: Mark Baldwin
Saxes: Jeff Kashiwa
Keys and Programming: Eric Copeland
Additional Loops and Programming: Jeff Savage
Deep Pockets
Drums: Scott Williamson
Bass: Danny O’Lannerghty
Guitars: Mark Baldwin
Keyboards and Programming: Eric Copeland
Additional Loops and Programming: Jeff Savage
Yin & Yang
Drums: Scott Williamson
Bass: Gary Lunn
Guitars: Tom Hemby
Keyboards, Vocals, and Programming: Eric Copeland
Chillest (Savage Remix)
Drums: Dan Needham
Bass: Gary Lunn
Guitars: Mark Baldwin
Keys and Programming: Eric Copeland
Remix by Jeff Savage
Coming Back On
Drums: Dan Needham
Bass: Gary Lunn
Guitars: Mark Baldwin
Saxes: Sam Levine
Keys and Programming: Eric Copeland
Additional Loops and Programming: Jeff Savage
Sleekness Revisited (feat. Marcus Anderson)
Drums: John Hammond
Bass: Gary Lunn
Guitars: Mark Baldwin
Saxes: Marcus Anderson
Keys and Programming: Eric Copeland
Additional Loops and Programming: Jeff Savage
All Songs Written by John Eric Copeland (From the Moment Music, BMI)
Player A Jazz 