The 804 Music Group

STEPPING OUT is the hot new CD by James Saxsmo Gates. A work of  dedication and faith, Saxsmo brings it all home on this, his long awaited 5th CD. 

Consisting of twelve excellent tracks that combine the best original compositions with some classic covers by Sting, Sade, The Isley Brothers, and Marvin Gaye. As on all of his previous Albums, Saxsmo is joined by an extremely talented group of vocalists and musicians. Including Desiree Centeio Roots, Fabian Lance, Robbie Cunningham, Carl Lester-El, Alan Parker, Kevin Simpson, Brandon and Hannon Lane, Quinton Jones and Carlos Chafin.  Standing Out among the great songs is the hot new single "Living For The Love of You" which is gaining airplay all around the world. Another killer track is Saxmo's version of Roberta Flack's hit "Killing Me Softly".  Stepping Out, released on 804 Jis available right now every where and anywhere excellent music is sold. 

“Together We Can Make It”, is the blazing hot new single and the title of the soon to be released album by jazz man extraordinaire, James Saxsmo Gates. Known as a dynamic entertainer, with exciting and high energy live performances. Saxsmo’s new single is grooving, upbeat, dynamic and showcases his skill as an arranger, composer and featured performer. Co-written and produced by young smooth jazz producer and bass phenom, Brandon Lane (Walter Beasley, Bill McGee), “Together We Can Make” hits hard from the very first note and grooves hard until the final fade. 

Joining James Saxsmo Gates as a featured performer on “Together We Can Make It”, is his Berklee College of Music Colleague and fantastic smooth jazz guitarist, Freddie Fox. Together they make this song an undeniable hit single that has all of the elements, and the right groove to move all the way to the top of the charts. Saxsmo is not a newcomer to smooth jazz. His last single “Detailed” with Walter Beasley soared up the smooth jazz charts and solidified Saxsmo as a world class performer. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, with a Masters in Jazz Studies from North Carolina Central University, Saxsmo is well known as one of the young lions of jazz, having performed with Art Blakey, Billy Childs, Larry Carlton, Dizzy Gillispie, Walter Bishop, Jr., Walter Davis, Jr., Alan Dawson, Cyrus Chestnut, Alex Bugnon, Patrice Rushen, Chris Botti and Billy Kilson, Fred Wesley and many others. Holding down the rhythm groove on “Together We Can Make It” is Grammy Winning drummer, Virginia Native and close friend Nate Smith (Dave Holland).

Professor James Saxsmo Gates, is currently the Director of the Dr. Billy Taylor Jazz Studies program at Virginia State University and is a sought after performer, clinician and adjudicator for Jazz programs all over the country and abroad. Having recently traveled to Japan as a clinician and performer with world class drummer, Billy Kilson (Chris Botti), James Saxsmo Gates will be hitting the road in 2017 in support of his project “Together We Can Make It” on 804 Jazz.

The passionate search for perfection describes James Saxsmo Gates and his career as a top-notch jazz musician. From his experiences performing with Art Blakey, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Alex Bugnon, Cyrus Che

stnut, Chris Botti, Billy Kilson, Terrance Blanchard and many others, comes a smooth, yet blazing style and presentation. Gates Wide Open is the third commercial release for Saxsmo as a solo artist and is the beginning of a new era for Saxsmo.  The journey to Gates Wide Open has been heartfelt and emotional. Saxsmo lost both of his parents between his first and second CD's, they were his inspiration to strive for perfection and to continue making excellent music. A positive major event in his life was receiving his Masters of Jazz Studies degree at North Carolina Central University (Magna Cum Laude), where he worked closely with Branford Marsalis and Dr. Ira Wiggins.  With that behind him he is determined to show the world that James Saxsmo Gates is Wide Open and moving on up, making intensely emotive music that will gratify, entertain, inspire and move his fans, and the general listening public. SAXSMO ON YOUTUBE

To make this happen Saxsmo has called on the great trombonist Fred Wesley, sax man and Berklee Professor, Walter Beasley, smooth jazz guitarist and Berklee classmate, Freddie Fox and the 804 Jazz Allstars to help him take this CD to another level. The CD Gates Wide Open contains (14) fourteen exemplary selections, which are diverse in style, tempo, and timbre.  One track, in particular, that deserves special mention is his outstanding and award winning arrangement of Chick Corea's "SPAIN", this was initially a graduate school project, similar to a thesis. However, it became much more when Saxsmo assembled an elite  group of faculty members from NCCU and Virginia State University, professional musicians from Richmond, Virginia known as the 804 Jazz Allstars, the top graduate students from NCCU, and the great Fred Wesley to make this a phenomenal recording. SAXSMO ON YOUTUBE2

You should immediately realize after listening to this blazing chart that he received an A+ for this arrangement and recording, which is destined to turn heads and win awards.  Another song that stands out is the cover of Michael Jackson's "UNBREAKABLE".  produced and arranged by his former student and current Berklee College of Music standout, Brandon Lane. This track has as much magic as the original and is a sonic orgy of modern beats, outstanding guitar work by Freddie Fox and some serious Trombone performances by Fred Wesley, with help from Brandon Lane and his producer father Hannon D. Lane. One of the smoothest songs on the CD is "This Day Belongs To Me", a Grover Washington styled smooth jazz classic, with a classic groove and impeccable phrasing along with pristine improvisation. Given the right opportunity this track is destined for a high position on the smooth jazz charts. The track "Detailed" features saxophonist, Berklee Professor and former classmate, Walter Beasley. This song delivers a stellar performance by two of the most talented Alto Sax men in the country. Playing hip riffs together and trading fours throughout, this is a song that has smooth jazz radio buzzing. Last but not least, the only vocal selection on the CD "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" features Carlton Blount (former Lead Singer for the Main Ingredient), his presence and soulful flow, along with the distinctive interpretation by Saxsmo makes this a soul jazz classic.  The entire collection of songs on the CD Gates Wide Open should be considered a fine work of art. Diverse, complex, simple, intense and smooth, it's all there for the listener to enjoy from beginning to end. This CD - Gates Wide Open is just that, a vehicle to open the doors of world wide exposure and appreciation for one of the most talented and passionate sax players on the music scene. The passionate search for perfection describes James Saxsmo Gates and his career as a top-notch jazz musician. From his experiences performing with Art Blakey, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Alex Bugnon, Cyrus Chestnut, Chris Botti, Billy Kilson, Terrance Blanchard and many others, comes a smooth, yet blazing style and presentation. Gates Wide Open is the third commercial release for Saxsmo as a solo artist and is the beginning of a new era for Saxsmo.  The journey to Gates Wide Open has been heartfelt and emotional. Saxsmo lost both of his parents between his first and second CD's, they were his inspiration to strive for perfection and to continue making excellent music. A positive major event in his life was receiving his Masters of Jazz Studies degree at North Carolina Central University (Magna Cum Laude), where he worked closely with Branford Marsalis and Dr. Ira Wiggins.  With that behind him he is determined to show the world that James Saxsmo Gates is Wide Open and moving on up, making intensely emotive music that will gratify, entertain, inspire and move his fans, and the general listening public.  To make this happen Saxsmo has called on the great trombonist Fred Wesley, sax man and Berklee Professor, Walter Beasley, smooth jazz guitarist and Berklee classmate, Freddie Fox and the 804 Jazz Allstars to help him take this CD to another level. The CD Gates Wide Open contains (14) fourteen exemplary selections, which are diverse in style, tempo, and timbre.  One track, in particular, that deserves special mention is his outstanding and award winning arrangement of Chick Corea's "SPAIN", this was initially a graduate school project, similar to a thesis. However, it became much more when Saxsmo assembled an elite  group of faculty members from NCCU and Virginia State University, professional musicians from Richmond, Virginia known as the 804 Jazz Allstars, the top graduate students from NCCU, and the great Fred Wesley to make this a phenomenal recording.

SAXSMO ON YOUTUBE3

You should immediately realize after listening to this blazing chart that he received an A+ for this arrangement and recording, which is destined to turn heads and win awards.  Another song that stands out is the cover of Michael Jackson's "UNBREAKABLE".  produced and arranged by his former student and current Berklee College of Music standout, Brandon Lane. This track has as much magic as the original and is a sonic orgy of modern beats, outstanding guitar work by Freddie Fox and some serious Trombone performances by Fred Wesley, with help from Brandon Lane and his producer father Hannon D. Lane. One of the smoothest songs on the CD is "This Day Belongs To Me", a Grover Washington styled smooth jazz classic, with a classic groove and impeccable phrasing along with pristine improvisation. Given the right opportunity this track is destined for a high position on the smooth jazz charts. The track "Detailed" features saxophonist, Berklee Professor and former classmate, Walter Beasley. This song delivers a stellar performance by two of the most talented Alto Sax men in the country. Playing hip riffs together and trading fours throughout, this is a song that has smooth jazz radio buzzing. Last but not least, the only vocal selection on the CD "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" features Carlton Blount (former Lead Singer for the Main Ingredient), his presence and soulful flow, along with the distinctive interpretation by Saxsmo makes this a soul jazz classic.  The entire collection of songs on the CD Gates Wide Open should be considered a fine work of art. Diverse, complex, simple, intense and smooth, it's all there for the listener to enjoy from beginning to end. This CD - Gates Wide Open is just that, a vehicle to open the doors of world wide exposure and appreciation for one of the most talented and passionate sax players on the music scene.