Note

'...a truly unique musician. He is the master of his horns, a dexterous wizard of the saxophones, one who makes each note tell a story. David weaves his way through a multitude of jazz styles, while keeping his soul grounded in the sounds and life of the street.' Bob James

Hailing from that hallowed musical hot pot known as Detroit, Hip Bop's freshest signing, Dave McMurray, releases his first album for the label entitled Peace of Mind. This passionate saxophonist is a master of mutability, as reflected by the wide spectrum of artists whom he has worked with, ranging from: Bootsy Collins, The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Was (Not Was), Bob Dylan, Nancy Wilson, Patti Smith, Cheb Khalid and Bob James.

Indeed Dave McMurray is the musician's musician, a multi-instrumentalist, who as well as playing tenor, soprano and alto saxophone, adds mastery of the flute, keyboards, percussion and vocals to his array of talents. This latest album provides the perfect platform from which he can highlight his agility and skills as a player on his own terms, as well as establishing his name as one to watch out for on today's jazz scene.

Born in the late 50's, McMurray's very first instrument was the clarinet until he saw alto great Cannonball Adderley on TV after which he reckoned: 'You can't play like Cannonball on the clarinet' and promptly took up the saxophone. After high school R&B/Jazz combos, he performed with local jazz talents whilst at university until landing a tour with guitar master Albert King. Stints with George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Gene Dunlop followed.

The pivotal point in McMurray's musical development arose when he hooked up with the group Was (Not Was) whose freestyle approach enabled McMurray to cross genres with inspired vision plus a healthy dose of humour. McMurray's work with the group led to performing on the Don Was-produced Backbeat soundtrack and The Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. Don Was states of McMurray: 'an anomaly among today's musicians - an artistically wise exponent of the multi-genre atmosphere that characterises his Detroit roots...In short David penetrates the conceptual superstructure and wails.'

It's been four years since the release of his first solo record The Dave McMurray Showon Warner Bros US - an adventure in the playground of R&B, hip-hop and jazz. In that time he has toured with Mark (sham for two years, produced and remixed for artists like jazz pianist Bob James, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Elton John and Geri Allen, and, whilst working on his own album Peace of Mind, penned and produced two songs for the new Bob James CD Joyride.

McMurray continues the creative partnerships that he has built up over the years on Peace of Mind, which features Don and David Was, Bob James and guitarists Mark Whitfield and JK, amongst a host of other fresh talents. The album, produced and written in the main by McMurray, combines mellow, mid-tempo beats with the polymorphous qualities of McMurray's playing - ranging from gentle sweeps to sudden cacophonous outbreaks. The recording also includes a sensuous instrumental of D'Angelo's soul classic Brown Sugar. Peace of Mindis a work by an artist whose maturing sound and absolute enthusiasm for all styles of music exudes a sense of warmth and geniality throughout.