Jazz / Bop, Hard Bop
Charlie Shoemake - Vibraphone, Performer
Andy Martin Trombone
Bill Holman Performer
Billy Childs Piano
Bob Efford Saxophone
Bob Enevoldsen Trombone
Bob Summer Trumpet
Bob Summers Trumpet
Bobby Militello Saxophone
Bruce Lett Bass
Carl Saunders Trumpet
Doug Ramsey Liner Notes
Frank Szabo Trumpet
James Mooney Engineer
Jeff Hamilton Drums
Lanny Morgan Saxophone
Luther Hughes Bass
Paul Kreibich Drums
Pete Beltran Trombone
Pete Christlieb Saxophone
Ray Hermann Saxophone
Rich Eames Piano
Rick Culver Trombone
Ron Eschete Guitar
Sandi Shoemake Vocals, Performer
Tal-San Music Producer
Tony Luhan Trumpet
A 1991 session with saxophonist Charlie Shoemake heading both guest stars and the Bill Holman Orchestra. It's textbook West Coast cool and swing, with Shoemake, pianist Billy Childs, saxophonist Pete Christlieb, and guitarist Ron Eschete, among others, taking solo honors. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
Charlie Shoemake
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Jul 27, 1937 in Houston, TX
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Bop, Latin Jazz, Neo-Bop, Hard Bop, Mainstream Jazz
A graceful, bop-influenced vibraphonist most associated with George Shearing, Charlie Shoemake has been the victim of underexposure for much of his long career. Born in Houston on July 27, 1937, Shoemake started out as a pianist, and moved to Los Angeles in 1956 seeking a career in music. To make ends meet, he became a session musician, as did his wife, vocalist Sandi Shoemake, who would later accompany him on numerous albums. Shoemake had experimented with the vibraphone in high school, and under the influence of Victor Feldman, he began to pursue the instrument in earnest during the early '60s. Not only was it a boost to his session career, but he also had the opportunity to work for composers like Lalo Schifrin and Quincy Jones. In 1966, Shoemake was hired by George Shearing as an emergency touring replacement; he wound up staying with the group until 1973. Seeking a way to be home with his family, Shoemake opened a school for jazz improvisation in Los Angeles, a successful enterprise that lasted until 1990. In 1978, he led his first recording date, Sunstroke, for the Muse label; a series of generally high-quality albums followed over the course of the '80s, most for Discovery and Chase Music Group. In 1990, Shoemake closed his school, took some time off of recording, and retired to the central California coastal town of Cambria. He re-emerged in 1998 with several more albums for Chase, which maintained the advanced musicianship of his earlier work.
---Steve Huey, All Music Guide |
