Chuck Loeb

Chuck Loeb
Born (1955-12-07) December 7, 1955
Nyack, New York
Origin New York
Genres Jazz, crossover jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, composer, producer, arranger
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1970s–present
Labels Pony Canyon, DMP, Shanachie, Heads Up
Associated acts Steps Ahead, Fourplay
Website www.chuckloeb.com

Chuck Loeb (born December 7, 1955 in Nyack, New York) is an American jazz guitarist who has been a member of the groups Steps Ahead and Fourplay.

Early years and education

Chuck Loeb was born Dec. 7 1955 in Nyack, New York, near New York City. When he was a kid, he listened to rock musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. According to a 2005 JazzTimes article, the first song he learned on guitar was Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", which he would later play at a guest appearance with Dylan.[1] It was not until he was 16 years old that he discovered jazz and guitarists Wes Montgomery, George Benson, John McLaughlin, and Pat Martino.[2] It was then that Loeb chose to become musician and "never thought of doing anything else".[3]

Loeb studied with local music teachers until he traveled to Philadelphia, where he was a student of jazz guitarist Dennis Sandole, and later to New York City, where he learned from Jim Hall.[4] For two years he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, then left in 1976 to seek professional work in New York City.

Groups

In New York, Loeb played with Chico Hamilton, Ray Barreto, and Hubert Laws. Starting in 1979, he was a member of Stan Getz's group.[5] Getz would later become Loeb's best man at his wedding to singer Carmen Cuesta.[1]

In 1994 Loeb and Mitchel Forman, also in Getz's group, formed the jazz fusion band Metro.[6] In the 1980s, he was a member of the group Steps Ahead, which included Michael Brecker, someone Loeb credits as an influence.[7] In 2010 he replaced Larry Carlton as guitarist in Fourplay.[8]

In 2014, he was featured on Brian Culbertson's project Another Long Night Out, providing guitar for track "Fullerton Ave.". Loeb and his wife have collaborated, with Cuesta providing vocals on his albums and Loeb playing on Cuesta's albums,[9] and recently their daughters Lizzy and Christina have provided vocals as well.[10]

Solo career

Loeb began a solo career in 1988 with his debut album My Shining Hour on the Japanese record label Pony Canyon. He released subsequent albums on DMP Digital Music Products until receiving commercial success with Shanachie Records on The Music Inside (1996). The title song from the album held the number one position on the jazz charts for six weeks.[4] Later, he produced Moon, the Stars, & the Setting Sun (1998), Listen(1999) In a Heartbeat (2001), and All There Is (2002).

Loeb's music has appeared on TV shows, commercials,[3] and movie soundtracks, including The Untouchables, You've Got Mail, and Hitch.

Discography

Studio albums

# year title label / cd# notes
1 1989 My Shining Hour Pony Canyon, Jazz City
2 1990 Magic Fingers DMP CD-472 with Andy LaVerne
3 1990 Life Colors DMP CD-475
4 1991 Balance DMP CD-484
5 1993 Mediterranean DMP CD-494
6 1994 Simple Things DMP CD 504
7 1996 The Music Inside Shanachie 5022
8 1998 The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun Shanachie 5038
9 1999 Listen Shanachie 5057
10 2001 In a Heartbeat Shanachie 5078
11 2002 All There Is Shanachie 5090
12 2003 eBop Shanachie 5103
13 2005 When I'm With You Shanachie 5123
14 2007 Presence Heads Up HUCD 3117
15 2009 Between 2 Worlds Heads Up HUCD-3151
16 2011 Plain 'n' Simple Tweety TWROOO2
17 2013 Silhouette Shanachie 5409
18 2014 Jazz Funk Soul Shanachie 5417 with Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp
19 2015 Bridges Shanachie 5436 with Eric Marienthal
20 2016 More Serious Business Shanachie 5438 with Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp
21 2016 Unspoken Shanachie 5443

With the Fantasy Band

# year title label / cd# notes
1 1993 The Fantasy Band DMP CD-496
2 1994 Sweet Dreams DMP CD-508 with Andy LaVerne
3 1990 The Kiss Shanachie 5028

Compilations

year title label comments
2004 The Couch Potato All-Stars Shanachie 5112 with Eric Alexander, Kim Waters, Dave Samuels, Randy Brecker, Dave Mann, David Finck, Mike Ricchiuti, Brian Dunne, David Charles, Ron Jenkins, Michael Pope
2007 The Love Song Collection Shanachie 5144 Compilation
2009 #1 Smooth Jazz Radio Hits Shanachie 5169 Compilation

Live albums

year title label comments
2003 Live 1994 AA (Japan) With Adam Holzman, Paul Wertico

With Stan Getz

References

  1. 1 2 Adler, David R. (June 2005). "Jazz Departments - Chuck Loeb". jazztimes.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  2. Wood, James (November 28, 2012). "Guitarist Chuck Loeb Discusses New Fourplay Album and the Allure of Smooth Jazz". guitarworld.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Balancing the demands of life and music". Reading Eagle. March 25, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Chuck Loeb @ All About Jazz". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  5. Yanow, Scott. "Chuck Loeb: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  6. "Metro Jazz: Early History". Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  7. "Chuck Loeb, Guitarist, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Educator, Recording Artist". Chuck Loeb. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  8. Mergner, Lee (February 15, 2010). "Larry Carlton Leaving Fourplay". jazztimes.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  9. Goodstein, Jack (February 1, 2014). "Music Review: Carmen Cuesta - 'Toda Una Vida'". seattlepi.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  10. "Silhouette - Chuck Loeb". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.

External links

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