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Lincoln Adler started playing various musical instruments at the age of 5, eventually being drawn to the saxophone in high school. As a kid, Lincoln became fascinated by the power of music to communicate feelings across the boundaries of language and culture. He developed his sound playing in local bands, and refined his abilities at the University of California, Berkeley as a member of the UC Jazz Ensembles. He studied with some great teachers, including legendary saxophonist Joe Henderson and local hero Hal Stein. In Los Angeles he became an in-demand session player and composer/producer for TV and film. He released four albums under his own name as well as one with the successful band Rain-bo Tribe. Lincoln has performed and recorded with many artists including actor/pianist Jeff Goldblum, kd lang, and Olivia Newton John. His musical influences include Sonny Rollins, Johnny Griffin, Grover Washington Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Gustav Mahler and Meshell Ndegeocello.
Greg Sankovich began music with classical piano when he was five years old and later studied with some of the finest jazz and Latin pianists in the San Francisco area, including pianist/educator Mark Levine. Greg was also active in the UC Jazz Ensembles, and performed out in the local music scene with a variety of jazz, R and B, and dance bands. After graduation, Greg moved to Japan with jazz-fusion group, Taikun, and lived in Tokyo for over ten years performing and composing for many top Japanese artists. Since moving back to the SF Bay area in 1994, Greg has contributed to a wide range of musical projects from jazz to house, hip-hop to pop. His musical inspirations include Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Chester Thompson, and Chuck Leavell.
Kevin Lofton is the root and harmonic foundation of Times 4. A San Jose native, Kevin has been playing bass since his early teens. Listening to everything from gospel to hip-hop to metal and of course jazz, Kevin strives to bring each of these flavors to the Times 4 table. Career highlights include touring the U.S. and Canada with Protégé, Stevie B, and Jahi and the Life along with drummer Maurice . Their years of musical friendship produce a rhythmic conception and energetic foundation from which Times 4 launches their adventurous improvisations. Kevin’s bass influences include Marcus, Victor, Bootsy, Jaco, and Stanley.
Maurice Miles, also raised in San Jose, California, is the heartbeat of Times 4. Mo combines complex elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop in his playing to create a sophisticated, syncopated backbeat. The desire to lay down the groove called out to Maurice from an early age. Mostly self-taught, Maurice’s deep-pocket groove emanates from a combination of feel and his appreciation of many different styles of music. Maurice previously played in a diverse range of musical projects, including the R and B band Protégé, acid jazz group Congo Square, and he has toured and recorded with Kofy Brown. His musical inspirations are Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Will Kennedy, Billy Cobham and Jack DeJohnette, to name a few.
Relations
Their sophomore CD release, Relations, is a project borne of a collaborative and improvisational approach to music. This freestyle approach is common in jazz and hip-hop where the music is inspired by the spontaneous interaction between the band and audience. One way Times 4 sought to capture this unique form of expression is by basing the songwriting process on group-improvised musical motifs. Thus, in part, the title of this CD, “Relations”.
On the first track, MO, Maurice brought in to a writing session a drum beat in 5/4, and a musical motif that became the introductory phrase. The band improvised complementary elements of melody, chords, and form to complete the song. This method of collaborative composition is a reflection of the band’s intent, or modus operandi, (MO), thus the play on wordage of the song title and Maurice’s nickname, Mo.
Mojito is named after the band’s penchant for the drink of same name. The groove, harmony, and melody are a fine distillation of that potent cocktail of classic San Francisco home brew - the melding (more precisely, “muddling” - that’s how you make a mojito…you muddle the mint and sugar) of various styles – jazz, Latin, funk, soul, hip-hop - into a harmonious blend. A gorgeous sax melody carries the tune through an intimate lounge tryst, then spills into a freeform section that weds solid drum and bass groove with a trance-like interplay between sax and keys. The section culminates in a drum feature demonstrating the band’s extraordinary ability to create a powerful space of energetic interplay.
Thickness. A term used to admire all that is rich and full in life. The song begins with a sick bass line Kevin brought in that triggered inspiration for this track. Thickness weaves high and low through haunting melody and dynamic exchanges. It features the band doing what it does best – interacting and playing off of one another’s ideas, generating an improvisational montage.
Cell Phone is a tune based on a free styled jam. The song came together immediately and the band knew it had to be documented, but the only recording device available was a lo-fi cell phone and its limited 10 sec memory, giving the song its title. Driven by a recurring Rhodes riff and uplifting rhythm, Cell Phone is a danceable feel-good achievement.
Enterlude (and final track “Exitlude”) are further spontaneous improvisations (with a light sprinkling of overdubs), initiated by Kevin’s inventive bass line. A bass line so thick that it inspired multiple takes, two of which we included on the cd. We had so much fun with this groove that it ended with us all bursting out in laughter.
Full Moon develops in a most Times 4-like approach with a catchy intro, feeding into a lush melody section that reminds you of a romantic serenade. It unexpectedly breaks into a street samba-like feel that displays the melting pot of musical ideas that coalesce so well in the SF Bay area. The Full Moon is a key theme in our CD’s cover art, entitled “Dreaming”, by our most talented artist friend Lu Hong. It represents the fertility of imagination, cycles of life, and thickness of relations. Please visit Lu Hong’s website at www.luhong.net and view some of his most profound art.
Relations, the title track of Times 4’s CD, is the only true ballad on the CD and is a hallmark of how we do things. It embodies the various moods that we can bring out of our music. It starts off pensively with a solitary bass voice. Gradually, each of the instruments join in conversation to create a hopeful mood. As the song continues
Central Park is another song derived from a live improvisation. As is typical of our approach, throughout the night we’ll frequently freestyle songs just to tune into the vibe of a room - sometimes an active crowd inspires a groovy beat, other times a calm mood inspires pretty chords. That night in particular folks in the crowd were in a fine mood, the band had jokes, mojitos were flowing…oops that’s another song. All the elements converged to inspire this track. The song was borne in virtually one pass, as if it were writing itself. The light melody and positive spirit of Central Park make it a crowd favorite.
Hericane is a journey through a storm. It craftily moves between 5/4 and 4/4 meter without disturbing its pulse. Hericane spins into an energetic saxophone feature in a funky and bluesy vein, then evolving into a drum solo punctuated by solid rhythmic and harmonic motif.
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