LOS ANGELES (14 January 2022): One could debate whether to call it a do-over or a mulligan, but contemporary jazz guitarist Dr. Dave calls it a revisit. The musician took his 2014 album, “Carefree,” and added his HouseCall Band to the tracks to reimagine the collection, which drops March 4 on Hatherill Records.
Dr. Dave felt that “Carefree” was missing something although he couldn’t quite put his finger on what that was until he recorded “Midnight Daydream” as a group project in 2018. Forming The HouseCall Band and adding the gifted ensemble’s unique skillsets and creative contributions to illumine the tracks, eight singles were successfully issued from “Midnight Daydream.”
“For the first time in my career, there was a newness and excitement that paved the way for me to further develop the concept of The HouseCall Band. It dawned on me that it was that dynamic full-band vibe that was missing from ‘Carefree’ – especially that full-bodied horn section energy. By altering the arrangements - some subtly, some more dramatically, we added the vibrant HouseCall Band aesthetic to the mix,” said Dr. Dave, the project’s producer and co-writer of five songs on the album.
Realizing the firepower that he now had on call, Dr. Dave asked the band’s sax and flute player, John Rekevics, to craft fresh horn arrangements for the material that first appeared on “Carefree.”
“John added some amazing flute parts that didn’t exist before, which help further define the songs and enhance my guitar solos. He did an incredible job texturing the tracks with his alto, soprano, baritone and tenor sax,” said Dr. Dave.
There are other noticeable changes and additions. Added to the song list is a version of the Dave Brubeck classic “Take Five,” which on “Carefree Revisited” takes on late-night nuances etched by Dr. Dave’s cool-toned electric jazz guitar and is graced by Derek Cannon’s muted trumpet and sultry vocal embellishments from Stellita Porter and Jackie Bonaparte. Another revision was adding Ignacio “Nacho” Sobres’s vocal improvs and scats to a fun reggae-jazz version of “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”
The HouseCall Band is a collective comprised of bassist Cecil McBee Jr., keyboardists Kevin Flournoy, Larry Logan and Rob Whitlock; drummers Ronnie Stewart and Duncan Moore; percussionist Tony Aros, marimba player Bill Harris, and rhythm guitarists Hank Easton and Steve Wilcox along with the aforementioned Rekevics, Cannon, Porter, Bonaparte and Sobres.
Preceding “Carefree Revisited,” radio will be serviced “G.B. Style” as a single, which goes for playlist adds on January 24. Dr. Dave wrote the song with Whitlock and Flournoy in tribute to R&B-jazz crossover legend George Benson whom Dr. Dave cites as a primary influence ever since he heard the icon’s guitar solo on “This Masquerade,” with Benson’s “Breezin’” album serving as a jazz primer for the then young fretman.
Dr. Dave released his debut album, “I Like It Like That,” in 1994, which was produced by Carl Evans Jr. and featured the keyboardist’s band, Fattburger. Evans Jr. mentored Dr. Dave, teaching the guitarist how to produce records. Honing his sound through the years while steadily assembling his own nine-album catalogue as a solo artist and/or band leader, Dr. Dave has recorded with jazz stalwarts Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Watts, Ronnie Laws and Hubert Laws. He’s also opened concerts for Stanley Turrentine, Buddy Guy and Marion Meadows.
According to Dr. Dave, the events of the last couple of years played a role in the timing of “Carefree Revisited.”
“Looking at what’s happened in the world these past two years, perhaps there was a reason I waited to revisit ‘Carefree’ until now. Life is more stressful than ever, and the music on the album is my contribution to alleviating it for a little while for those who listen. Specifically, ‘Carefree Revisited’ is about making music people can enjoy as a way to get away from their troubles – and finally producing it the way it was always meant to be done.”
“Carefree Revisited” contains the following songs:
For more information, please visit https://drdavehousecallband.com.
# # #
Since “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” debuted in February 2014, the opening “Hey Hey Hey Hey” riff by house band The Roots has become one of television’s most infectious and explosive earworms ever. Even if you’ve never watched a full episode, it’s probably part of your subconscious musical mind. It worked its irrepressible, horn fired magic on Dr. Dave®, and now, after 25 years and a constant stream of radio hits, the veteran guitarist – leading his powerhouse SoCal based ensemble Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band® - has turned that four-word musical phrase into wildly exciting crossover instrumental gold on their latest single. “Hey Hey Hey Hey” is the fourth release from the group’s critically acclaimed 2018 album Midnight Daydream.
Produced by Dr. Dave® and arranged by Dr. Dave® and his longtime saxophonist John Rekevics, the blues, jazz, funk and rock driven track has a sexy flair to it with the seductive and soulful female vocalists Stellita Porter and Jackie Bonaparte, who open with the hook and sing it several times throughout. The arrangement also features a Steely Dan-styled rhythmic flow in the middle, plus tight, dynamic horn section elements (arranged by Rekevics) and a tasty high- octane jazz/R&B “tradin’ fours” conversation between Dr. Dave® and Rekevics. Larry Logan was brought into the studio to play the organ parts and especially the freewheeling organ solo.
The song is credited to the riff’s writers Tarik Trotter, Kirk Douglas, Karl B. Jenkins, Ahmir K. Thompson, Owen Biddle, James Jason Poyser, Malik Smart, Ricky Nichols and The Roots. With a multi-genre appeal not only to fans of “The Tonight Show” and The Roots, but also to those who love rock, R&B/funk and contemporary/smooth urban jazz, “Hey Hey Hey Hey” is destined for great crossover success at radio.
“I’ve enjoyed watching ‘The Tonight Show’ and always felt the ‘Hey Hey Hey Hey’ riff was a catchy hook with a lot of energy – something I never get tired of hearing,” says Dr. Dave®. “As I heard it more, I realized it was just intro music and not an official song, so I thought, why not get together with my band and develop it into one?
“Right off the bat,” he adds, “I knew I wanted to give it a little more sex appeal by adding the female vocals, and then we collectively and individually built on the energy of that with powerful grooves and solo action, John’s great horn arrangements and my back and forth guitar and sax section with him towards the end. Though I’m the producer, working on this track was a true ensemble effort where four heads sharing fresh ideas were definitely better than one. The same way as George Benson once turned Leon Russell’s ‘This Masquerade’ into a jazz standard, I feel the arrangement here is everything and takes what the Roots created to a whole new dimension. Most of all it’s a fun track performed with a lot of passion.”
Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band® have been on a roll with the three previous singles released from Midnight Daydream. The first, “Sexy Cindy,” ranked #1 for Smooth Jazz Guitar songs in the U.S. on Radio Guitar One’s Top 20 in June 2018. The title track “Midnight Daydream” earned a multitude of accolades: #1 most added on the Radio Wave Internet Airplay Chart; #5 on the SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart; #9 on the SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Indie Chart and #14 on the SmoothJazz.com Top 100. A third single “Cabo Time” reached #19 on the SmoothJazz.com Radar chart. Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band® also received a “Most Increased Play” designation last September on the Groove Jazz Music Chart.
Longtime fans of contemporary jazz may remember Dr. Dave® from his initial success as a recording artist in the mid-90s, when his albums I Like It Like That, Smooth and Cruisin’ made big splashes in the early days of the Smooth Jazz format. Smooth featured performances from jazz greats Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Watts and the late Fattburger members Carl Evans, Jr. and Hollis Gentry. Cruisin’ had sax and flute legends, brothers Ronnie and Hubert Laws.
After that initial run, Dr. Dave® switched gears and moved for a time to Brazil, where he performed for several years. He got back in the recording groove, and geared up by releasing two compilations of earlier material – some of which had never been played on radio. In 2013, he released Love Potion, a collection of romantic songs, which he followed with the perfectly titled The Doctor Is In, full of Dr. Dave’s® early up-tempo tracks. The smooth jazz format’s embrace of these recordings inspired Dr. Dave® to return to the scene full force with Carefree and have reached even greater musical heights on Midnight Daydream.
Dr. Dave® is a popular smooth jazz guitarist having played with the greats including Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Watts and the late Fattburger members Carl Evans, Jr., Hollis Gentry, legendary brothers Ronnie and Hubert Laws and of course with The HouseCall Band®.
Cecil has performed with some big name artists, including Angela Bofill, jazz drummer Chico Hamilton, Chanti Moore, and jazz flutist Hubert Laws, just to name a few.
Larry Logan is an accomplished musician on piano and keyboard.
Kevin performs all over the world. Kevin has played with some of the best such as Dionne Warwick, Donny Osmond, the Pointer Sisters, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and many more.
Here is the place to find concert and tour dates for Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band® as soon as they are available.
Please check back soon for upcoming 2023 concert dates.
Hennessey's (La Jolla, CA) - 2022 & 2023
Eddie V's (San Diego, CA) - 2022
Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, (San Diego, CA) - 2021 & 2022
Maui Music Festival (Maui, Hawaii)
Festival de Jazz e Blues de Guaramiranga, Brazil
Fortaleza Weekend of Jazz Brazil
São Paulo Brazil Jazz Festival
Leblon Jazz Festival Rio de Janeiro
Portugal Lisbon (Lisboa) Story Centre
Spain Vigo Galicia Imazinasons, Festival de Jazz de Vigo
Segurdo Jazz Club and Vembum Jazz Cafe
Mykonos, Greece Music Festival
Athens Jazz Festival (Half Note Jazz Club)
Quebec City Jazz Festival, Canada
New Orleans Jazz Festival
KiFM Jazz Festival, San Diego, CA
Detroit International Jazz Festival
Miami Jazz Festival
Dr. Dave and His HouseCall Band Administer Contemporary Jazz Tonic for Pandemic Stress
The hit song "Sexy Cindy" written by Dr. Dave® and performed by Dr. Dave and The HouseCall Band® released to U.S. FM Radio stations and Global Internet radio in April 2018. You can watch the new "Sexy Cindy" video on YouTube. Other past Dr. Dave® & The HouseCall Band songs and national releases are also available for viewing on our YouTube Channel.
Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band on KUSI News (August 13, 2019)
The JW Vibe - Read Review
Upcoming album review in Downbeat Mag & Jazziz Mag
"AP" review of 4.5 out of 5 stars
Coming to "Sirius radio" and "Bloomberg Radio
Here you can find radio stations that play Dr. Dave & The HouseCall Band®'s music in addition to past chart toppers. You can listen to Dr. Dave® in a radio interview by Judyth Piazza on the American Perspective.
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Feels So Good #13 (2022 Year End)
SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Album Chart: Feels So Good #59 (2022 Year End)
SmoothJazz.com Top 50 Listener Countdown Chart: Feels So Good #25 (2022 Year End)
SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Indie Chart: Midnight Daydream #39 (November 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Midnight Daydream #16 (November 2020)
To build on last years hit single "Sexy Cindy", this years new releases from Midnight Daydream are moving up the charts just as fast. Here are the latest chart numbers for the new hit single "Midnight Daydream," "Hey Hey Hey Hey," and now "Impressions!"
SmoothJazz.com Top 50 Listener Countdown: Sylvia #11 (May 2022)
SmoothJazz.com TOP 100 Album Chart: Impressions #18; TOP SPINCREASE at #6 with an increase of +134 spins totaling to 273 SPINS (March 2021)
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Impressions #3 (March 2021)
SmoothJazz.com Listener Chart: Octane #5 (June 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Octane #9 (June 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Most Spin Increases up +91 spins: Hey Hey Hey Hey (March 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Hey Hey Hey Hey #7 (March 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Indie Chart: Hey Hey Hey Hey #5 (March 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Chart: Hey Hey Hey Hey #10 (March 2020)
Radio Wave Internet Airplay Chart: Midnight Daydream #1 Most Added (9 adds); Prime Mover +1,276 spins (September 2019)
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Midnight Daydream #5 (August 2019)
SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Indie Chart: Midnight Daydream #7 (June 2020)
SmoothJazz.com Top 100 Chart: Midnight Daydream #14 (August 2019)
SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart: Cabo Time #19 (June 2019)
Groove Jazz Music Chart: Most Increased Play +38 spins (September 2019)
"Sexy Cindy" ranked #1 for Smooth Jazz Guitar songs in the U.S. Sexy Cindy (Week of June 12, 2018)
Smooth Jazz airplay for “Sexy Cindy”:
Mediabase Smooth A/C Chart: DEBUT 32* (Link)
Smooth Jazz Network Top 100 Chart: #31 (488 spins) Link)
SmoothJazz.com Chart: 25 - 27 (Link)
SmoothJazz.com Indie Chart: 17 - 17 (Link)
Feels So Good Ranked #25 on the SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart (10/13/15)
Don't Worry, Be Happy Ranked #21 on the SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart (4/28/15)
Don't Worry, Be Happy Ranked #33 on the Smooth Indie Star Chart (4/28/15)
Don’t Mess With Mr. T Ranked #20 on the SmoothJazz Radar Chart (July 30, 2014)
Don’t Mess With Mr. T Ranked #29 on the SmoothIndieStar Chart (July 30, 2014)
Don’t Mess With Mr. T #1 Most Added on the BDS/Billboard Chart (June 2, 2014)
Reserved for Abbie Ranked #22 on the SmoothJazz.com Chart (March 17, 2014)
Love Potion Ranked #9 on the Radar Chart on SmoothJazz.com (December 29, 2013)
Guitar IslandTop 10 Most Added to Radio (2013)
Affirmation Ranked #15 on the SmoothJazz.com Radar Chart (2013)
96.9 The Oasis
KSJR.DB
SmoothJazzcom.PL
The Vibe 97.1 DB!
WFSK/Nashville, TN
WVST/Richmond, VA
WVAS/Montgomery, AL
WEIB/Springfield, MA
The Smooth Jazz Network
WVPE/ South Bend, IN
CJazzChannel.com
GrooveTimeSmoothJazzRadio.webs.com
TheVibeSmoothGrooveRadio.weebly.com
JazzBayRadio.com
SmoothJazzAndMore.com
Zeroradio.co.uk
RadioWinchCombe.co.uk
WNAA/Greensboro, NC
KUAW/Kansas City, MO
Smooth Jazz "In The Mix"/Podcast based in Glasgow, Scotland
WSJRDBRadio.com
SCORP Radio Network
GotRadio.com
CruisenJazz/WPMJ
JazzMoodsRadio.com
KKFI/Kansas City, MO
KRWV/Phoenix, AZ
BluesJazzRadio.com
JazzOndaBayou.com
Smooth-Jazz.de
RadioSeagull.com
SoftAndSmooth.nl
Smooth Jazz Buzz
KKFI/Kansas City, MO
WWUS/Key West, FL
KOJH/Kansas City, MO
KSCW/Phoenix, AZ
WTCC/Springfield, MA
WJAB/Huntsville, AL
WCHG/Hot Springs, VA
SmoothJazzBoston.com
GrooveSuite.com
WSSB/Columbia, SC
WMRT/Marietta, OH
ChocolateJazzRadio.com
CJazzChannel.com
TheSourceSmoothJazzRadio.com
SmoothJazzFlorida.com
KOKY/Little Rock, AR
WDPS/Dayton, OH
KSHK/Kauai, HI
KUR/ Reading, PA
WNAA/Greensboro, NC
SmoothJazz.com
SmoothGroovesRadio/UK
BayshoreRadio.com
TheSmoothGuitarPlace.com
iHeart Radio - Smooth Jazz Channel
WJZA-FM Atlanta, GA
KFNY-FM Seattle, WA
WAEG-FM North Augusta, GA
WCHD-HD2 Dayton, OH
KWDR-FM Kennewick, WA
WKSC HD-2 Chicago, IL
KDXA HD-2 Des Moines, IO
KSOF HD-2 Fresno, CA
WSRW HD-2 Grand Rapids, MI
WMAG HD-2 Greensboro, NC
WLRQ HD-2 Melbourne, FL
WUBT-HD2 Nashville, TN
WMGF-HD2 Orlando, FL
KKCW HD-2 Portland, OR
WSNE HD-2 Providence, RI
WBTJ HD-2 Richmond, VA
KFBK-HD2 Sacramento, CA
KMJM HD-2 St. Louis, MO
KODJ HD-2 Salt Lake City, UT
KISC-HD2 Spokane, WA
COOL-FM Panama
KCCB-AM Corning, AR
WVSU-FM Birmingham, AL
KKLI-FM Colorado Springs, CO
WAJD-FM Gainesville, FL
WBHQ-FM Beverly Beach, FL
WSBZ-FM Walton Beach, FL
WUCR-FM Butler, FL
WCLZ-FM Portland, ME
WRMO-FM Bangor, ME
WHFC-FM Bel Air, MD
WCHB-FM Detroit, MI
WSRW-FM Grand Rapids, MI
WLDR-FM Traverse City, MI
WVLY-FM Sundbury, PA
WISX-FM Philadelphia, PA
KQXT-FM San Antonio, TX
WSJF ONLINE - S Florida
SmoothJazzFlorida.com
Smooth Jazz Florida Plus HD
Smooth Jazz Tampa Bay
Smooth Jazz Nox Miami
Smooth Jazz Tampa
Smooth Jazz Wave Boca Raton
Smooth Jazz CD101.9 New York
Smooth Jazz Mix New York
WRIP-FM Windham, NY
MIX 105 Stream Indianapolis, IN
MIX 105 HD2 Indianapolis, IN
HTR Hawaii
MIX 96.7 Honolulu, HI
MY 102.1 Maui, HI
Radio Indigo Bangalore/Goa India 99.1
Aramco Saudi Arabia
CJCV-FM Winnipeg
Boracay Beach Radio - 97.3 FM Philippines