Paul Seaforth

Something Real is a substantial recording from trumpeter/instrumentalist/singer Paul Seaforth, who once again shows he possesses a great deal of versatility and promise. Seaforth not only sings     read more . . .

“I'll tell you it's such a joy to hear real beauty and real feeling on a CD. No one else could have done this. The singing and playing is obviously by a wonderful musician. Your backing group is the greatest. The Guitar is fabulous, and of course, Magnusson a genius. Each one of your group does a fantastic and tasteful job. They must have enjoyed these sessions immensely. All of you played with such immaculate taste."
                        Russell Garcia

When Did You Leave Heaven?
A groovy little number for Paul's latest release...happy to spin it and promote San Diego's own Jazz Educators.
                   Vince Outlaw - The New Jazz Thing

Something Real
review by George Harris in All About Jazz
LA SF, CHI, August, 2008

Something Real is a substantial recording from trumpeter/instrumentalist/singer Paul Seaforth, who once again shows he possesses a great deal of versatility and promise. Seaforth not only sings (as does his wife Linda Seaforth) on Something Real, but he also plays trumpet, flugelhorn and alto saxophone. If singing on this release were not enough, Seaforth also wrote and arranged the lion's share of the dozen songs on Something Real as well. His voice has that laid back mellow James Taylor-ish type of vibe.By contrast, Seaforth's trumpet/flugelhorn is warm and chestnut, while his alto saxophone is round and textured. The foundation of his band, which includes Mark Massey (piano and keyboards), Peter Sprague (acoustic and electric guitar), Kevin Axt (electric bass), Joe Cataldo (drums) and Tom Aros (percussion), has an airy spaciousness that gives the music an informal back porch feel. Tunes like Phoebe Snow's familiar "Something Real" or Antonio Carlos Jobim's "No More Blues (Chega de Saudade)" feature Seaforth's horn lithely intertwined with Sprague's acoustic strings like a delicate tapestry. Rob Whitlock, Sharon Whyte and Dennis Caplinger bring in occasional Hammond B3, accordion, mandolin/violin/dobro, respectively to add a bit of country blues grit to a number of the tunes. Seaforth's own "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" has a lazy Southern balm to it that drips of honeysuckle rose, while Paul Simon's "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" emits the real jive of New Orleans, with the dobro, accordion, and B3 sounding like something off of Bourbon Street. Accessible, yet not typical, Something Real is yet another pleasant surprise from Seaforth, who has a band with a great and unique sound. You'll definitely like this one.

Paul Seaforth's Something Real, which in all honesty... is so great, it's UNREAL!, is going to be my "Featured Album of The Week," where several selections will be played throughout the program. I don't do this every week, but when an album comes along that demonstrates this much talent,  read more . . . 

Something Real
review by George Harris in All About Jazz
LA SF, CHI, August, 2008

Harold Ellison, host, "The Jazz Cafe", Shoalhaven FM, New South Wales, Australia

When Did You Leave Heaven? - review by George Harris in All About Jazz , LA, SF, CHI, October, 2008

If you are a fan of the dreamy Chet Baker style of trumpet playing and singing, your prayers have been answered by Paul Seaforth's When Did You Leave Heaven? release. Seaforth's voice is a bit more masculine than the jazz icon, drifting toward Kenny Rankin, and the music, which has a band including guitarist Peter Sprague and [bassist] Bob Magnusson, has an attractive bit of a '70's singer/songwriter folksiness to it. Don't think the band isn't able to swing, because they can swing with the best of them as shown on the lone instrumental "Caravan", which features some tantalizing muted trumpet work from Seaforth and guitar soloing from Sprague. Likewise, bassist Kevin Axt's work on the speakeasy feeling "When Did You Leave Heaven?" is right in the pocket. Mostly though, through his caressing voice and autumnal horn, Seaforth sets a sitting by the fireside kind of mood, with dreamy readings of standards like "Dedicated to You" and the windswept "Young and Foolish". Of the originals, "Kindness", with Sprague's acoustic guitar, exudes cozy intimacy. Seaforth's When Did You Leave Heaven? should be right next to your John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman disc when you are in the mood to be wooed.

WYLH - All About Jazz

When Did You Leave Heaven? - review by George Harris in All About Jazz , LA, SF, CHI, October, 2008

If you are a fan of the dreamy Chet Baker style of trumpet playing and singing, your prayers have been answered by Paul Seaforth's When Did You Leave Heaven? release. Seaforth's voice is a bit more masculine than the jazz icon, drifting toward Kenny Rankin - read more . . .

When Did You Leave Heaven - Brad Stone , Music Director, KSJS-FM - San Jose, CA
I was on the air today, when my trainee put "Kindness" on the air. After airing that song, my Department Chair came in, asking "what was that"? - he wanted to borrow the CD! About 30 seconds later, my girlfriend called - she was practically in tears, wanting to know what I just had played. She remarked "that was beautiful"!
 read more . . .

Paul certainly has his finger on that main artery from the heart. - Kate Smith, Radio Promoter and Jazz Enthusiast.

Good morning, Paul. Your CD is fantastic, I love every track on it, so it's going to get a serious run at Blazeradio.

Regards, A. Khalis Pride, WBLZ-Blazeradio Jazz, Birmingham, Alabama

This page last modified on November 27, 2008