Soul Redemption (CD) - Zarate Pollace Project

Many years ago, I co-led a group named Zarate Pollace Project (ZPP) with guitarist Abel Zarate (who also wrote hit songs for Malo and Willie Bobo). ZPP released the CD "Soul Redemption" in 2005, enlisting the musical contributions of many Bay Area luminaries to realize the blend of jazz, fusion, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban styles comprising ZPP's music. Our goal was to create Latin/Brazilian-flavored contemporary jazz with a positive, uplifting message, and, most important, to make the record we wanted to make. The result was a work that somewhat defied categorization -- a blend of smooth jazz, jazz fusion, and Latin jazz, with Abel's signature gift of writing beautiful melody and playing soulful lines. The disc garnered worldwide radio airplay and favorable reviews.

Track Listing:
1. Moonlight Tango
2. Apples, Kisses, & Dreams
3. Autumn Song
4,5. Baiao Zuayla Parts 1 and 2
6. Alba Negra
7. Tristeza, Alegria, y la Luz
8. Vorticity
9. Chanson Afrique
10. In Love With Ghosts

Personnel:
Abel Zarate - guitar, composition, arrangements
Michelle Pollace - keyboards, composition, arrangements
Curtis Ohlson - bass
Paul VanWageningen -drums
John Santos - percussion
Anthony Blea - violin, viola
Co-produced with Greg Landau

"Zarate, Pollace and their friends get it. They rise above sheer technical mastery to exhibit true compassion and beauty with every note they play." -- Joe Ross, Amazon.com CD review

"Abel has travelled a long way from his Malo days. If you enjoy Metheny, Ritenour, Scofield, Carlton, and Benson, then you'll love what he's up to ... His solo lines are silky and fluid with purpose. Michelle Pollace is a dream keyboardist ... Lovely chord voicings, pulsating montunos, along with superb fusion chops ... what a treat she is to hear." -- Oscar Moreno, Moonflower Cafe gig review

"Your sound is honest and real." -- audience comment

"Your music is original yet familiar at the same time ... Just the right mix of romanticism and fire." -- audience comment