I was at the Namm Show in 2008 when Jeffery Lorber, a keyboard-great, stopped in.
He told me that he wanted to check out some of Rhodes Pianos developments since last year. s
I was really happy to see Jeff, one of the worlds great music legends...and how great he performed at the "Harold Rhodes Namm Tribute" concert, just one year before in 2007.
Jeff knew Harold Rhodes and was an original Rhodes scholar in the early CBS advertisement years, thought up by "Add Man" Joe Phelps. Jeff teaming up with the likes of George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Joe Sample and Milcho Leviev for a very successful add campaign. All real legends of Jazz back then and now, building they're musical styles using the great Rhodes piano.
I asked Jeff if he would like to try the new Rhodes, especially since his last experience on the new Mark 7 Rhodes. Jeff as a real keyboard enthusiast was on the piano before the words 'Piano" could come out of my mouth. This man knows his stuff and seems to have some of the fastest hands I have ever seen, playing a piano.
I was thrilled when Jeff asked me for a piano immediately the next week to record with on with his upcoming CD. And I was even more thrilled when Jeff also liked the sound from our Coaxial 500 Watts speaker platform, only insisting on it being delivered with the piano as well.
When we brought the piano to Jeff's house (recording studio), he wanted it placed in the living room overlooking the beautiful view of the mountains and the ocean. I guess he wanted to make sure he really liked the instrument and all it's capabilities, before he would move it to his studio for the real test.
I emailed Jeff a week later asking him if he was enjoying the new piano, only to be delighted when he had informed me that he had moved it to his studio by now, just a few days earlier, and was tracking with the piano for his upcoming record.
Jeff told me that he ended up recording three songs on the Mark 7-73 Active over a couple of weeks time and he was extremely satisfied with the piano and it's sound, going into his boards directly from the new Rhodes pre amp.
Jeff asked me when the new instruments will be available.
I said, coming soon . . .
He said "Wow"! |
