metro special edition
chuck loeb (download) · mitchel forman (download)
Chuck Loeb and Mitchel Forman, who had dreamed of starting their own band project for over 20 years since they worked together for Stan Getz, founded METRO in the spring of 1994. During their long careers they had often met - including a tour and live-album with Bill Evans - but they had never led a band together before METRO. To complete the band they invited bassist Anthony Jackson, who recommended Wolfgang Haffner as the perfect drummer, and the results were simply great.
The band recorded their first album - called “Metro” like the band - directly after the first tour at the Hansahaus Studios in Bonn, Germany. In the spring of 1995 Anthony Jackson left the band and was replaced by Victor Bailey (ex-Weather Report, Petite Blonde, Madonna a.o.).
METRO recorded their second album, “Tree People”, in NY. The band switched labels after “Tree People” and recorded “Metrocafe” for the English Hip Bop label. This again featured the great bassist Victor Bailey.
This was followed by “Grapevine” in 2002, featuring Mel Brown on bass. The band toured annually in Europe during this period, and recorded “Metro live at the A-Trane” in Berlin in November 2000. This CD is on Mitch’s Marsis Jazz label.
In 2007, the band recorded their sixth CD called “Express” again on the Marsis Jazz label. This time the great NY bassist Will Lee lent his extraordinary talents to the band as a player, composer and even vocalist.
METRO has consistently pushed the envelope for the fusion style of music. It continues to make highly innovative music while still keeping it funky.
For the Summer of 2008, they have incorporated the talents of the legendary trumpetist and arranger Randy Brecker, saxophonist Eric Marienthal, virtuoso bassist Gerald Veasley and drummer extraordinaire Dave Weckl for a METRO SPECIAL EDITION.