May 7th, former Isley Brother and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Chris Jasper engaged in a two-hour video chat with Marc Gordon, co-founder of the legendary recording group Levert on the Marc Gordon Show. The video chat is available for viewing here.
http://marcgordonshow.com/chris-jasper-the-isley-brothers/
During the in-depth interview, Jasper talked about his career with the Isley Brothers (1973-1983) and the spin-off group, Isley-Jasper-Isley (1984-1987), and his subsequent solo career, releasing 10 solo CDs, including 4 contemporary gospel recordings on his independent record label, Gold City Music. They discussed the unique sound Jasper brought to the Isley's music, which he credits to his classical training from a young age growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio and subsequently at Juilliard School of Music and C.W. Post, Long Island University in New York, where he studied with the legendary jazz pianist, Billy Taylor.
Jasper discusses how being a classically trained composer enabled him to combine classical chord structures into his R&B music giving a unique lush sound to some of the well-known Isley Brothers standards such as "For The Love of You", which was subsequently covered by the late great Whitney Houston, and the international hit "Caravan of Love", which he wrote for Isley-Jasper-Isley.
The two-hour video chat is informative and entertaining and includes videos of some of the music written by Jasper during his years with the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley, as well as his brand new CD "Inspired...By Love, By Life, By The Spirit" and the single title track "Inspired"...a love song reminiscent of the music Jasper wrote and produced during his career with the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley.
http://youtu.be/C8J0FwXXPUU
As the title implies, Jasper's new CD covers all bases, and includes positive and uplifting songs about love relationships, spiritual relationships, as well as social consciousness, such as the funk track "Let My People Go".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUEhGqf0ZL0
Jasper has become heavily involved in social media in an effort to bring his positive musical messages directly to his fan base, engaging in webchats and keeping in close contact and direct communication with his followers on his Facebook Page.
http://www.Chris.H.Jasper
Jasper recently launched a new website in support of the new CD where visitors can listen to all of Jasper's solo music, view photos, listen to archived interviews, read reviews, check on the calendar of events for upcoming interviews and shows, and more!
http://www.ChrisJasper.com
