About

On a fundamental level, my process of creating music is entirely from the inside out. From the sudden & unexpected emergence of an idea from which all others spring forth…This internal process of experiencing the act of creation through music has been a great pleasure & comfort to me throughout my entire life. It has been my channel , my therapy, my release. My songs seem to have a life of their own-the ones that want to get through…make it into consciousness. Like children-they may come through me but somehow are not of me. My music reflects my strong respect and appreciation for great musicianship. Although the jazz roots are primal, there are also threads of folk, rock & blues- woven into the mix which traditionally are not cross-covered in the jazz world.

Musical Lineage

With regard to musical lineage–mine was pre-destined when my parents met through music, deep in the heart of the big band era in NYC during the ‘golden age’ of television in the early 50s, and also shared their deep love for music . Dad, (Julius James, ‘Jimmy’ Mover), looked a lot like Charles Boyer, and played trumpet in the tradition of Harry James. He was also one of the worlds few ‘Theremin’ players; the first electronic instrument (played on the airwaves by ‘hand’) and had been invented by the same Moog pre-curser to the synthesizer. Dad played this strange instrument, which sounded like haunting Sirens of Circes…. on popular shows of the day including horror like (Lights Out) Radio show, as well as sound-effect on the Ernie Kovacs tv show. Dad was on his game playing horn and touring on the big band circuit with Charlie Spivak & (had also played with Tommy Dorsey, Ina Ray Hutton & Horace Heidt, among others), when they met. Dad has also worked with many singers including Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Steve & Edie, Billy Eckstein…

Mom, Barbara Ann Mascott, (stage name, ‘Bobby Lee’), looked a lot like Kim Novak and was a Broadway stage actress understudying in Guys & Dolls and singing with Al Donahue’s band at the time. Her older brother Richard was a swing drummer & musician’s agent at MCA. He also happened to be my dad’s agent as well as that they both coincidentally-were from the NorthShore of Boston and had grown up only a few miles away from each other. My musicality began (really in-vitro for me)… listening to the sounds of my mother’s voice and of my father’s trumpet. I often thought of these sounds as their ‘true voices… In my earliest of memories, I remember afternoon Sunday jam sessions at the house with ‘Baby’ on bass and the legendary Al Vega on piano….

Music was eveywhere in my family. My greatgrandfather (mom’s side) was a violinist & teacher, my grandfather was also a singer as well as played piano entirely by ear… My uncles on both sides all played instruments as well. On my mother’s side, her older brother was a drummer and the younger played piano. On my dad’s side, his older brother played violin and younger brother (my cousin Jonathan’s dad) played trombone.

The Ultimate Freedom

Although I had been performing & writing music off & on sporadically throughout my life, about 9 years ago I began to seek out the ‘right stuff’ to help produce my original music. During these years, (albeit very slowly), the development of this dream-project has served as the release valve from my daily grind & sustained whatever light was left in my soul…in hopes of attaining the ultimate freedom from the treadmill of my self-imposed corporate-enslavement.

In 2001, I sent my music to John Paul (johnpaulproductions.com) who is a local (Nashua NH) legend. Guitarist, Bassist, Keyboards, Drums, Producer,Arranger,Engineer&Teacher). I did not know John at the time I sent him my music, but when he called & said he was interested helping to produce & arrange my originals, I was thrilled & grateful for the opportunity to work with him. It’s been a long & complex decade & we’re still best of friends- so that’s saying a lot! John has been a beacon and I am thankful for his light in my life plus all the incredible artistic energy he has contributed to this project is beyond…

The journey came full circle to my Miami origins & musical roots back with the inclusion of my ‘Godfather of Soul’, Jazz Legend Ira Sullivan-who is a longstanding family friend dating back to my childhood. After hearing first takes of my demo with John Paul, Ira made this all real for me by playing on some selected tracks which brought this project to a new level upon which a stronger foundation kept building.

With both Ira & brother (Bob Mover)playing their magic has made this a real homecoming experience as well. To complete the circle, Mike Levine added his keyboards & arrangements joined the project in 2008 plus his friends including the Amazing Percussions of Richard Bravo+ Lee Levin on Drums (Midnight Oil++) Sammy Levine was also added on drums on (‘Only the Wind+) Brother Bob Mover adds his tenor to ‘Till There Was You’ & ‘Nature Boy’ & Ira plays trumpet on ‘Fever’ & Alto Flute on ‘Corcovado’…

Needless to say-All family occasions involved music in one way or the other and inevitably the children would also be called upon to perform. This is where I encountered my first experiences on the ‘stage’ in front of my family. When I was a child, my older brother Bob and I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house competing over her Steinway. My first musical creations were written on my grandparent’s Stenway. The piano even had its own room where you could close the French Doors. I remember the world disappearing and that is where it all started for me. It just took over…

The number of generations and extent to which my family’s musical reach is unknown as the records of our family’s history was destroyed in the Russian Revolution. In the context of that family treeline, me, myself and I, have all been expressing the need to create through music & poetry since childhood. Brothers Bob Mover & and his daughter Emilie Mover as well as brother Richard Mover are all musicians as well as cousin Jonathan Mover who is a world reknown drummer extraordinaire who’s resume’ reaches globally throughout the Rock and beyond world of Superstar musicians. Brother Bob, played with Mingus when he was only 17…and also has a new CD out called,” It Amazes Me’. His daughter Emile Mover also has a newly released CD called ‘Good Shake, Nice Gloves’ …both are also available on MySpace.

And now…

Since completing the rebuild on the studio last winter, John Paul and I have been back on track in production as well as working with Miami greats including world renown Ira Sullivan, (Trumpet, Saxophones & Flutes: (www.IraSullivan.com) Latin Masters, Mike Levine, Pianist/Arranger/ Composer/Engineer; (www.mikelevinemusic.com) Lee Levin on Drums, Richard Bravo on Percussion, Billy Ross on Flute and another special guest, Dan Warner, plays Guitar on ‘Till There Was You’. In addition and live from NYC, brother and saxophone virtuoso, Bob Mover (www.bobmover.com) plays on some select standards as well…so stay tuned. We continue to experiment & refine our process that puts the music first and only:)