Goss' smooth, eclectic style shines on new Boom Boom

Jazz musician and producer Kenneth R. “Gino” Goss has been a multiple winner, for three years straight, at the Indie Music Channel Awards. The North Little Rock native will release his second CD, Shake Your Boom Boom, on Aug. 2. Gino Goss’s music can best be described as smooth-jazz-meets-world-music. Although he himself hasn’t traveled further than Hawaii, he collaborates with a variety of international musicians and singers. “I try to represent a nice spirit . … I don’t like to play gloomy music,” he says.
Jazz musician and producer Kenneth R. “Gino” Goss has been a multiple winner, for three years straight, at the Indie Music Channel Awards. The North Little Rock native will release his second CD, Shake Your Boom Boom, on Aug. 2. Gino Goss’s music can best be described as smooth-jazz-meets-world-music. Although he himself hasn’t traveled further than Hawaii, he collaborates with a variety of international musicians and singers. “I try to represent a nice spirit . … I don’t like to play gloomy music,” he says.

Gino Goss' new album, Shake Your Boom Boom, is accompanied by a new dance, which is live-streamed on Bobby D Live From Brazil (bobbydlive.info) and on Goss' Facebook page.

The reggae-flavored title cut charms. His award-winning "Loosing My Way" features Italian vocalist Rossella Cosentino, whose silky, accented voice highlights the dreamy, midtempo ear-soother. The song reached No. 1 on the Indie Smooth Jazz chart of Southern California's Internet radio station The Oasis and, for two weeks, topped the United Kingdom's KJAZZ Radio UK's chart.

The album's other cuts include "Funk It Up," which takes the listener back to the '70s with its retro organ sound; "Kalimba Dreaming," a beautiful, somewhat solemn number; and "Voodoo Magic," a fast, bewitching tune featuring the smoldering vocals of Amanda Bellino. "Black Zulu" recalls traditional jazz, but is set to an African drumbeat and enhanced by Goss' clear, incisive trumpet riffs.

Shake Your Boom Boom also includes "Night in Rio," a piano-dominated number with a Latin/mid-tempo beat, overlaid overlaid by Goss' bold trumpet.

-- Helaine Williams

Style on 08/03/2014

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