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Dave Croston's long awaited new release
More Sugar...More Salt
is now available for purchase!
Watch Dave's Video Promo!
Mouse-over image to display player controls.
Click On Lo-Res MP3 Samples
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Love 24/7 |
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Jus' Shufflin' |
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More Sugar...More Salt |
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Release |
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Over The Top |
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Hollow Bodies |
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Some Gospel Blues |
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Let's Go Now |
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Ingredients |
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Thatz My Slice |
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A Blue Moment |
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...and the reviews are coming in
Amid the considerable musical talent in Tacoma, Dave Croston is among the best. A veteran musician who has been “in the business” for more than three decades, Croston’s new CD “More Sugar…More Salt” just might amaze listeners in how this one man can create such pleasing, multi-instrumental jazz and R&B songs that include drums, bass, keyboards, saxophones and Croston’s expert guitar playing. Aside from the handful of guest musicians and singers he recruited to help create the CD, Croston is a one-man band. No two tracks on “More Sugar…More Salt” have the same combination of instruments, and Croston made full use of his guitar inventory (eight at last count) to give each tune its own tonal flavor. With the use of overdubbing, the songs “Jus Shufflin’,” “Over The Top” and “Ingredients” feature nine-piece horn arrangements – three trombone tracks by Eric Stevens, three saxophone tracks by Croston, and three trumpet tracks by Karl Ronning. The intro and ending of “Some Gospel Blues” has a seven-voice choir of overdubbed voices featuring Peter Bonow (three tracks) and Gaye Winsor (four tracks). Rex Nikula on organ and Barry Caldwell on trumpet and Flugelhorn round out Croston’s guest list. Croston’s master guitar playing stands front and center, sounding effortless and inspired on every song. In both his technical proficiency and soul, he brings to mind legends like Les Paul and Chet Atkins (who, like Croston, also favored Gretsch guitars). Some tracks, like “Over The Top,” are big and brassy, while “Release” is a dreamy, romantic tune. “Hollow Bodies” brings out Croston’s R&B penchant, and “Let’s Go Now” has a bossa-nova flavor. “That’s My Slice” brings the music back to a jazz foundation with Caldwell’s sweet Flugelhorn. A composer/arranger, studio owner/engineer and educator, Croston’s life in music started with a violin when he was 9 years old. He switched to guitar in his teens and majored in music composition and theory in college. He opened a small recording studio in Tacoma in the 1980s catering to singer/songwriters and learned engineering and producing skills. Today, with 39 years as a full-time musician and 22 years as a recording studio owner, he continues to provide teaching and studio services to the local music community. His 2002 debut CD “Pulse of The City” was an instant hit, with several tracks still being played on TV Tacoma Channel 12 programming By Matt Nagle |
Pulse Of The City
As the title states, Dave Croston puts into music his impressions of urban life from the perspective of a seasoned R & B instrumentalist. A city's diversity of character and moods are well represented here. There are driving Afro/Cuban and Latin rhythms, good old fashioned Funk and Blues grooves, high society sophistication and some down home Southern Gospel. Dave wrote, arranged and produced all ten cuts, as well as played much of the accompaniment tracks himself. But there is also a fair sized list of guest players and singers who add their own distinctive touches. All the while Dave's smooth guitar stylings weave their way through a landscape of shifting emotions and tone colors, resulting in a listening experience that is focused and complete. Harvey Siders, former long-time critic for Downbeat magazine writes: "...within the ten tracks of Pulse of the City can be heard the 'Jazz flavored R&B' that Croston claims as his signature sound; occassional unison bop lines; out and out blues; four Cynthia Boggs, thanks to vocal overdubbing; even a "Street Fair" replete with steel drums - a happy track likely to get the most airplay from radio programmers who won't find it easy to pidgeonhole this CD." |
Click On Lo-Res MP3 Samples
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Street Fair |
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Consider
This |
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XKE |
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All Is Well |
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Pulse Of The City |
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Solar Max |
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Sidewalkin' |
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Ultra Violet |
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Give And Take |
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When The Time Comes |
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