Lime Jello

1. Lime Jello

2. Platypus

3. Halfway to Dawn

4. Breaking Point

5. Tall Duck Walk

6. If Only for a Moment

7. Maybe?

8. A Brief Requiem

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Lime Jello marks the solo debut of keyboardist/composer George McRae - and the first release from AffinityJazz, the Chicago-based label McRae founded in January, 2000. In each of the eight original tunes on this recording McRae has crafted arrangements that reflect the range of his eclectic musical tastes, influences and creative compositional personality.

From the hip-hoppy groove of the title track, to the lush melodic ballad of "Halfway to Dawn," to the driving Latin/Rock of "Breaking Point," Lime Jello's riffs juxtopose the spontaneous and the studied, the irreverent and the serious, the cool and the slightly crazy - all the while retaining the balance and emotional focus of McRae's lucid and poised musicianship.

McRae's wide ranging musical influences can be traced to his high school and college years. Studying classical piano as a youth his interests soon shifted towards rock and jazz, discovering such artists as Pat Metheny, Cannonball Adderley, Steely Dan and Little Feat. After a year of business studies at Miami of Ohio he realized music was his true passion and transferred to Berklee College of Music.

At Berklee McRae was seduced by the colors and rhythms of be-bop while studying with Art Blakey alum Donald Brown. As his focus shifted to composition McRae discovered Duke Ellington and Billy Stayhorn while under the tutelage of Herb Pomeroy.

Soon after graduating magna cum laude from Berklee with the prestigious Duke Ellington jazz masters award, McRae received a $10,000 grant from the Illinois Arts council and the National Endowment for the Arts for composition.

As his career moved into the nineties he found a niche as a keyboardist; touring, recording and making videos with a host of national and local rock and jazz acts. These included popular Chicago-based fusion group "Juggular," MCA rock band "The Way Moves," RCA pop-rock band "Tami Show," and EMI recording artist Michael McDermott. At the same time McRae was also composing for a variety of professional dance companies who took his musical works around the world.

By 1998 McRae was hearing the call of his jazz roots and feeling the desire to cut a CD of his own material. "Lime Jello," along with his recording label AffinityJazz are the result of two years of planning, building and recording.

The CD was produced by McRae and Rick Barnes and recorded in Chicago during the summer and fall of 1999. It features Larry Beers, Alan Berliant, Jim Gailloreto, Kraig McCreary, Pat Fleming and Ruben Alvarez.

Product Description
"Lime Jello" marks the first solo release from award winning keyboardist/composer George McRae, as well as the the first release from AffinityJazz.

McRae's forte is writing, and this is clearly demonstrated in the eight original tunes he has chosen for this recording. From the whimsical, hip-hop/funk inspired title track, to the lush ballad "Halfway to Dawn," to the driving latin/rock of "Breaking Point," "Lime Jello" successfully merges a broad range of styles with tight arrangements, first-rate musicianship and plenty of blowing.

Featuring Larry Beers, Alan Berliant, Jim Gailloreto, Kraig McCreary, Ruben Alvarez and Pat Fleming.

Lime Jello,George McRae

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