Bent Fabric & His Piano

What can you say about an artist whose music encompasses the best of pop, dance, jazz, rock & roll, R&B and just about any other modern musical genre you'd care to name? What's the bottom line on an instrumentalist, songwriter, record label founder, A&R man and all-around creative catalyst who has not just survived, but thrived? What's the last word on a musical master who has become a legend in his own time? How about: you ain't heard nothing yet? "Good music never goes out of fashion. If you've got the basic ingredients - melody, lyrics and the style you can call your own - there will always be an audience out there." So says Bent Fabric, a global musical treasure about to be rediscovered by an entirely new generation of fans, thanks to his irresistible Hidden Beach International debut, Jukebox - The Album. True to its title, these eleven new tracks offer a smorgasbord of sounds and styles from an artist whose innovation and originality have long been his trademarks. Highlighting the title track, Jukebox has already topped charts worldwide, while American audiences have been treated to high-profile previews thanks to an eye-popping animated video and an adventurous TV spot for Cingular/iTunes that uses the tune as both its theme and concept. "There are so many ways for music to be heard these days," says Fabric. "It's exciting to be able to explore all those new possibilities." Recorded in Bent Fabric's hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark, Jukebox - The Album opens a whole new chapter in the extraordinary saga of this multi-faceted artist. Along with an array of brand new originals, the album also features contributions by the cream of the Scandinavian music scene, where Bent Fabric has long been considered a pioneer. It's a reputation updated and enhanced by such standout selections as "Jukebox," "Shake," "Relax Boy," "Bam Boogie" and the delightful "Blowout." Jukebox - The Album also highlights an inspired new rendition of "Alley Cat," his classic signature song and is still one of the most recognized and beloved pop instrumentals of all time. And, as if to underscore this artist's ability to reach audiences of any age, "Alley Cat" has also been given a decidedly modern spin on a bonus track by master remixers 'Hit & Run'. Additionally the title track itself gets a virtuoso remix from Ralphi Rosario on another of the album's bonus cuts. "Working with those guys gave me a real creative boost," Fabric reveals. "It's not just that they've updated my sound. They've given it a whole new dimension that enhances what was there to begin with." Not surprisingly, Jukebox - The Album, was recently the most played release in Denmark, with word of mouth spreading across Europe. Quickly reaching America, it became a soundtrack staple in everything from major motion pictures (Fun With Dick And Jane, Yours, Mine & Ours, Are We There Yet?) to television (Las Vegas, Kitchen Confidential, Darcy's Wildlife, WB Network promos) and beyond. Now comes Jukebox - The Album, and, while fame and acclaim might be nice, it's all just icing on the cake for an artist who has first, foremost and forever been about the music. "Hits come and go," he remarks. "What matters is a love for music and that's been with me for as long as I can remember." With his trademark turtleneck sweater, Bent Fabricus-Bjerre was well known to European pop music fans long before "Alley Cat," with its iconic piano riff, became a multi-million selling worldwide hit. Forming his own jazz combo, Bent Fabric wrote and recorded some of Denmark's landmark jazz compositions and went on to host a wildly popular television variety show, Around The Piano. This success led him to launch his own record label, Metronome, for which he discovered, nurtured and produced some of Europe's most popular entertainers. He scored his first international hit with Jorgen Ingemann's version of "Apache," which landed at the top of American charts and sold over a million copies. Eventually, Bent Fabric stepped out from behind his desk to record "Alley Cat," a song that landed him in the history books when it won a Grammy and became one of the most played compositions in the history of modern music. Meanwhile, his state-of-the-art Copenhagen studios was the destination of choice for a roster of major music stars including Louis Armstrong, Quincy Jones, Eartha Kitt, Sarah Vaughan and scores of others. "It was wonderful to be in the middle of all that great music," he enthuses. "It's the same feeling I had when we put together my new record...like history in the making." Constantly in demand as a performer, Fabric has toured the world regularly, taking time to record a string of enduring jazz/pop albums such as The Happy Puppy, Organ Grinder's Swing, Operation Lovebirds and a best-selling collaboration with English clarinetist Acker Bilk. His multi-tasking career also included writing soundtrack music for European film and television projects and composing scores for the popular ballets The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid, which are still performed by the Royal Danish Theater. And, speaking of royalty, Bent Fabric was invited to play at the wedding of Denmark's Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to his nation's music heritage. It's a contribution that's grown to global proportions as this veritable renaissance man continues to write, record, produce, perform and remain up front in every aspect of music. "I make it a point keeping up with what's going on today," he concludes with characteristic understatement, "and I have to say that the more things change the more they stay the same. It's always been about great songs, about playing with passion and daring to be a little adventurous. And, no matter what, you've got to stay young at heart." On Jukebox - The Album, Bent Fabric proves conclusively that the best is yet to come, and that artistry endures.