* En anglais uniquement
Aquanote is the solo project of studio hand and expressive songwriter
Gabriel René. The son of a West Coast jazzman,
René listened to much jazz-funk and soul while growing up. His first direct musical experience came in 1995, when he formed Soulstice (with
Andy Caldwell), a San Francisco band that blended programmed house with the live feel of acid jazz. The group released an album on the Om label (Illusion), and
René began writing songs for a solo project. He was then signed to the like-minded label Naked Music, which specializes in a fusion of jazz, funk, and house. For his
Aquanote debut, 2002's
The Pearl,
René called on an array of musician contacts he'd made around San Francisco, as well as a half-dozen female vocalists. ~ John Bush