Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Rise Above [feat. Stephanie McKay] (2010)

Acclaimed saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart makes his definitive statement of Soul-Jazz with RISE ABOVE, his debut recording on Dreyfus Jazz.

A native of Guadeloupe whose parents, both award-winning authors, are a black Guadeloupean mother and a Holocaust-surviving French Jewish father — Jacques has been in many bands with jazz superstar Roy Hargrove (including Crisol), and his extensive touring with neo-soul god D’Angelo led him to work with David Gilmore and Me’Shell Ndegocello.

While leading D’angelo’s horn section in 2000, Jacques began writing tunes based on a mixture of soul and jazz with gwoka flavors. The ‘Brother Jacques’ project evolved throughout the decade, soon incorporating the woman who is his wife today, the neo- singer Stephanie Mckay (who is featured on the current season of LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND). In 2003, Roy Hargrove included Jacques and Stephanie in his best selling hip-hop/jazz project, RH FACTOR. They had a radio hit with Jacques’ song “Forget Regret,” featuring Stephanie on vocals.

RISE ABOVE is Jacques and Stephanie’s ultimate soul-jazz concoction – 10 sexy urban alternative grooves, including “Feel So Free” (already a hit in several European markets), “Forget Regret”, “Abyss” and the mesmerizing title cut.