Al Strong - Love Stronger (2022) [Hi-Res]

Although AL STRONG is not yet a household name, his newest album, LOVE STRONGER, will surely give him the wide exposure he deserves. Strong is a trumpet and flugelhorn player, composer, arranger, and professor of music. He released his debut recording, Love Strong Vol. 1, in 2015. Strong continues his passionate embrace of music on LOVE STRONGER with six of his original compositions and four standard and not-so-standards tunes re imagined with Strong’s soulful touch.

Strong has performed with jazz legends including Aretha Franklin, Branford Marsalis, Adonis Rose, and Mike Phillips, as well as with R&B/Soul artist Eric Roberson, rap music legend Rakim, and The Hamiltones, a Grammy-nominated soul musical group from North Carolina. He has also headlined shows at the Blue Note Jazz Festival, Winter Jazz Fest in NYC, Smoke Jazz Club, and Blues Alley in Washington, DC.

A military brat, Strong grew up in Washington D.C. Although he toyed with joining one of the country’s esteemed military bands, he decided not to follow in his father’s and grand-father’s footsteps. His talents as a musician were apparent from a very early age, and he attended the renowned Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts. After graduating, he was recruited by North Carolina Central University, which offered him a full scholarship for a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Jazz Performance/Pedagogy at Northern Illinois University, which also rewarded him a full scholarship. Today, Strong is back in Durham, North Carolina where he performs regularly and is a professor at NCCU.

Jeremy "Bean" Clemons, Chris Pattishall, and Kevin Beardsley are the core of Strong’s band. Clemons is a drummer who spent years touring the world with Andy Bey, Gregory Porter, and the reggae legend Burning Spear. He co-produced Strong’s previous album and mixed LOVE STRONGER. Pianist Pattishall has worked with the likes of Jimmy Heath, Jon Hendricks, and Wycliffe Gordon. Strong was so impressed by his talents that he began working with him when Pattishall was still in middle school. Strong is also joined by a roster of superb musicians from the Durham area who span the range of musical styles.

Al Strong, trumpet
Jeremy Bean Clemons, drums
Chris Pattishall, piano, Fender Rhodes, keyboards
Kevin Beardsley, electric bass, double bass
Sullivan Fortner, piano
Mark Whitefield, guitar
Braxton Cook, alto saxophone
Lewis Hawkins, tenor saxophone
Brevan Hampden, percussion
Thurman Woods, bass
Marc Cary, Fender Rhodes
Ryan Hanseler, piano, alto saxophone
Bluford Thompson, tenor saxophone
Charles Robinson, piano
Hugh Swaso, guitar
Gabriel Cavassa, vocals