Caesar the Balladeer: A Friend Destined For the Stars

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

Caesar the Balladeer: A Friend Destined For the Stars

As I sit here poised to write the liner notes for what is sure to become the beginning of an era, I can’t help but reminisce over the first time I heard Caesar’s magnificent voice over five years ago. It was in the wee hours of the morning as I casually strolled down the avenues and musical alleyways of the internet, as I’m prone to do at that hour in the morning.
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But on that particular morning, as I strolled awash in the lush sounds of Bird, Dexter Gordon, Lorez Alexandria, and Sarah Vaughan, I began to hear the faint sounds of a voice that I’d never heard before, as it caressed the opening chorus of the beautifully haunting "I wish You Love." The tune itself was always one of my favorites. It had previously been done to exquisite perfection by the late Gloria Lynne, but this voice . . . this voice that I was only now hearing for the first time, could only be described as . . . breathtaking.
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It expressed the type of excellence, attention to detail, and depth of feeling that I assumed had died with the great artists of the past. While it celebrated the suave sophistication, perfect diction, and round velvet baritone sonance of Nat King Cole, it was deeper, more in the range of Arthur Prysock or Billy Eckstine, yet, with the intimate Earthiness and modern appeal of Luther Vandross. But that said, there was absolutely no doubt who had influenced this voice. It represented a vibrant and passionate tribute to the life, times, and artistry, of the fabulous Nat King Cole. Just to hear it put the chill of reminiscence in the air.
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Caesar was born, Irvin R. Caesar, in Chicago, Il. He's a graduate of Southern University, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He began his professional music career at the very top, opening for such people as George Duke, Stanley Clark, Al Jareau, Lou Rawls and Herbie Hancock.
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Later he auditioned for Julio Iglesias at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Naturally, he nailed the audition to become the only baritone vocalist to perform with Iglesias - the world renowned romantic icon who has sold over 300 million records - on his Tango World Tour, and with good reason. Caesar’s soulfully romantic baritone voice has the capacity to turn some of the greatest ballads ever written into pure honey that he then pours with abundance at his audiences’ feet. So Caesar is not just another crooner, he’s a world-class masseur who specializes in turning the soul of the listener to putty in his well-forged and expert hands, and this CD is graphic evidence of that fact.
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As promised, the current CD is Caesar’s rendering of some of the most timelessly beautiful ballads that has ever been written, and done only as Caesar can. They include, I wish you Love, Autumn Leaves, Mona Lisa, My Funny Valentine, Nature Boy, Quiet Nights, the Very thought of You, and many more - and Caesar literally owns every note and nuance on every tune.
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The most pervasive quality that characterizes this entire effort, aside from the flawless musicianship and arrangements throughout, is how perfectly they’ve managed to blend the old with the new. Virtually every tune on the CD has long since been established as a timeless standard, and their stature in the annals of jazz has been meticulously respected. But Caesar and his cohorts were not the least bit timid about slapping on a new coat of paint to make them glisten like new.
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In addition, the project has a pronounced international sophistication to it, because Caesar is an international personality. Prior to launching his musical career, and upon obtaining his degree in Business Management from Southern University, Caesar went on to work as a Procurement Officer, and then Operations Manager, for American Manufactures in Houston, Texas. They provided humanitarian assistance to over 40 countries around the world. Then he went to Islamabad, Pakistan as a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He worked to provided humanitarian assistance to Afghan rebels, who were then at war with the Soviet Union. So Caesar sings in several languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Japanese.
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"Autumn Leaves" is a perfect example of the cross-cultural flare of this magnificent crew. The tune begins with Peter White’s winsome, and beautifully ethereal caress of his classical guitar. He sets the stage perfectly. You can literally see him in your mind’s eye, casually leaning back on the veranda of some exotic location, lovingly strumming his guitar under a starlit sky. Then Caesar makes his entrance with a soft, airy hush, reminiscent of Luther Vandross. He starts the song at the bridge, softly singing in Japanese. Then when they reach the first chorus, the band slips into a slow and laid-back Bossa nova, Caesar transitions into English, and then they escort us on a journey that makes the heart soar.
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The CD is very much like that throughout, taking us on one romantic journey after another. Thus, this is not just a good musical effort - it’s a GREAT one. With this project we may very well be witnessing the birth of a voice that will speak to the ages. So when you listen to it, listen with reverence - and remember the moment, and what you were doing, when you heard first it, because you're sure to be discussing it with others in years to come.
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Eric L. Wattree
Http://wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com

Citizens Against Reckless Middle-Class Abuse (CARMA)

Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Happy Holidays, From Caesar and the Progressive Network

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

I'd like to introduce you to a young man known to those of us who know, love, and support his tremendous talent, as simply, Caesar.

Happy Holidays!

I rarely use this site to discuss anything other than politics, but in a sense, bringing Caesar to your attention is a political issue, because his life represents the very epitome of self-sacrifice in pursuit of integrity.

As you've just seen, Caesar could very easily take his rightful place among the very top world class entertainers. But unfortunately (from my point of view) he's chosen to reject the many opportunities that come his way in order to protect a musical tradition. So he actively resists efforts by the music industry to, in his words, "exploit the arts for a fast buck."

We've had many arguments over this issue. I took the position that he's denying the world a great talent. I argued that it would be better for everyone involved if he'd simply play along until he gained the clout and exposure to go his own way. But he demolished my argument with one very simple question: "Isn't that exactly what you condemn our politicians for doing?"

Touche, Caesar.

It was no surprise that Caesar was able to handle my argument with such aplomb, because there's much more to him than just his voice . He's a very intelligent and multifaceted individual as well.

Born Irvin R. Caesar in Chicago, Il in 1965. He attended Percy L. Julian High School, where he played guitar in the jazz band, and at the same time, he played football, basketball, and baseball. The football team won three Chicago city championships, and he was captain of the team in his senior year. After graduating from high school, he went on to play Outside Linebacker for Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., where he also received a degree in Business Management.

Inheriting a sense of purpose from his father, also name Irvin Caesar--who was a political activist during the sixties, and worked very closely with Vice President Hubert H. Humphry--after obtaining his degree, young Caesar went on to work first, as a Procurement Officer and then Operations Manager for American Manufactures in Houston, Texas. The company provided humanitarian assistance to over 40 countries around the world. Then he went to Islamabad, Pakistan as a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He worked to provided humanitarian assistance to Afghan rebels, who were then at war with the Soviet Union.

To our benefit, this young man's intelligence, background, and depth of experience didn't go to waste. You can hear every bit of his intellect, compassion, and commitment to humanity literally dripping from every note he sings. You don't simply hear this young man, you experience him.

And ironically, Caesar was born the very same year that Nat King Cole died. So while I've never been one to wax metaphysically, when I listen to this young man's velvet tones, I can't help but wonder if perhaps, Nat decided that he wasn't quite done.

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Eric L. Wattree
wattree.blogspot.com

Religious bigotry: It's not that I hate everyone who doesn't look, think, and act like me - it's just that God does.

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Meet Caesar: The New, Greatest Singer in the World

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE Meet Caesar: The New, Greatest Singer in the World It was about 3 a.m. In the morning, and I found myself, as I am prone to do at that secluded hour, strollin' down the laid back and funky avenues of The Jazz Network. I love that place. It's the kind of place where if you're a jazz lover, you'll immediately feel like you're among family and friends. It's a virtual city, and it's only reason for being is as a monument to jazz. One minute you're accompanied down its soulful avenues by Buster Williams, with his slow, swaggerin' bass lines struttin' along beside you, then you turn the corner, and there's Buddy Rich and his big band tryin' to blow all the windows out the joint–it's a true oasis of jazz in this vast wasteland of contemporary mediocrity. As I strolled awash in musical bliss through its various nooks and crannies, I suddenly began to hear the first few bars of "I Wish You Love." I immediately stopped in my tracks, because even in this rarified musical environment, the beautiful melody of that hauntingly gorgeous tune was being caressed by a voice that literally took my breath away. While I hate to use such an unhip and overworked adjective, breathtaking is the only word appropriate to describe my reaction to its mellow, yet velvet tones. It was a finely tune instrument in perfect pitch, with the beauty, phrasing and diction of Nat King Cole. Yet, it was also reminiscent of Jesse Belvin, Johnny Mathis, and Sam Fletcher, and with the slightly muffled, airy sound of Luther Vandross, that made the heart say, "hush"–and it all came together to create a sound that was uniquely, and beautifully, its very own. So I immediately knew that I was dealing with immortality in the making, so naturally I stopped to investigate. The voice belonged to a confident, yet unassuming young man known simply, but appropriately, as Caesar. Appropriate, because just like his namesake, he was clearly sent to Earth as a conqueror. I've been a jazz fan every since I slipped out of the womb, so I'm intimately familiar with all of the material output of the great, and the near great–and in my humble, but highly informed opinion, Caesar is beyond great. This young man is one of those talents that come around maybe once or twice in a hundred years–and only then, if we're extremely lucky. Even at this point, so early in his career, I wouldn't hesitate to put him in the company of Nat King Cole, Jesse Belvin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan. While I realize that's a mighty tall order for him to live up to, true greatness doesn't require a runway–Picasso was born Picasso, he didn't require a learning curve, and so it is with this young man. Caesar, like Nat, Ella, and Sarah Vaughan, is one of those rare people that's clearly dripping with greatness from the moment they, in many cases, stumble upon their calling (Ella wanted to be a dancer). From the very moment they're born, the writing is on the wall–it's all about greatness, just waiting to happen. While I'm quite hesitant to insert myself into this piece, as a writer I recognize that there's an obvious question just screaming to be addressed–who am I to make all of these grandiose assertions? What credentials do I have to take it upon myself to single-handedly bestow greatness upon anyone? My answer to that is short and sweet–I was born with legendary ears. When I was twelve years old and my friends were still singing nursery rhymes, I was listening to Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dexter Gordon. My mother was quite concerned, because she was afraid that I was following in my father's footsteps–and I thank God every day that she was right. He's was also what she called "a jazz fanatic," and she was convinced that was what led to many of the problems in his life, which we won't get into here. By the time I was fourteen, my father used to take great pride in buying new jazz albums and impressing his friends by calling me into the room and having me listen, then tell his friends who the musicians were that was playing on the various tunes. He used to win money that way, until his friends got hip to me. It was a piece of cake–I could tell them who was playing before the record got to the bridge of the first tune. His friends would be amazed, while I'd walk away wondering how they could call themselves jazz fans and not be able to recognize the piano of Bud Powell when they heard him. So I'll put my ears up against anybody who ever lived, and I'm telling you, my ears tell me that Caesar is not only great, but he's destined to become among the greatest of the greats. And there's another thing that struck me about this young man--he's not just all music. He's multi-dimensional and highly intelligent. Born Irvin R. Caesar in Chicago, Il in 1965. He attended Percy L. Julian High School, where he played guitar in the jazz band. At the same time, he played football, basketball, and baseball. The football team won three Chicago city championships, and he was captain of the team his senior year. After graduation, he went on to play Outside Linebacker for Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., where he also received a degree in Business Management. Inheriting a sense of purpose from his father, also name Irvin Caesar--who was a political activist during the sixties, and worked closely with Vice President Hubert H. Humphry--after obtaining his degree, young Caesar went on to work first, as a Procurement Officer and then Operations Manager for American Manufactures in Houston, Texas. They provided humanitarian assistance to over 40 countries around the world. Then he went to Islamabad, Pakistan as a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He worked to provided humanitarian assistance to Afghan rebels, who were then at war with the Soviet Union. To our benefit, this young man's intelligence, background, and depth of experience didn't go to waste. You can hear every drop of his intellect, compassion, and commitment to humanity literally dripping from every note he sings. You don't simply hear this young man, you experience him. Ironically, Caesar was born the very same year that Nat King Cole died. So while I've never been one to wax metaphysical, I dedicate this piece to a new old friend. Because as I listen to this young man's velvet tones, I can't help but wonder if perhaps, Nat decided, that he wasn't quite done yet. Eric L. Wattree wattree.blogspot.com April 17, 2009 Pain is the mother of enlightenment--and she's married to adversity.

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