| Walter Beasley's latest jazz release, Free Your Mind, | | | | "oh yeah" through his captivating saxophone. Message |
| is music to help you let go and lose yourself in the | | | | To Mark is a very personal and poignant tribute to |
| moment. | | | | Mark Ledford a fellow musician, friend, and a person |
| Free Your Mind: Steady As She Goes, Love Calls, Oh | | | | who passed on at the young age of 44 years old. As |
| Yeah, Message To Mark, Shirlitta, Free Your Mind, | | | | we have all experienced, time moves faster than |
| DukeZillia, Just Breathe, Barack's Groove, She Can't | | | | there is opportunity to keep friendships close and |
| Help It, Miss Minnie | | | | meaningful, and for Walter who had lost touch with his |
| Personnel: Walter Beasley: Saxophone, Vocals; Tony | | | | close friend Mark, there was only one way to |
| Watson Jr.: Background Saxophone; Randall Bowland: | | | | remember his friend and fellow musician, and this was |
| Guitar; James K. Lloyd: Keyboard & Programming; | | | | through the tie that bound them together - music. The |
| Lynne Fiddmont: Vocals; Jeff Lockhart: Guitar; | | | | track is not only touching and reflective, but it says |
| Webster Roach: Bass; David "Pookie" Cole: Drum | | | | more than most people can say with words. |
| Programming; Walter Barnes: Bass; Derek Cannon: | | | | Shirlitta has a swagger, projected by Walter's |
| Trumpet; Craig Shaw: Bass; Phil Davis: Keyboard, | | | | saxophone, that conveys a feeling of confidence and |
| Drum Programming; John Roberts: Drums, Background | | | | belief that we can cope with anything that we |
| Vocals, Percussion; Raymond McKinley: Bass; Rafael | | | | confront. The title track Free Your Mind is positioned in |
| Pereira: Percussion; Mark Strowbridge: Guitar; Sam | | | | the middle of the release to remind us to breath, relax, |
| Sims: Bass; Rick Watford Guitar; Sean Michael Ray: | | | | forget your sorrows, and look at the bright side of life, |
| Bass. | | | | and Walter has a unique ability to carry a dialogue with |
| Free Your Mind was released in January 2009 on the | | | | his listeners through his music. |
| Heads Up label. Music is an interpretation of a writer | | | | DukeZillia was written from the influences of |
| performer's feelings, emotions, and creativity, and with | | | | composer George Duke. What originally started off as |
| "Free Your Mind" Walter Beasley wants the listener to | | | | a session at the keyboard resulted in a series of chord |
| free their minds in the midst of the unending deluge of | | | | changes that were drawn from the masterful music of |
| information, numbers, and personal challenges. Music | | | | George Duke, and as Walter states, "music should let |
| should, as Walter puts it, "help people let go of | | | | you lose yourself in the moment', and this is what |
| concerns for awhile and just lose themselves in the | | | | Walter did subconsciously with George Duke. The |
| moment." | | | | resultant track melds George's melodies with Walter's |
| Free Your Mind is a follow-up to the release "Ready | | | | feelings and a contagious and infectious Brazilian |
| For Love" that showed his love and dedication to the | | | | rhythm to create a special groove that can breathe life |
| art of music. Walter Beasley expresses himself | | | | into any situation. |
| through his music in a way that captures the hearts of | | | | The track Barack's Groove is s a tribute to history in |
| his listeners who can feel the person behind the music. | | | | the making and the presidency of Barack Obama. A |
| The opening track Steady As She Goes is apropos in | | | | little sassy, a little mellow, and a lot of soul, Walter |
| both life and music. Steady As She Goes, written by | | | | captured the feeling that no matter your race, religion, |
| James K. Lloyd the keyboardist of the timeless jazz | | | | or belief there are opportunities for you. Other notable |
| group "Pieces of a Dream", fuses the brilliance of | | | | tracks that will free your mind include Just Breathe, |
| Walter on saxophone with the rhythms made famous | | | | She Can't Help It, and Miss Minnie that was dedicated |
| by Pieces of a Dream in the 80's, and which continue | | | | to Minnie Dangerfield, an important influence during his |
| to hold their own in today's music scene. Love Calls | | | | youth and early adult years; a woman who always |
| allows Walter to step out from behind his horn as he | | | | told him what he needed to hear, not what he wanted |
| opens his heart to us through his compelling vocals and | | | | to hear, and the track carries the admiration and |
| the duet with vocalist Lynne Fiddmont. | | | | respect Walter held for Miss Minnie. |
| The track Oh Yeah brings back James K. Lloyd as | | | | Websites where you can procure Walter Beasley - |
| the writer and producer as he creates a funk groove | | | | Free Your Mind are Heads Up, Amazon, CD Universe, |
| allowing Walter to take a moment to reflect and say, | | | | Concord Music, Tower, and Max Albums. |