Craig SharmatEASE UP

The new single off the soon to be released album "Outside In"
is now out! The single features
myself on Guitar and

Gregg Karukas-Keys
Dan Lutz-Bass
Rayford-Griffin Drums
Mark Hollingsworth-Sax
Luis Conte-Percussion


As a young boy I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up and that was middle linebacker for The NY Giants. As I reached my early teens standing at the imposing height of 5'9" and weighing in at an impressive 125 pounds I was smart enough to realize a career change was probably in order (my doctor at the time also suggested that I start drinking milk).

In my late teens I decided on being a pop jazz guitarist. I proceeded to follow that course in life until my early 30's, when I tired of traveling and wanted a stable home life.

By then I had worked for numerous name acts, including popular jazz artists Ronnie Laws and Randy Crawford. I had also acquired an equal love for composing.  I was good enough that I could stay home and often not venture outside if I desired much to the dismay of my active dog Score.  I am howerever an animal lover so he did “often” receive his daily excursions. Anyway for many years I composed numerous TV/Movies/jingles and other media music and I planned to keep it as my sole profession. One day my old friend, keyboardist and all around good guy, John Balbuena called. He wanted to start a “groove jazz” band. The band was to be only about enjoyment, money thankfully was not a consideration. I went kicking and screaming into the first rehearsal, but promised him I would give it a shot. Something started happening in our early rehearsals and my fire to play jazz was rekindled.

Craig Sharmat and Rick BraunAs luck or fate would have it, my neighbor and good buddy is acclaimed jazz trumpet player Rick Braun.  He watched from the sidelines occasionally sitting in with the new band now called “Comfort Zone.”  When I approached Rick with the idea I was ready to record he took the bull by the horns, got Bud Harner involved and launched my career as a solo artist.  The material on this album is a mixture of my old and new tunes along with some of my Comfort Zone material.  It has been a satisfying journey putting on the artist hat for a change, and I hope you find these tunes as enjoyable to listen to as they were to make.

Craig Sharmat


CD Now available on itunes and CD Baby!

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sharmat

02/21/20210

I am excited to be asked to be the guitar player to start Tuesday's Allstar Jam at Cafe Cordiale in Sherman Oaks. The gig is being run by Rick Braun (shown above at Cordiale with myself). Gregg Karukas is slated on Keys and other players are being added of course. If you are a player come down listen and maybe join in! More info on my appearances page.

The single "So Cal Drivin" just finished it's run on the BSR Billboard Charts hanging around for 17 weeks! I just released a 2nd single called "Spud Nutts".

Facebook page

you can friend me here

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Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Holiday season!

Off to a nice start to the New Year. So Cal Drivin the single is currently No. 20 on the BDS indicator charts and has been on the charts for the last 12 weeks. Not bad out of the gate. I have begun writing for my next album but production is a bit away. I continue to write for "Real Housewives of NJ.", "I'm Pregnant And" and of course "America's Most Wanted". 

I have placed a few videos on you tube, one of the Catalina Jazz festival. Here are the links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAgpTBMhcDA

and

random_7395637


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So Cal Drivin

Craig Sharmat's debut release on Scoredog Music is titled
"So Cal Drivin". Album was released in Oct 2009. The single of the same name spent 17 weeks on Billboards top 30 SJ Indicator chart.

So Cal Drivin

Craig Sharmat leaves his love of composing and session work to release this initial offering. The album features a number of special guests including Rick Braun who helped oversee the final project. There are some tracks with his performing groove jazz band Comfort Zone and a host of special guests including Greg Matheison, Mike White, Philippe Saisse, Dino Soldo, Billy Hulting, Steve Billman, Andy Suzuki etc, etc. (a full list can be found below). Sharmat includes infectious grooves on tunes like So Cal Drivin (currently climbing the charts), Spud Nutts (a homage to his composing mentor Lyle Murphy) Fish Fry and The Badger. Craig also includes the tune Brisa showing his love for Brazilian music and also includes two lush orchestral arrangements Dad and Midnight Jass featuring a specialty, orchestral arranging. The included Song for Colleen is a beautiful ballad with a catchy melody. Craig rounds out the collection with the uplifting Perfect Life and Smooth Sailing where he departs from his clean electric guitar playing on the latter tune in favor of a more rock guitar playing approach.

Sharmat has toured with Randy Crawford and Ronnie Laws. He has worked on Rick Braun's Truly Yours album and Peter White's Christmas album featuring Rick Braun and Mindi Abair. He has played/composed/ on thousands of TV, move and jingle cues.



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So Cal Drivin credits

So Cal Drivin (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 3:47
Craig Sharmat-Guitars, Keyboard and Bass programming
Mike White-Drums
Billy Hulting-Percussion
Rick Braun-Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Keyboard and Bass programming

Song For Colleen (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 4:05
Craig Sharmat-Guitars
Bobby Alpert-Keyboards
Steve Billman-Fretless Bass
Henry Newmark-Drums
Billy Hulting-Percussion

Spud Nutts (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 3:33
Craig Sharmat-Guitars, Pads, Perc programming
Greg Mathieson-Pianos
Andy Suzuki-Sax
Steve Billman-Bass
Craig Pilo-Drums

Brisa (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 4:48
Craig Sharmat-Guitars,Keys,Vocals
Mark Hugenberger-Piano and Piano solo, Keys
Andy Suzuki-Flute
Steve Billman-Bass
Billy Hulting-Percussion
Mary Durst-Vocals

The Badger (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 3:41
Craig Sharmat-Guitars, Keys
John Balbuena -piano
Chris Mostert-Sax
David Chamberlain-Bass
Mike White-Drums
Rich Diamond-Percussion
Rick Braun-perc programming

Midnight Jass (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 2:05
Craig Sharmat-Guitars, String arrangement and programming
Philippe Saisse-Piano
David Chamberlain-Upright Bass
Henry Newmark-Drums
Hannes Frischat-Violins,Violas and Cello

Fish Fry (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 4:07
Craig Sharmat -Guitars, Perc and Brass Programming
Andy Suzuki-Sax
Greg Mathieson-Organ
Henry Newmark-Drums
Bass-Steve Billman
Trumpet-Rick Braun

Smooth Sailing (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 4:36
Craig Sharmat-Guitars, Keys, Perc Programming
John Balbuena-piano and solo
Chris Mostert-Sax
David Chamberlain-Bass
Mike White-Drums
Rick Braun-perc programming

Song For Toots (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 5:09
Craig Sharmat-Guitars and Guitar Synth
Dino Soldo-Harmonica
Rico Belled-Fretless Bass
Mark Hugenberger-Keys
Henry Newmark-Drums

Perfect Life (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 3:59
Craig Sharmat-Guitars, Keyboards, Perc Programming
John Balbuena-Piano
Chris Mostert-Sax
David Chamberlain-Bass
Rich Diamond-Drums
Rick Braun-Perc Programming

Dad (Craig Sharmat/Scoredog Music/SESAC) 2:42
Craig Sharmat-Nylon Guitar, All Programming and Arrangement
Hannes Frischat-Strings 
Mark Hollingsworth-Flute,Clarinet

Produced by Craig Sharmat for Scoredog Music except So Cal Drivin which was co-produced by Rick Braun.

Spud Nutts and Song For Colleen mixed by Steve Sykes
So Cal Drivin, The Badger and Smooth Sailing mixed by Rick Braun
Midnight Jass mixed by Mark Curry 
Dad mixed by Hannes Frischat and Craig Sharmat
All other cuts mixed by Craig Sharmat
Mastering-Gene Grimaldi-Oasis Mastering

Special Thanks to my wife and life partner Colleen, who accepts my hopes and dreams no matter how unrealistic they may be. You of course realize more than anyone those dreams can change on a daily basis...;)
To my folks who sometimes reluctantly accepted my early desires to be a musician. That's the true measure of love.

To Rick Braun who put in countless selfless hours just because he wanted to help. I am lucky to have a friend like you.

To Comfort Zone who are my live band (and I am their guitarist) who do music solely because they love it. You guys pushed me to reconsider being a guitarist...Thanks!

To all the people who come and support the "Comfort Zone" live gigs.
BTW, Comfort Zone is John Balbuena-Keys, Chris Mostert-Sax, David Chamberlin-Bass, Rich Diamond-Drums and myself.

Special Thanks to all the great players who played on this album. Everyone's caring attitude made this possible.

To Bud Harner who stuck his neck out for me and hopefully does not get it chopped off. Thanks for guiding and believing.

Thanks also goes out to the world's most positive person, Mark Hayes, who did some initial tracking. Also my good friends Dave Alfonso and Jeff and Suzi Oliver for their continued support. Also Vanessa Garde and John Findlay who contributed.

I also wanted to do a shout out to my ichat listening buddies, Frederick Russ, Colin O'Malley, Luca Thomas d'Agiout and TJ Bergersen who critiqued along the way even if they had heard a song a dozen times.


Rick Braun appears courtesy of Artistry Music
Philippe Saisse appears courtesy of E1 Entertainment

cover art Mr Mike mrmike@visionanimationstudio.com