(February 3, 2023) - "He said Paul said he is interested in producing music for me. I said absolutely...went to Los Angeles a few weeks later," said Jazz guitarist Les Sabler about collaborating with two-time Grammy winning music producer Paul Brown (Boney James, Kirk Whalum) on his new album "Flying High" (New Vista Records). "Then Covid hit...we did it remote."

The "Flying High" album offers eleven tracks. Les has songwriting help from Shane Theriot (Hall & Oats) and Lew Laing (Raheem DeVaughn). Musicians featured on the project include Greg Vail (flute), Les McCann (piano), Eddie Harris (sax), Marco Basci (keyboard), Ron King (trumpet), Joel Taylor (drums), Lenny Castro (percussion), Lou Pomanti (keyboard), and Travis Carlton (drums).

"Paul's rhythm section wasn't available...so he was open," Sabler added.

"I got a call from the radio promoter...said its in the Top 10," he informed me when I mentioned how his former album, "Tranquility," produced by Paul Brown resulted in a #1 single on MediaBase Chart and #5 on Billboard Chart.

When asked about the difference in the two albums ("Tranquility" versus "Flying High") that were both produced by Brown, Les said, "Different textures...different song vibes. As our relationship grew...things get more interesting."

Les Sabler is now known for using a vintage 1967 Gibson Johnny Smith guitar, which was suggested to him by Paul Brown.

"The ‘Windmills of Your Mind' was done with a classical guitar," he informed me. "It changed the sound. I went out to buy a vintage model. It's my main guitar now."

A native of Montreal who currently resides in Nashville, Sabler's credits include scoring for the Canadian Television Network, Grammy winning Jeff Lorber, Grammy nominated Brian Bromberg, Eric Marienthal, and Richard Elliott. He has garnered a Jazz Artist of the Year nomination from Canadian Indie Awards, Album of the Year from Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, two Guitarist of the Year nominations from Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. He has opened up for the shows of Jeff Lorber, Richard Elliott, Spyro Gyra and Diane Schuur.

My favorite cuts on the "Flying High" album consist of #1 "Over the Top" because I love the flute playing intro by Vail, and Les' guitar set the pace for a smooth and sweet vibe; #3 "Moonlight" for its magical sound and whimsical guitar playing; the title track #4 "Flying High" because it made me dance; #7 "The Windmills of Your Mind" because the song is one of my favorite cover-song, Sabler's guitar playing is perfection and I love the change in the tempo; #8 "Summer in the City" another cover-song that is nicely done, so much so it belongs on a movie soundtrack, and #10 "Double Jeopardy" because that too made me want to dance and I love how the guitar strings are popping. www.LesSabler.net